I would dare to guess that the use of the Froge Black mentioned here by Robert would probably be more applicable to the Ifugao peoples in later years (e.g. post WW II) when the carrying of spears in daily life became less due to restrictions by law. Before that time (when the spears were omnipresent in daily life), the spear bearers/owners probably did not have to worry much about rust because they had the chance to clean the spears daily as a matter of routine. In later years, as the spears spent more time at home, unused and unattended, the application of the Forge Black became useful; and the spears would be used only during feasts or ceremonies, as they are nowadays. This is a general statement and does not mean that non-Forge Black spears are not being made these days, or that only Forge Black spears are made in later years. Still some job orders are received by blacksmiths in Ifugao for non-Forge Black spears, as thiese are preferrred by some. Indeed the variations in spear design and material (on spearheads, ferrules and shafts) among the Northern Luzon Cordillera peoples are so numerous, because these are dictated by personal preferences of the owners, imaginative talent of the blacksmiths, and economics.
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