Gunongs Righty & Lefty

[Gavin Nugent]

I would be curious to know the blade orientation when out of the sheath?
I say this because at face value one could be forgiven for thinking the sheath fittings have been put of back to front after a restoration or similar event.



Gav

[Jean]

A nice and used gunong found in a Middle-East antique shop!
Regards

[David]

That's a sweet gunong you have there Jean...
Here are the blades. The hilt orientation seems correct to me. I believe this is a matter of which side of the body the sheaths are oriented to be worn on.

[Battara]

Well the blades do show that they are not post 1940s. Nice blades, although I suspect an etch could show laminations.

These knives if I remember right were used for personal defense. Smaller ones are usually older (as well as your hilts on these) and kept on the body, sometimes even hidden in the clothing.

As far as the sword banning, it was done I think after the Battle of Bud Bagsak, which was in 1915. After this battle we gradually see these gunongs get bigger and more ornate, sort of replacing the outlawed Moro swords.

[David]

Originally Posted by Battara

Well the blades do show that they are not post 1940s. Nice blades, although I suspect an etch could show laminations.

Jose, i pretty sure these are both pre-1920. I really think they are both closer to turn of the century. They are indeed both laminated blades, but they don't show any particularly interesting pattern. I did an etch on the ivory one and brought it back a bit because it looks better this way.
Looking forward to your account Fergie, since i know you have quite a few of these. Should give us a better understanding if it was common to wear these on different sides of the body.