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		#6 | 
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			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Oct 2015 
				Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand 
				
				
					Posts: 122
				 
				
				
				
				
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			I was really awe-strucked at first to see this barong being offered in an auction here as I realised this hilt style is rare, done in a quite identifiable dragon's head, and I haven't seen another one in ivory. Ashokaarts sold a monster head ivory hilted barong before but it was more stylised than this one. I know that Kino and Artzi have similar ones, both wooden hilt. The seller labeled it as a Dyak head hunter's head knife.  
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			I was also puzzled why there were cord wrappings on an apparent status sword. I would have to wait for a week at least for the sword to be sent to me by the seller, so I wouldn't be able to inspect it before my eyes till then. However, based on what I can see, I am of the opinion it was done a long time ago. Aesthetically it does seem to distract from the elegant beauty of the hilt. I was thinking at one point to remove it once I get the sword but has decided against it as I wouldn't want to tamper with the sword's history. Thanks for the comments gentlemen. Last edited by Aslan Paladin; 17th January 2016 at 08:36 AM.  | 
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