Go on... show us your Barung!!! - Page 3

xasterix · 5th January 2021, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerseyman

I only have a couple of these - a simple hilt with a nice twist-core blade which I picked up from Gavin years ago (currently in storage and no photos to hand), and this one picked up very recently. I've only had a chance to give it a quick wipe down so far.

It's had a bit of a hard life, but I thought it was worth posting as it has a poor man's version of the wire wrap on Pepperskull's barong - exactly the same I think except it's in cord which has frayed quite a bit.

A small area of corrosion on an otherwise nice hollow-ground blade, and an old collector's number on the hilt.

Measurements

Length 56cm
Hilt 15.5cm
Ferrule 17 x 3 x 2.4cm
Pommel 16.5 x 3.8cm
Finials 1 x 0.8cm
Blade length 40.5cm
Blade width 3 > 6.5cm
Spine 0.8 > 0.1cm

A really nice piece! This one has a lot of character. I like how the original owner wrapped the whole hilt...I've wielded a very similar-looking sample, but its blade wasn't shandigan.

drac2k · 6th January 2021, 03:06 PM

I posted 2 barongs on the same day that this thread was begun not realizing that it was started, so let me add 3 of my other blades.

xasterix · 6th January 2021, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

I posted 2 barongs on the same day that this thread was begun not realizing that it was started, so let me add 3 of my other blades.

Merciful Lord...that's a king's ransom of really nice barungs! Great collection!

kronckew · 6th January 2021, 05:45 PM

Drac2k, nice batch of barungs, the scabbard wrappings on them are giving me ideas...

drac2k · 6th January 2021, 08:14 PM

Thanks, guys.

Sajen · 7th January 2021, 10:11 PM

Beautiful barongs drac2k!

Here a update of my ones, some are gone, some are new to the collection.

drac2k · 8th January 2021, 04:57 AM

WOW Sajen, pretty darn nice ones you got there yourself; and with scabbards!

Sajen · 8th January 2021, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

WOW Sajen, pretty darn nice ones you got there yourself; and with scabbards!

Thank you!

But yours with the inlaid blades are outstanding.

The scabbards by the first one from left and the second from right are not original to the blades but fit them fairly well. The two at right are shadigan blades, not good to see in the pictures.

xasterix · 13th January 2021, 11:57 PM

Just received this barung last week, passed on by another forumite =) so difficult to get rid of the leaf-blade bug.

kronckew · 14th January 2021, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xasterix

Just received this barung last week, passed on by another forumite =) so difficult to get rid of the leaf-blade bug.

True, I have more barungs than I have hands to use them.

Is that dark streak in the scabbard a crack or a darker graining? A closeup of the carving near the scabbard mouth and of the grip pommel would be useful too. And, I have this odd desire to oil & rub my wood scabbards with furniture oil... Might do the Kris ones too.

I love the R'eyes' mark on the blade root...cool trademark. Mfg by M.Reyes I presume.

xasterix · 18th January 2021, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

True, I have more barungs than I have hands to use them.

Is that dark streak in the scabbard a crack or a darker graining? A closeup of the carving near the scabbard mouth and of the grip pommel would be useful too. And, I have this odd desire to oil & rub my wood scabbards with furniture oil... Might do the Kris ones too.

I love the R'eyes' mark on the blade root...cool trademark. Mfg by M.Reyes I presume.

Hi sir, it's a crack...the scabbard is damaged. I've included additional pictures.

kronckew · 18th January 2021, 05:15 AM

Nice, I'd be tempted to wick some superglue into the handle crack & possibly fill the scabbard defect with a wood putty or filler of some sort if you can do it without blocking the entrance of the blade, or possibly just wrap it in a few spots with rattan or other appropriate cord. But that's just me...

Royston · 18th January 2021, 11:36 AM

Here is my contribution

kai · 18th January 2021, 08:16 PM

Very nice collection, Roy!

kronckew · 18th January 2021, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Very nice collection, Roy!

Yup, cool stuff. Excellent!

Sajen · 18th January 2021, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Very nice collection, Roy!

Agree!

xasterix · 18th January 2021, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royston

Here is my contribution

Amazing collection! One of the best I've seen so far. May we inquire for more info regarding the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th samples? The 6th sample seems extra interesting as it has provenance note.

Royston · 23rd January 2021, 08:51 AM

Hello Xasterix.
Can't tell you too much about them as I find Barung nomenclature somewhat confusing.
However, #5 is slightly hollow ground but it does not have a pronounced rib so I don't think it could be called shandigan.

The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900

Cheers
Roy

kronckew · 23rd January 2021, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royston

...
The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900...

I enlarged it, and sharpened it a bit. I still can't make out anything on that second line. The rest would make a good example for a doctor's handwriting, it's so obscure. Maybe someone else can try?

kino · 24th January 2021, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royston

The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900

(somewhere) could be “Moro”

2nd line, 1st word crossed out “Sul”, as in Sulu, 2nd word looks like “Island”
3rd word, the last 4 letters looks like”jolo”

xasterix · 23rd March 2021, 10:46 AM

Adding another barung to the thread...partially restored, had to plug holes and cracks on the c-horn. I'll be restoring the blade to full functionality soon. Taking a mugshot before it's fully live again

Ian · 23rd March 2021, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

I enlarged it, and sharpened it a bit. I still can't make out anything on that second line. The rest would make a good example for a doctor's handwriting, it's so obscure. Maybe someone else can try?

Wayne, as a physician let me translate this early 20th C "doctor's handwriting."

From Moro Village
the(?) Island of Jolo
Bought by Col Bird(?)
April 4 1900

Ian · 23rd March 2021, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xasterix

Adding another barung to the thread...partially restored, had to plug holes and cracks on the c-horn. I'll be restoring the blade to full functionality soon. Taking a mugshot before it's fully live again

Hi Xas. Very nice old barung. The hilt looks Yakan to me--would you agree?

Battara · 24th March 2021, 01:22 AM

I agree - Yakan

xasterix · 24th March 2021, 12:41 PM

Thanks for the assessment, Ian and Jose. I neglected to take a picture of the opposite side; here are post-restoration pics already. There's a Chinese chop-mark on that side. It supposedly translates as "to lead" or "leader," but further research is being done by a Chinese friend to confirm.

Because of the chop-mark I'd agree that it's Sulu archipelago, but not necessarily of Yakan make.

Ian · 24th March 2021, 10:43 PM

Xas,

Nice that it has a Chinese mark. The blade appears to have a nice laminated pattern with an inserted edge. Do you plan to etch it?

Ian.

xasterix · 26th March 2021, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Xas,

Nice that it has a Chinese mark. The blade appears to have a nice laminated pattern with an inserted edge. Do you plan to etch it?

Ian.

Hi Ian, yup I've etched it. It's monosteel

Indio_Ira · 14th April 2021, 08:43 PM

Hello Everyone,

Brand new member here and thank you for approving my account!

I'm quite new to collecting so I appreciate everyone's knowledge here and input. Here is my Barong with silver hilt and ivory pommel.

The scabbard seems to have been made later than the blade since it has a 1937 US coin. It is held together by nickle bands.

Would love to hear any feedback on where this Barong originated from on from what year.

Thanks!

kai · 15th April 2021, 01:52 AM

Welcome to the forum!

More pics and specs of the blade would be good.

The hilt and scabbard are likely Maranao work from after WWII.

The blade might also be Maranao but difficult to tell from the limited pics.

Regards,
Kai

kronckew · 15th April 2021, 09:57 AM

Dimensions (length, width, thickness of blade and weight help too. Please show both sides of the blade/grip. and scabbard

Blades are often older than scabbards as they tended to drop their scabbards before a battle, and recover them after victory. If they lost, they didn't need it, the new owner could either get a new one made, or have a look to see where the previous owners dropped them & find one that fit. Even if the old owner won, he may have had a new one made if it were damaged or worn, or he wanted a more decorated one.

6th January 2021, 03:06 PM	#62
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	I posted 2 barongs on the same day that this thread was begun not realizing that it was started, so let me add 3 of my other blades. Attached Images

7th January 2021, 10:11 PM	#66
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	Beautiful barongs drac2k! Here a update of my ones, some are gone, some are new to the collection. Attached Images

13th January 2021, 11:57 PM	#69
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 653	Just received this barung last week, passed on by another forumite =) so difficult to get rid of the leaf-blade bug. Attached Images

18th January 2021, 11:36 AM	#73
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	More Barongs Here is my contribution Attached Images

23rd March 2021, 10:46 AM	#81
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 653	Adding another barung to the thread...partially restored, had to plug holes and cracks on the c-horn. I'll be restoring the blade to full functionality soon. Taking a mugshot before it's fully live again Attached Images

6th January 2021, 05:45 PM	#64
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,181	Drac2k, nice batch of barungs, the scabbard wrappings on them are giving me ideas...

6th January 2021, 08:14 PM	#65
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	Thanks, guys.

8th January 2021, 04:57 AM	#67
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	WOW Sajen, pretty darn nice ones you got there yourself; and with scabbards!

18th January 2021, 05:15 AM	#72
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,181	Nice, I'd be tempted to wick some superglue into the handle crack & possibly fill the scabbard defect with a wood putty or filler of some sort if you can do it without blocking the entrance of the blade, or possibly just wrap it in a few spots with rattan or other appropriate cord. But that's just me...

18th January 2021, 08:16 PM	#74
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Very nice collection, Roy!

23rd January 2021, 08:51 AM	#78
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Hello Xasterix. Can't tell you too much about them as I find Barung nomenclature somewhat confusing. However, #5 is slightly hollow ground but it does not have a pronounced rib so I don't think it could be called shandigan. The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:- From (somewhere) village I cannot read the second line at all Bought by Col Bird ? April 4 1900 Cheers Roy

24th March 2021, 01:22 AM	#84
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I agree - Yakan

24th March 2021, 12:41 PM	#85
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 653	Thanks for the assessment, Ian and Jose. I neglected to take a picture of the opposite side; here are post-restoration pics already. There's a Chinese chop-mark on that side. It supposedly translates as "to lead" or "leader," but further research is being done by a Chinese friend to confirm. Because of the chop-mark I'd agree that it's Sulu archipelago, but not necessarily of Yakan make. Attached Images

24th March 2021, 10:43 PM	#86
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Xas, Nice that it has a Chinese mark. The blade appears to have a nice laminated pattern with an inserted edge. Do you plan to etch it? Ian.

14th April 2021, 08:43 PM	#88
Indio_Ira Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 26	Datu Barong Hello Everyone, Brand new member here and thank you for approving my account! I'm quite new to collecting so I appreciate everyone's knowledge here and input. Here is my Barong with silver hilt and ivory pommel. The scabbard seems to have been made later than the blade since it has a 1937 US coin. It is held together by nickle bands. Would love to hear any feedback on where this Barong originated from on from what year. Thanks! Attached Images

15th April 2021, 01:52 AM	#89
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Welcome to the forum! More pics and specs of the blade would be good. The hilt and scabbard are likely Maranao work from after WWII. The blade might also be Maranao but difficult to tell from the limited pics. Regards, Kai

15th April 2021, 09:57 AM	#90
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,181	Dimensions (length, width, thickness of blade and weight help too. Please show both sides of the blade/grip. and scabbard Blades are often older than scabbards as they tended to drop their scabbards before a battle, and recover them after victory. If they lost, they didn't need it, the new owner could either get a new one made, or have a look to see where the previous owners dropped them & find one that fit. Even if the old owner won, he may have had a new one made if it were damaged or worn, or he wanted a more decorated one.