Silver Mounted Barong with Swassa

CharlesS · 9th April 2014, 06:41 PM

Well, I suppose silver must become the new ivory, so here's a start with that philosophy.

This lovely old barong is likely early 20th century and sports many fine and unique features:

1. A very heavy shandigan blade with reinforced edge and easily visible heat treated zone. This is probably the 2nd heaviest barong I have ever handled.

2. A "chop" mark to one side of the blade. I believe Spunjer suggested some time ago that these marks are often fraudulent and mean nothing, but became a status symbol nonetheless. I see nothing about this blade that suggests it's anything other than Moro made. If anyone sees a unique identity to the chop mark, please let us know.

3. A silver ferrule with a swassa bolster of excellent craftsmanship

4. The top of the ferrule is mounted in a separate, but perfectly fitted swassa insert, again, of tremendous craftsmanship....look at the practically seamless fit!

5. A swassa insert into the rear of the jungayyan-esque pommel. No doubt this one was at one time as perfect as the one mentioned above, but over time an opening has occurred between the swassa and silver on one side.

Dimensions: Overall in scabbard: 26in. Complete sword alone: 24in. Blade:16in.

The scabbard here is not original to this blade, but is an old one I had that just happened to fit perfectly. I have had some very good luck with collected old barong scabbards fitting on to blades they were not "born" with.

Comments and remarks are welcomed.

Spunjer · 10th April 2014, 03:53 AM

yowza!!! what a beaut, Charles!!! nothing to add, really, except that this has got to be be one of the most beautiful barungs i've ever seen! congrats!!!

jwkiernan · 10th April 2014, 06:03 AM

Absolutely one of the most beautiful barongs I have seen...thanks for sharing!
All my best,
John

Robert · 10th April 2014, 07:17 AM

WOW

The simple elegance of the silver and gold/swassa work is what (at least as far as I am concerned) makes this such an outstanding example. Add to that an extremely well proportioned and finished blade and you end up with one of the most beautiful barongs that I have ever seen. My congratulations to you for your great fortune in acquiring this item. To say that I am envious would be an understatement. But I will anyway.

Best,
Robert

cicak_cobing · 10th April 2014, 09:41 AM

this one got me drooling..

CharlesS · 10th April 2014, 12:29 PM

Thanks guys. I am thrilled with it. Somehow it almost seems to have an 'art deco' quality to it doesn't it? Just very different.

David · 10th April 2014, 04:03 PM

I'm sorry Charles, but the recent ban on ivory has just been extended to all silver-hilted barongs as well. If you wrap this beauty up immediately and sent it to me directly i will see what i can do about keeping it safe from the customs agents and making sure no charges are brought against you…

Loedjoe · 10th April 2014, 04:35 PM

Indeed an outstanding barong, which I was sorry to see as 'sold' on Gavin's website Swords and Antique Weapons a few days ago, but congratulations to CharlesS for securing it (and to Gavin for finding it).

Jim McDougall · 10th April 2014, 05:06 PM

While I have seldom entered this particular field of collecting, I have occasionally had the opportunity to see phenomenal examples of these kinds of weapons through Gav, who has always helpfully shared many of these 'finds' with me. Naturally with my obsession with markings on blades of all kinds, this one is intriguing as it seems odd to see a Chinese 'chop' mark on a blade from Islamic areas of the S. Philippines.

Although I no longer am a collector of weapons, I am very much of information and learning.Thanks to the tenacious and discerning skills of Gav in finding unusual, and as seen here, fantastically beautiful, weapons I have indeed learned a lot!

Congratulations Charles! and thank you for presenting this incredible weapon with such great detail.

I hope we will get more on the chop mark. It seems these of course were placed on all manner of things, money, documents etc. as an easily recognized indicator of official status. On arms it seems to have been used primarily as a 'quality' symbol, much the same as with makers and guild marks on European and other blades, so I doubt it could be classified as 'fraudulent' despite probably being spurious .

VANDOO · 10th April 2014, 08:54 PM

A BEAUTIFUL AND EXCEPTIONAL BARONG ,CONGRADULATIONS!

THE METAL WORK LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING A VERY GOOD JEWELER COULD DO. IF THE SILVER , SWASSA METAL WORK WAS DONE BY A CHINESE THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE MARK THOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD HAVE SIGNED THE BLADE INSTEAD OF THE SILVER WORK.

IN MANY COUNTRIES CRAFTSMEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES OFTEN WERE THE ONES DOING THE FANCY GOLD AND SILVER WORK I WONDER IF THIS WAS THE CASE IN THE PHILIPPINES OR IF IT WAS ALL LOCAL WORK?
A STROKE OF GOOD LUCK FINDING SUCH A NICE SCABBARD THAT FITS. I WOULD THINK THE ORIGINAL WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF THIS VERY GOOD QUALITY WOOD.

Sajen · 10th April 2014, 09:19 PM

What can I say others don't have said already?
A real beauty, congrats Charles!

Regards,
Detlef

kronckew · 10th April 2014, 10:38 PM

i seem to recall reading that the chinese produced good blades for the Filipino trade which were then hilted in the Philippines.

9th April 2014, 06:41 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Silver Mounted Barong with Swassa Well, I suppose silver must become the new ivory, so here's a start with that philosophy. This lovely old barong is likely early 20th century and sports many fine and unique features: 1. A very heavy shandigan blade with reinforced edge and easily visible heat treated zone. This is probably the 2nd heaviest barong I have ever handled. 2. A "chop" mark to one side of the blade. I believe Spunjer suggested some time ago that these marks are often fraudulent and mean nothing, but became a status symbol nonetheless. I see nothing about this blade that suggests it's anything other than Moro made. If anyone sees a unique identity to the chop mark, please let us know. 3. A silver ferrule with a swassa bolster of excellent craftsmanship 4. The top of the ferrule is mounted in a separate, but perfectly fitted swassa insert, again, of tremendous craftsmanship....look at the practically seamless fit! 5. A swassa insert into the rear of the jungayyan-esque pommel. No doubt this one was at one time as perfect as the one mentioned above, but over time an opening has occurred between the swassa and silver on one side. Dimensions: Overall in scabbard: 26in. Complete sword alone: 24in. Blade:16in. The scabbard here is not original to this blade, but is an old one I had that just happened to fit perfectly. I have had some very good luck with collected old barong scabbards fitting on to blades they were not "born" with. Comments and remarks are welcomed. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 9th April 2014 at 07:37 PM.

10th April 2014, 07:17 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	WOW The simple elegance of the silver and gold/swassa work is what (at least as far as I am concerned) makes this such an outstanding example. Add to that an extremely well proportioned and finished blade and you end up with one of the most beautiful barongs that I have ever seen. My congratulations to you for your great fortune in acquiring this item. To say that I am envious would be an understatement. But I will anyway. Best, Robert Attached Images

10th April 2014, 03:53 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	yowza!!! what a beaut, Charles!!! nothing to add, really, except that this has got to be be one of the most beautiful barungs i've ever seen! congrats!!!

10th April 2014, 06:03 AM	#3
jwkiernan Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37	Absolutely one of the most beautiful barongs I have seen...thanks for sharing! All my best, John

10th April 2014, 09:41 AM	#5
cicak_cobing Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 20	this one got me drooling..

10th April 2014, 12:29 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks guys. I am thrilled with it. Somehow it almost seems to have an 'art deco' quality to it doesn't it? Just very different.

10th April 2014, 04:03 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I'm sorry Charles, but the recent ban on ivory has just been extended to all silver-hilted barongs as well. If you wrap this beauty up immediately and sent it to me directly i will see what i can do about keeping it safe from the customs agents and making sure no charges are brought against you…

10th April 2014, 04:35 PM	#8
Loedjoe Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oxford (UK) Posts: 96	Indeed an outstanding barong, which I was sorry to see as 'sold' on Gavin's website Swords and Antique Weapons a few days ago, but congratulations to CharlesS for securing it (and to Gavin for finding it).

10th April 2014, 05:06 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	While I have seldom entered this particular field of collecting, I have occasionally had the opportunity to see phenomenal examples of these kinds of weapons through Gav, who has always helpfully shared many of these 'finds' with me. Naturally with my obsession with markings on blades of all kinds, this one is intriguing as it seems odd to see a Chinese 'chop' mark on a blade from Islamic areas of the S. Philippines. Although I no longer am a collector of weapons, I am very much of information and learning.Thanks to the tenacious and discerning skills of Gav in finding unusual, and as seen here, fantastically beautiful, weapons I have indeed learned a lot! Congratulations Charles! and thank you for presenting this incredible weapon with such great detail. I hope we will get more on the chop mark. It seems these of course were placed on all manner of things, money, documents etc. as an easily recognized indicator of official status. On arms it seems to have been used primarily as a 'quality' symbol, much the same as with makers and guild marks on European and other blades, so I doubt it could be classified as 'fraudulent' despite probably being spurious .

10th April 2014, 08:54 PM	#10
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A BEAUTIFUL AND EXCEPTIONAL BARONG ,CONGRADULATIONS! THE METAL WORK LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING A VERY GOOD JEWELER COULD DO. IF THE SILVER , SWASSA METAL WORK WAS DONE BY A CHINESE THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE MARK THOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD HAVE SIGNED THE BLADE INSTEAD OF THE SILVER WORK. IN MANY COUNTRIES CRAFTSMEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES OFTEN WERE THE ONES DOING THE FANCY GOLD AND SILVER WORK I WONDER IF THIS WAS THE CASE IN THE PHILIPPINES OR IF IT WAS ALL LOCAL WORK? A STROKE OF GOOD LUCK FINDING SUCH A NICE SCABBARD THAT FITS. I WOULD THINK THE ORIGINAL WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF THIS VERY GOOD QUALITY WOOD.

10th April 2014, 09:19 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	What can I say others don't have said already? A real beauty, congrats Charles! Regards, Detlef

10th April 2014, 10:38 PM	#12
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	i seem to recall reading that the chinese produced good blades for the Filipino trade which were then hilted in the Philippines.