Archaic Moro barung

[Ian]

This one is a recent pick-up from an online auction. I was surprised to get it as the only bidder on the item. Sometimes things just fall out that way, which helps make collecting such an enjoyable pastime.

The barung is very old. Evidence for this is its style of junggayan hilt, which, I understand, is the oldest style of junggayan hilt known. The elegance and simplicity of this hilt is distinctive. The blade is laminated, of an early shandigan type, and has seen much use. The edge shows several small irregular areas where nicks have been polished out, from the middle of the blade to the tip. The same regions of the blade show surface pitting, again consistent with use as a weapon.

After discussion with another forum member, I believe this one dates from the 18th C or very early 19th C. It was most likely owned by a powerful datu or panglima, or perhaps Moro royalty. The blade may have been made in the Sulu Archipelago or could have come from Borneo.

It is very uncommon to find an early junggayan barung like this one outside of museums.

Dimensions:

Overall length = 59 cm (~23.25 in)
Hilt length (blade to tip of kakatua tail) = 21.0 cm (~8.25 in)
Width of junggayan pommel (tip to tip) = 134.0 cm (~5.0 in)
Punto length = 9.5 cm (~3.75 in)
Blade length = 38.0 cm (~15.0 in)
Blade maximum width = 5.5 cm (~2.2 in) at 16.5 cm (~6.5 in) from the hilt
Balance point at 7.5 cm (~3.0 in) from the hilt.

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[Battara]

I would agree that the blade is much older than the hilt, which I agree is an early form of junggayan hilt.

Nice example.

[Ian]

Here are two more 19th C barung that feature typical hilts from that period. They each have a very abbreviated form of "beak" and "crest" on the kakatua pommel. This often indicated a fighting weapon that would not easily snag on clothing, etc. The one on the right has a braided cord/jute series of wraps, and again this may have been a feature of a fighting weapon as the cord could absorb blood and prevent the hilt from becoming slippery. Both blades are laminated.

I believe these barung are typical of early- to mid-19th C weapons, although they could date from the 18th C.

There is at least one earlier, and even more minimalist, form of the kakatua hilt that comprises simple small points for the "beak and "tail" of the pommel, but in other respects resembles the junggayang hilt shown above in the original post of this thread. I have an example of this style in my archives and will post pics shortly.

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[Ian]

Here are pictures of an earlier non-junggayang form. The "crest" is barely apparent and the beak is a simple "point." Compare the width of the proximal part of the hilt where the palm of the hand would sit. In this case and in the original post, that area is unusually wide compared with later hilts. In part, this has to do with the manner in which the beak is carved on later hilts, with the hook of the "beak" being longer and going deeper into the pommel on later examples.The change on later hilts may have had something to do with martial art styles, because the longer hook enables the little finger to engage the hilt more securely, facilitating a long-handle swing and thereby offering greater angular momentum for a blow. The slight change in pommel width for subsequent hilts might also have offered a different form of grip for the hand, but a Moro martial arts person may have some ideas on this.


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[Sajen]

Here you can see two similar barungs from my collection, the two on the right, both are also with shandigan blades. Sadly both pommels are not complete.

[Ian]

Sajen, thanks for showing those examples. Very nice early forms.