My gunong collection and some thoughts
 

Ian has recently asked in a other thread why and what we collect. I have given the answer in his thread already but here some deeper aspects. By threads in this forum, special by threads from Steve Ferguson I get interest for this beautiful daggers. I asked myself some time ago if I should collect only the old/antique ones but decided to collect all which was made for real use. Some interesting pieces I have to let go, by some I was outbid, others has been to expensiv, one very intersting piece get confiscated by german customs. I will show my collection piece by piece, my thoughts about them and what I think about the age. Some of them was discussed before, I will post the links. It is interesting to see how this daggers has looked in different times. In my opinion are the newer pieces also very worthy for a collection as long as they worked for real use, here two threads where I have shown two very interesting gunongs, not antique but worked for use: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong & http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong Both are worth to enter a gunong collection.
This interesting gunong get confiscated by german customs because the seller write on the custom declaration "bear tooth handle": http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong , a very interesting piece IMHO.
Here an very informative link: http://home.earthlink.net/~federicom...roweapons.html

Here my centerpiece of my gunong collection, it was dicussed before in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong

Scabbard and handle attachments are from silver with two small bands from suassa, pommel from ivory. Blade seems to be laminated but it need more polishing to be sure. Age: 1900-1910. 29,5 cm inside scabbard, blade approx. 19 cm.

A little and simple gunong but with outstanding patina to the wooden parts, all fittings are from brass. Age I would guess around 1920. Blade still need more polishing and a etch to tell if it's laminated. 20,5 cm inside scabbard, blade 12,5 cm.

Here a little gunong with MOP handle, it was disscussed here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong
Scabbard from bamboo with brass fittings is maybe a later replacement. The gunong could be from Sulu, age 1930-1940?, ferrule from silver. Laminated blade. 23,5 cm inside scabbard, blade 14 cm.

A beautiful gunong which was discussed here before: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong
Fittings are from silver (not plated as thought before) and suassa. Wavy blade, not etched until now. 25 cm sheathed, blade 16 cm. Age 1920-1930.

One of my very first gunongs, fittings are from white metal (german silver?), good worked blade with engravings, guard from horn. Age I would guess 1930-1940, blade from mono steel. 27 cm overall, blade 15 cm.

An interesting gunong from 1940 or later, scabbard bands from brass (restored), ferrule aluminium bands over brass, wooden pommel with iron plates reinforced. Very good worked blade is laminated. In my eyes a good later fighter. 28 cm sheathed, blade 18 cm. First I want to resell it, now it is on my display.

A gunong from 1940 or later, complete with aluminium fittings, laminated blade with engravings. One of my first gunongs, very nice banati pommel. Very nice gunong of this time frame IMHO. 30 cm inside scabbard with a blade from 19,5 cm.

A interesting gunong from the same time frame wich has seen a lot of use. It seems that this gunong has had once a owner from the Visayas, the leather throat at the scabbard let me think like this. Guard from alternating horn and aluminium plates and the "false" ferrule from alternating horn, aluminium and ivory (?) or bone plates, beautiful grained wood pommel. Very broad engraved blade is laminated. 27,5 cm sheathed, blade a little bit over 16 cm.

An other early gunong is still by Jose, will post similar pictures when I have it in my hands. Pieces I will purchase in future will be shown here as well. I think that this thread can give an overview of the development of this intersting daggers but I am aware that not all forms and ages are shown. :)

Shall we call you Tito Gunong Jr.? (Steve Ferguson would be Tito Gunong Sr.)

Thank you - So many Gunong!
 

So many beautiful and functional gunong! I am very pleased to see this fine pictures and hope they will become a reference for others. The mother-of-pearl hilt is especially wonderful.

Best,

Dave A.

Very nice pieces. They are addictive, aren't they? :D Thank you for sharing them with us.
Steve

Hello Jose,

this would be to much honor! :D Steve's collection is outstanding and was my main inspiriration but the time is gone that you can buy so many by low prices.

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you as well Dave. Hope that it will be a little help for others to place their own pieces!

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Steve (Tito Gunong),

very addictive, I am afraid that I am hooked on them already. :D

Regards,
Detlef

A beautiful collection Detlef. When you receive the restored Gunong from Robert, it would be great to see a group photograph.

Russel

Thank you Russel,

Jose has restored the other gunong, just for clarification. :) Will post a group picture when I have received it!

Best regards,
Detlef

This gunong will enter the small family of my collection soon. I think it is from around 1910-1920 with half waved blade and silver fittings. 10" or 25,4 cm inside scabbard with a blade from 6,25" or 16 cm.
Your comments are welcome! :)

Very nice catch Detlef, a great addition to your growing collection of gunongs. I am saving my money for a very special item that I have been wanting to add to my collection for years so I haven't been doing any buying from ebay of late. Going by the dress on the hilt and scabbard I would agree with your dating on this piece though I have always wondered about when this blade design actually first started showing up. My congratulations to you on this new addition and the best of luck to you on finding your next.

Best,
Robert

That's a really sweet one Detlef! Congratulations!

Congratulations Detlef, truly stunning.

Thank you Robert, David and Russel!

Robert, can't answer when this blade shape first started showing up, I only know that it is quite rare. I just have had a look to Steve's last family portrait and see only one with a similar blade shape. Maybe Jose will know more and can give his educated opinion.

Thank you all three again for your kind words! :)

Regards,
Detlef

Nice thread.

Here are my 4.

From left to right the hilts are:- M.O.P, wood, wood, bone.
The left hand one shows signs of blade lamination.

Regards
Roy

Hello Roy,

I really like the second from the left, a very early example, turn of the 19th century. The one with MOP is also a nice one. The both on the right are post WWII, but the one with wooden handle has a very nice okir work.

Regards,
Detlef

Another one which will enter the family soon.

i love gunongs,
my favourite lives on the nigghtstand next to the bed.

justincase ;)

Very nice addition Detlef. You are starting to acquire quite the collection of these. You need to start showing a family group photo every once in awhile too.:D

Kronckew, I've a "justincase" too. Though not as pretty as yours it does hold 15 rounds.:eek:

Best,
Robert

Hello Robert,
thank you. Maybe I will have some work with it, look like the blade is plated. :shrug:
Will take a family portrait when I have received it.

Regards,
Detlef

Another nice one Detlef, congratulations.