Barong question.

Pukka Bundook · 29th November 2010, 01:09 PM

Good morning Gentlemen,

A barong recently finished on ebay, and though I didn't bid, I wonder if I can ask a couple of questions?
To me, it appears the real deal, yet the pommel end of the grip is not in the style I am used to seeing.
Can anyone comment on this? (age..source, etc?)
Your overall assesment of the piece would be very constructive, and certainly help to enlighten me as to what is what in these interesting knives.

Thank you in advance.

Richard.

KuKulzA28 · 29th November 2010, 02:26 PM

Maybe it is from Sabah or Brunei? The few I've seen pictures of tend to have simple handles and rattan wrappings as opposed to silver ferrules and kakatuas... but I digress... I hope one of the resident gurus chimes in an gives his/her expert opinion

Battara · 29th November 2010, 09:39 PM

Looking at this I was thinking the same thing. I too think of Borneo, especially the scabbard, and yes, perhaps the hilt, although some Borneo hilts do have silver sleeves (punto). Certainly this would be more of working/fighting barong and not one for status. Some of the other Borneo scabbards are very wide all over in profile.

migueldiaz · 29th November 2010, 11:32 PM

richard, the hilt looks like it's palawan (cf. pic below of a palawan bangkung; ian's original post is here).

by the way, i've been to the southern part of palawan and it's so far from the rest of the philippines that when you turn on your a.m. radio, all you here is sabah (northern borneo) broadcasts. thus am sure there's a lot of commonality in design in general between northern borneo and palawan.

hence on the other hand it's also possible that it's from borneo, as vinny and jose said. thanks

Pukka Bundook · 30th November 2010, 02:26 PM

Thank you all for your replies, and for filling in a few blanks for me!
I need to get out my world atlas now.
Any idea of age?

The culture, weaponry, etc is very intriguing to me, and I always seem to want to know more, and every question answered seems to uncover more questions! Thank you again for your time.

Richard..

29th November 2010, 01:09 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Barong question. Good morning Gentlemen, A barong recently finished on ebay, and though I didn't bid, I wonder if I can ask a couple of questions? To me, it appears the real deal, yet the pommel end of the grip is not in the style I am used to seeing. Can anyone comment on this? (age..source, etc?) Your overall assesment of the piece would be very constructive, and certainly help to enlighten me as to what is what in these interesting knives. Thank you in advance. Richard. Attached Images

29th November 2010, 11:32 PM	#4
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	richard, the hilt looks like it's palawan (cf. pic below of a palawan bangkung; ian's original post is here). by the way, i've been to the southern part of palawan and it's so far from the rest of the philippines that when you turn on your a.m. radio, all you here is sabah (northern borneo) broadcasts. thus am sure there's a lot of commonality in design in general between northern borneo and palawan. hence on the other hand it's also possible that it's from borneo, as vinny and jose said. thanks Attached Images

29th November 2010, 02:26 PM	#2
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Maybe it is from Sabah or Brunei? The few I've seen pictures of tend to have simple handles and rattan wrappings as opposed to silver ferrules and kakatuas... but I digress... I hope one of the resident gurus chimes in an gives his/her expert opinion

29th November 2010, 09:39 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	Looking at this I was thinking the same thing. I too think of Borneo, especially the scabbard, and yes, perhaps the hilt, although some Borneo hilts do have silver sleeves (punto). Certainly this would be more of working/fighting barong and not one for status. Some of the other Borneo scabbards are very wide all over in profile.

30th November 2010, 02:26 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thank you all for your replies, and for filling in a few blanks for me! I need to get out my world atlas now. Any idea of age? The culture, weaponry, etc is very intriguing to me, and I always seem to want to know more, and every question answered seems to uncover more questions! Thank you again for your time. Richard..