Moro Spear???..or not?? Opinions sought

[CharlesS]

Here is a nice Filipino spear I recently picked up. It is just over 7ft., though my pics concentrate on the spearhead.

At first glance it seems to say Moro "budiak", and features a nice, clear lamination pattern, but there are some features to the bolster and ferrule that are making me second guess its Moro origin. Didn't the Bogobo and T'boli use similar types??

Comments, opinions, and info welcomed.

Thanks!

[Rick]

Found this Charles .
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=bagobo+spear

[CharlesS]

Thanks Rick. I would have expected to see brass work on Bogobo or T'boli pieces.

Somehow, though I did not want to be too quick to put a "Moro" stamp on mine.

Thanks again!

[Bill M]

Moro ferules are different. Have you tried doing a little cleaning on the brass? I had one that really looked brass or bronze, but it was some kind of varnish or shellac that had been on it a very long time. When I did some cleaning (paint remover) a really nice silver came through.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Thanks Rick. I would have expected to see brass work on Bogobo or T'boli pieces.

Somehow, though I did not want to be too quick to put a "Moro" stamp on mine.

Thanks again!

I can understand that; the ferrule seems more Indonesian in flavor .

[CharlesS]

Thanks guys. The ferrule is silver. The flash may be creating a "sepia" tone making it look brass.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Thanks guys. The ferrule is silver. The flash may be creating a "sepia" tone making it look brass.

Thought so. Good! Nice spear BTW anyway you look at it.

[Nonoy Tan]

Yes, Moro.

Maguindanao? I am unsure.

[Nonoy Tan]

Yes, could be Maguindanao! or anywhere in North and South Cotabato IMHO.

[CharlesS]

Battara,

Would you be kind enough to post one of those old pics if you can find one.

Thanks!

[VVV]

I bought this nice Budiak from Battara on the swap-forum some time ago.

Michael

[Battara]

Found the picture - it is on p. 194 in A Philippines Album . The spear is on the left and the style of textiles are Maguindanao I am told. The caption does read that the picture is from Mindanao (please ignore the false hand tinted color).

VVV - I suspect that yours might also be Maguindanao.

[Spunjer]

jose, i'm pretty sure they're maranao. got a picture of datu pedro and datu mundas, both maranao. i could be mistaken, but the pic you provided is that of datu mundas and his retainers:





if nothing else, the 'do of the boy carrying the spear in your pic is straight up maranao. here's a nice group pic of the the lake moros. notice the buns:

[Nonoy Tan]

I stand corrected. Maranaw indeed.

Just shows how little I know about the subject

To add more confusion, here are a few more spears which also need identification. Sorry for the bad photos.

[migueldiaz]

The pics below are from Philippine Picture Postcards 1900-1920.

You can barely discern the features of the spears shown though.

[migueldiaz]

Here's some more pics of Moro spears.

They all still show the spears from afar, as I can't find pics with close-up shots of the spearhead. Anyways ...

[Rick]

One is probably not Moro ...
May as well add them anyway .

[CharlesS]

Great pics and more great examples.

Rick I have another budiak practically identical to your example on the right.

regarding some of the old photos....certainly seems like an odd way to carry spears....by the blade. I wonder if blade down translated into "not at war....no threat"???

In the mock combat pics the way the spears are carried and used seems awkward as well.

[Nonoy Tan]

How does one distinguish between the Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, Mandaya, etc. spear?

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Nonoy Tan

How does one distinguish between the Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, Mandaya, etc. spear?

I have the same query.

Perhaps we can orient ourselves first on where these groups are located in Mindanao, via the maps below.