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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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I just picked up this item and I'm not quite sure if it is a barong with a modified tip, or something else. It looks like it could have been hit by a bullet or maybe just a rock. The handle is horn.
Has anyone seen something like this before |
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#2 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,284
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Are those stamps I see on the blade?
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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No, the front (large indentation)missing metal, on the back, a bulge, and missing metal. It could be delamination, but it doesn't really look like it to me.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,712
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Very interesting item.
![]() Regards, Detlef |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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I was wondering if someone modified a barong for agricultural use or if it was actually a form of a sword.
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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The Spanish occupiers of the Philippines at one point outlawed sharp pointy things. They did permit sharp blunt things, and allowed breaking off the points on 'agricultural tools' to make them into 'not weapons'. Which of course did not work, as most of the weapony items were designed to cut and slice, not so much poke.
Bit of thread veer, but kinda on topic: I have a European (Italian) pipe-back cavalry sword that has an obvious bullet strike, an obvious neat circular depression on the port side about a foot or so from the guard, and a nice round bump on starboard, not involving the pipe spine at all or bend the blade, the depression circle just touches the spine. There is a slight crack on the edge which is presumably harder. Had the blade been laminated as your might be, it might look like that tho. The scabbard has no damage, so presumably the owner was using it at the time and re-scabbarded it after, and survived. If yours is the same, they both would have quite a tale to tell. Italian 1877 pipe-back sabre you can just make out the dimple. I like to think it was used at the Last Italian Savoia Cavalry Charge against the Soviets in ww2. the Last Italian Savoia Cavalry Charge against the Soviets in ww2. Interesting that the last surviving horse was blinded but survived til 1960. The ref. movie is here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_niblRkW0 (in Italian & B&W) - The good bits start at 1:13:15 - The white horse survivor is quite prominent. ![]() We now return you to our regularly scheduled program: Veer off. Last edited by kronckew; 6th February 2021 at 07:45 PM. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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Your posts are always insightful, informative, and appreciated.
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,712
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Hello Drac2k,
Have you tried to etch the blade? The way the lamination looks near the tip could give a clue if the blade is cut at this point. The handle with the ferrule looks very old and worn to my eyes and can be very well original to the blade. Only my thoughts when I look at your pictures. Regards, Detlef |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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Hello back.
I think your assessment on the handle and the ferrule being original to the blade are correct as well as it having good age. In regards to etching the blade to determine if the tip has been cut is a great idea, however, my one attempt at doing it scared the heck out of me and showed me that I had no business in doing so! It was a mess! |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 415
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,216
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Believe it or not, that is what I was using the first and the last time; the blade started rusting and it looked horrible. I did neutralize it with baking soda and continuous rinses and I oiled the blade, but the laminations were very dark and not at all pleasing to me.
To me, etching isn't extremely desirable("The Fox & the Grapes,"), if it has it, wonderful (such as Tibetan blades with strong patterns), and if not, that is fine too. I do appreciate your input and I thank you. |
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#13 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,712
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#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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FeCl looks really nasty until neutralised and cleaned,Acetic acid less so, and is easier to remove colour with easy polishing. Fruit acids tend to give good results too. Limes are popular. Arsenic washing is probably not a good idea unless you have an Indonesian Keris and a death wish. My Barungs and Kris have been vinegar tested just to confirm or deny laminations, then simichrome repolished to bring it back to original. I'm not too pleased with the color FeCl leaves. Interesting aside: lemons and limes are essentially the same, their taste and smell component that makes the difference is exactly the same molecule, just arranged slightly differently one is right handed, the other is left handed, they're isomers of each other. To further confuse, limes can also be yellow and lemons green. ![]() |
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