Moro Budiak with a bit of baling wire

Lee · 19th August 2010, 12:14 PM

If I recall correctly, I bought this spear head at a local flea market several years ago. The old tag reads:

Quote:

Tagalog spear and Moro spear head -
Philippine Islands.
(Presented to Col. Cavanaugh at Fort McKinley, P.I. in 1907.)
Is believed to be very old.

The overall length (tip of blade to tip of tang) is 16.5 inches; there is no suggestion of a twist core.

I had always thought the twisted 'baling' wire to which the tag is tied was a later addition, but learned that I was wrong with that assumption the Brimfield flea market this past Spring...

Lew · 19th August 2010, 04:57 PM

Lee

The wire bailing helped anchor the blade to the shaft. I had one of these years ago and mine had a rattan binding from the blade to pole. You also see the same technique used on Moro kris.

Battara · 20th August 2010, 05:06 AM

What a nice piece - maybe not twistcore, but looks laminated and definitely a good budiak spearhead.

Lee · 20th August 2010, 03:21 PM

Thank you both!

I arrived at the Spring Brimfield market on the Tuesday and in the morning I saw someone walking away along the highway with a sheathed spear at a distance. I had been lucky in getting that long yari the preceding year and I know I cannot even frequently be the first to find these fresh-to-market treasures. It is so nice when it happens though.

But my luck had not soured, as the next morning I found this same spear was now among some other nice ethnographic items for sale in another spot in a newly opened field. Even better, the gentleman selling it had bought it "right" and was passing it along with only a nominal markup.

As you shall see below, it is another budiak, slightly larger, and with the substantial benefit of retaining not only an interestingly carved old pole but even retaining a scabbard for the blade. As with your observation Lew, the purpose of the wire becomes clear on this example. Battara, this one also shows no signs of a twist core and is also a well-made hand-forged piece.

I suspect that it is probably of the same era as the spear above.

Maurice · 20th August 2010, 03:49 PM

Nice pieces Lee!

Thank you for sharing these budiaks!
I had never seen a budiak with this kind of "baling" wire.

Maurice

Battara · 20th August 2010, 05:12 PM

Congrats Lee. Nice pieces. Is the other budiak with a complete shaft?

20th August 2010, 03:21 PM	#4
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 926	Thank you both! I arrived at the Spring Brimfield market on the Tuesday and in the morning I saw someone walking away along the highway with a sheathed spear at a distance. I had been lucky in getting that long yari the preceding year and I know I cannot even frequently be the first to find these fresh-to-market treasures. It is so nice when it happens though. But my luck had not soured, as the next morning I found this same spear was now among some other nice ethnographic items for sale in another spot in a newly opened field. Even better, the gentleman selling it had bought it "right" and was passing it along with only a nominal markup. As you shall see below, it is another budiak, slightly larger, and with the substantial benefit of retaining not only an interestingly carved old pole but even retaining a scabbard for the blade. As with your observation Lew, the purpose of the wire becomes clear on this example. Battara, this one also shows no signs of a twist core and is also a well-made hand-forged piece. I suspect that it is probably of the same era as the spear above. Attached Images

19th August 2010, 04:57 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Lee The wire bailing helped anchor the blade to the shaft. I had one of these years ago and mine had a rattan binding from the blade to pole. You also see the same technique used on Moro kris.

20th August 2010, 05:06 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	What a nice piece - maybe not twistcore, but looks laminated and definitely a good budiak spearhead.

20th August 2010, 03:49 PM	#5
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,434	Nice pieces Lee! Thank you for sharing these budiaks! I had never seen a budiak with this kind of "baling" wire. Maurice

20th August 2010, 05:12 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Congrats Lee. Nice pieces. Is the other budiak with a complete shaft?