Two Interesting Moro Barong/Barung

CharlesS · 20th August 2022, 06:17 PM

These two Moro barong were recently acquired from one of our members...thanks RSWORD!...They are both interesting in different ways. The top example is a lovely piece in its own right, with a flawless, beautifully carved pommel, and a relatively common blade type, but it is the scabbard here that drew my attention. I have never seen a scabbard carved throughout its non-rattan-covered length, in this case with unusual floral motifs. The carved has been tinted black to highlight it.
The second example is also of superb quality, with a lovely hilt and only the second lacquered scabbard I have seen with a Moro barong, but the real eye-catcher here is the blade! The massive blade is considerably larger and heavier than a typical barong blade(compare the two examples), with a huge "belly" atypical to most barongs, and a wide reinforced edge giving it the classification of a"shandigan" blade. The blade shows no pattern welding, but you can see the glassy smooth tempered edge and its width in the pics. The piece is just a "monster" of a weapon. The scabbard had to be heavily reinforced due to the weight of the blade, and is pegged together with almost a dozen pegs! The rattan was probably an afterthought to add additional reinforcement.

kai · 21st August 2022, 12:02 PM

The big one certainly is a bummer, Charles!

The hilt strikes me as typical Tausug (I guess this style may be also found outside of the core area inhabited if only for travel/expat communities/trade).

The scabbard seems to have stylistic elements of Sama culture (even if less extensively covered by carving as often seen).

The blade shape does resemble pieces from Maranao or even Palawan and Sabah. Even if it doesn't show contrasting laminations, have you already tried etching, Charles?

Regards,
Kai

JeffS · 21st August 2022, 03:57 PM

Nice set. I scored a little barong, also in nearly perfect shape from RSWORD.

CharlesS · 21st August 2022, 05:43 PM

Lovely piece, Jeff. Interesting to that even though it’s a smaller example of the blade profile of yours is very similar to my large example with what I call a “big belly”.

Battara · 21st August 2022, 09:26 PM

Charles I love the carving on the long one.

Ian · 22nd August 2022, 12:07 AM

Charles,

Your heavy, fat-bellied sword looks quite old to me. That style of hilt is a junggayan form from the 19th C, and fat-bellied barung seemed to be more common then. The forward weighting of the blade and the slightly upturned tip might suggest a Palawano or Zamboanga origin. It's a very interesting sword.

I have heard a theory that the barung may have derived originally from a fat-bellied chopper, like this one, possibly of Chinese origin.

20th August 2022, 06:17 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Two Interesting Moro Barong/Barung These two Moro barong were recently acquired from one of our members...thanks RSWORD!...They are both interesting in different ways. The top example is a lovely piece in its own right, with a flawless, beautifully carved pommel, and a relatively common blade type, but it is the scabbard here that drew my attention. I have never seen a scabbard carved throughout its non-rattan-covered length, in this case with unusual floral motifs. The carved has been tinted black to highlight it. The second example is also of superb quality, with a lovely hilt and only the second lacquered scabbard I have seen with a Moro barong, but the real eye-catcher here is the blade! The massive blade is considerably larger and heavier than a typical barong blade(compare the two examples), with a huge "belly" atypical to most barongs, and a wide reinforced edge giving it the classification of a"shandigan" blade. The blade shows no pattern welding, but you can see the glassy smooth tempered edge and its width in the pics. The piece is just a "monster" of a weapon. The scabbard had to be heavily reinforced due to the weight of the blade, and is pegged together with almost a dozen pegs! The rattan was probably an afterthought to add additional reinforcement. Attached Images

21st August 2022, 03:57 PM	#3
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 345	Nice set. I scored a little barong, also in nearly perfect shape from RSWORD. Attached Images

21st August 2022, 12:02 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	The big one certainly is a bummer, Charles! The hilt strikes me as typical Tausug (I guess this style may be also found outside of the core area inhabited if only for travel/expat communities/trade). The scabbard seems to have stylistic elements of Sama culture (even if less extensively covered by carving as often seen). The blade shape does resemble pieces from Maranao or even Palawan and Sabah. Even if it doesn't show contrasting laminations, have you already tried etching, Charles? Regards, Kai

21st August 2022, 05:43 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Lovely piece, Jeff. Interesting to that even though it’s a smaller example of the blade profile of yours is very similar to my large example with what I call a “big belly”.

21st August 2022, 09:26 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Charles I love the carving on the long one.

22nd August 2022, 12:07 AM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Charles, Your heavy, fat-bellied sword looks quite old to me. That style of hilt is a junggayan form from the 19th C, and fat-bellied barung seemed to be more common then. The forward weighting of the blade and the slightly upturned tip might suggest a Palawano or Zamboanga origin. It's a very interesting sword. I have heard a theory that the barung may have derived originally from a fat-bellied chopper, like this one, possibly of Chinese origin.