Three Interesting Filipino Bangkungs

Ian · 10th May 2020, 10:00 PM

Hi Charles,

More lovely pieces. Are these yours?

The ferrule on the third one has similarities to the banded brass hilts found on some pakayun from North Borneo, which have circular brass guards too. Also, the pommel style in the shape of a parrot or cockatoo was ascribed to Borneo on a kampilan shown here many years ago by Dan Wilke.

The forward weighted blade seen on bangkung is a common style found elsewhere in the Philippines (e.g., ginunting) and more southern Malay areas. For example, there is a similar, but shorter, bangkung attributed to Sulawesi. The atypical hilts on these examples could reflect origins beyond the Sulu Archipelago.

Ian

10th May 2020, 10:00 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Hi Charles, More lovely pieces. Are these yours? The ferrule on the third one has similarities to the banded brass hilts found on some pakayun from North Borneo, which have circular brass guards too. Also, the pommel style in the shape of a parrot or cockatoo was ascribed to Borneo on a kampilan shown here many years ago by Dan Wilke. The forward weighted blade seen on bangkung is a common style found elsewhere in the Philippines (e.g., ginunting) and more southern Malay areas. For example, there is a similar, but shorter, bangkung attributed to Sulawesi. The atypical hilts on these examples could reflect origins beyond the Sulu Archipelago. Ian