Moro Spearhead, but from what Battle?

[Ian]

Moro combat was seldom "set pieces" but more in the nature of skirmishes that came up at short notice. Each man had his own set of weapons. Perhaps the Sultan and one or two prominent datus had an armory of sorts for their personal body guards.

My guess is that weapons were fully assembled and ready to go at all times. Not all combat spears were thrown—most were used as stabbing weapons in (somewhat) close combat.

[Rafngard]

Originally Posted by Ian

My guess is that weapons were fully assembled and ready to go at all times. Not all combat spears were thrown—most were used as stabbing weapons in (somewhat) close combat.

It goes without saying that modern martial arts practices (even "traditional" ones) don't necessarily reflect techniques used with historic weapons, but the Bruneian spear work I've studied does utilize quite a bit of cuts in addition to thrusts. The few budiaks that I've handled in person definitely feel like they could have been used in that way also.

Thanks,
Leif

[drac2k]

Actually, I wish that I had remembered this earlier;Rsword sold an interesting set of Moro spearheads that came in a wooden box, specifically carved for them.This might reinforce(just a little), my theory of Moro spearheads being kept apart from the hafts unless needed.
It would be great if he still had the pictures and he could repost them here.

[kai]

The vast majority of Moro spear heads does come fitted with shafts (often cut for making overseas export feasible) or remnants of fittings/resin.

Moro settlements were prone to raids and skirmishes. Weapons needed to be instantaneously at hand. Additional makeshift weapons (e.g. sharpened green bamboo) may be added on short notice, too. However selecting and curing suitable timber/rattan utilized for regular spear heads is a lengthy process.

Regards,
Kai

[Ian]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Actually, I wish that I had remembered this earlier;Rsword sold an interesting set of Moro spearheads that came in a wooden box, specifically carved for them.This might reinforce(just a little), my theory of Moro spearheads being kept apart from the hafts unless needed.
It would be great if he still had the pictures and he could repost them here.

Drac, I suspect those were family heirlooms at one time, maybe pusaka handed down through several generations, and not intended for further use. As kai also notes, Moros kept their combat weapons at the ready.

[wildwolberine]

For those who might be interested, the 2024 book “Massacre in the Clouds: An American atrocity and the erasure of history” by Kim Wagner is about Bud Dajo.

[Battara]

Thank you for the reference Woldwolverine.

Another thought is that the American soldiers coming back from the Moro Wars often broke the shafts to fit into their foot lockers. Thus many burials have a blade and half or less of the haft intact. This may be one of those.

That being said, I love the okir work on the scabbard. From the okir work, I can tell it is from the Maguindanao or less likely but possibly Maranao).

Both groups are from Mindanao.

Rarely do you find scabbards that survive, much less those with well carved okir on them.