SEA sword - Barong? Tourist?

jmings · 23rd July 2006, 06:00 AM

I got eBay item 180008067600, and on another forum an off-forum expert claimed it was a barong. LINK

I had initally ruled out barong because of the flatness of the spine.

Opinions? Comments? Doon't spare my feelings.

Henk · 23rd July 2006, 09:30 AM

Looks to me as a barong indeed. Tourist?? I don't know because this is not my field. Maybe you can make some close ups of the scabbard and the hilt.

Looks to me as a nice barong, but the experts can tell you more.

nechesh · 23rd July 2006, 03:09 PM

Well as you say, with the flatness of the spine and the narrowness of the blade this knife does really seem to have much of the profile that i would normal associate with a barong. Hard to say from the photos, but it also doesn't look like a laminated blade nor one of any particular quality, though you should clean it up and give it a light etch to be sure when you get it. My guess would be that this was not a blade that was made for native use. But at that price

it was a real bargain anyway and i would have bought it if i saw it so cheap.

Ian · 23rd July 2006, 03:53 PM

The inscribed markings on this blade are similar to those seen on barung from N. Borneo. Made for the local market as well as for the tourist trade, barung are still being produced in N. Borneo.

The blade profile on this one is narrower than a Moro barung. Although the recent N. Borneo versions tend to be narrower than those seen from the Sulu area, I don't think your blade would classify as a barung -- perhaps a gayang or simply a parang.

A few years ago on the old forum I posted pictures of N. Borneo barung, and that thread is here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001304.html

That thread included some very nice pictures from John of a local market in Sabah where recently made knives and swords were on display. Blades of similar profile to yours can be seen in his pictures.

Hope this is helpful.

Ian.

jmings · 23rd July 2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

<snick>
Hope this is helpful.

Ian.

It certainly is.
Thanks to all who commented as well.

Cheers

jmings · 30th July 2006, 06:38 AM

Well it's here and has distal taper, eliminating the machette theory.
From the wear on the COP I would say it had been in use for years.
I've not etched it at least not yet, so I can't say there was any diferential hardening.
The price was good and I'm happy.
It's nowhere the quality of my 2 Cold Steel barong not my Valient golok but it didn't cost as much as they did either.

ariel · 30th July 2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmings

Well it's here and has distal taper, eliminating the machette theory.
From the wear on the COP I would say it had been in use for years.
I've not etched it at least not yet, so I can't say there was any diferential hardening.
The price was good and I'm happy.
It's nowhere the quality of my 2 Cold Steel barong not my Valient golok but it didn't cost as much as they did either.

And the most important thing, it is not mass-produced.
I'd rather have a real thing that is simple and primitive than a factory-stamped, mechanically flawless, modern rendition of it!
Congratulations!
Sometimes, e-bay has pleasant surprises for those willing to look at bizarre listing titles.

23rd July 2006, 06:00 AM	#1
jmings Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tebbetts, Missouri, USA Posts: 49	SEA sword - Barong? Tourist? I got eBay item 180008067600, and on another forum an off-forum expert claimed it was a barong. LINK I had initally ruled out barong because of the flatness of the spine. Opinions? Comments? Doon't spare my feelings.

23rd July 2006, 03:53 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,204	Northern Borneo The inscribed markings on this blade are similar to those seen on barung from N. Borneo. Made for the local market as well as for the tourist trade, barung are still being produced in N. Borneo. The blade profile on this one is narrower than a Moro barung. Although the recent N. Borneo versions tend to be narrower than those seen from the Sulu area, I don't think your blade would classify as a barung -- perhaps a gayang or simply a parang. A few years ago on the old forum I posted pictures of N. Borneo barung, and that thread is here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001304.html That thread included some very nice pictures from John of a local market in Sabah where recently made knives and swords were on display. Blades of similar profile to yours can be seen in his pictures. Hope this is helpful. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 23rd July 2006 at 04:09 PM.

23rd July 2006, 09:30 AM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Looks to me as a barong indeed. Tourist?? I don't know because this is not my field. Maybe you can make some close ups of the scabbard and the hilt. Looks to me as a nice barong, but the experts can tell you more.

23rd July 2006, 03:09 PM	#3
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Well as you say, with the flatness of the spine and the narrowness of the blade this knife does really seem to have much of the profile that i would normal associate with a barong. Hard to say from the photos, but it also doesn't look like a laminated blade nor one of any particular quality, though you should clean it up and give it a light etch to be sure when you get it. My guess would be that this was not a blade that was made for native use. But at that price it was a real bargain anyway and i would have bought it if i saw it so cheap.

30th July 2006, 06:38 AM	#6
jmings Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tebbetts, Missouri, USA Posts: 49	Well it's here and has distal taper, eliminating the machette theory. From the wear on the COP I would say it had been in use for years. I've not etched it at least not yet, so I can't say there was any diferential hardening. The price was good and I'm happy. It's nowhere the quality of my 2 Cold Steel barong not my Valient golok but it didn't cost as much as they did either.