Swords of Jolo, Sulu 1

D Wilke · 11th May 2006, 07:15 PM

Ma Uno Uno Na Kaw! My friends
My apologies for my extended absence from the forum. But be assured that I have not been idle in the realm of learning and sharing what you all have taught me about history, culture and of course swords. What follows will be installments of photos and descriptions of the best of the kalis and barong that I have run across during the last 5 months on Jolo, Sulu. I've shared what I know and created several new enthuasiats in the process, many of them Tausug. Many have picked up nice pieces that we will share. I can only hope that what Ian, Frederico and the rest of you have taught me has stood me in good stead and the advice I have given others will be echoed in your comments. As always don't hold back. This first piece, is the first genuine piece that my Blade Hunter, Ali-pala Jamala, brokered for me after two months of trash and a lot of lessons.
I have a line waiting to post their kalis for comment. They're new to swords and hungry for every scrap of information you can give them regarding their new acquisitions.

BTW, the internet is real iffy here and the competion for the few computers we have is fierce. We'll post and answer as we get the chance and the power cooperates.

This first piece I consider my "find", iron and nickel, original scabbard with buffalo horn cap on the bottom which I had rewrapped by the local craftsmen, handle is also buffalo horn and mother pearl (not original) and the blade cleaned using the traditional process which I'll go into later.

Somebody help me out with the luuk count, no matter which way I count them I come up with 8?

Enjoy
Dan

Rick · 11th May 2006, 07:36 PM

Hey Dan !
Good to hear from you .
I believe I count 15 waves in this blade .
A shot of it from straight above against a lighter background would be helpful .
So would a close up of the gangya area .
Absolutely beautiful forging pattern .

Rick

Ian · 11th May 2006, 07:53 PM

Hi Dan:

Good to hear from you again. Was beginning to think you might have disappeared in the jungle.

Nice example of a Sulu kris. This one looks like an older blade in new dress. Hard to count the number of luk from the picture, and some of the early 20th C. blades had really shallow luk anyway. Just looking at the spacing of the curves along the blade, I would say it is probably a 13 or 15 luk example (always an odd number). A better picture would help.

What else you got to show us?

Ian.

themorningstar · 11th May 2006, 08:02 PM

in jolo, it's siku not luks.... luuk is a province in sulu by the way...

D Wilke · 11th May 2006, 08:12 PM

Rick, More pics later if the sun cooperates. 13 or 15 luuk? must've missed a lesson there on how to count em (thought you just counted the outside curves). We have about 7 kalis and two barongs worth posting. They are exceeding hard to find here and they are truly "pusaka" here (they use the same term). We'll be posting each in a seperate thread so they can get individual feedback. This post was just a test to see if I still rememebered how.

Gonna have to work on the size of those photos, but in the meantime while I still have the computer (2am here) I'll post the barong I picked up. It has the swollen edge (concave in the center of the blade) I had the braided cord on the handle replaced with braided silver wire and a new scabbard built for it (the one that came with it was new AND broken).

Ian, I never get lost, especially in the jungle! Course around here only the bad guys go in the jungle and you know I'm one of the good guys

D Wilke · 11th May 2006, 08:20 PM

Morningstar, thanks I've asked but none of the Tausug here could give the term (just called them waves) been trying to talk to a blacksmith here, but have missed him everytime. So much of their history is lost to them here a shame, but many are trying to rebuild the pride that used to go with being Tausug.

Familiar with Lu'uk, will be there Sunday running a medical mission for 1000 people.

Thanks again for correct term.

Dan

themorningstar · 11th May 2006, 08:21 PM

not a problem...
i've sent you a pm.

11th May 2006, 07:15 PM	#1
D Wilke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Okinawa, JN Posts: 22	Swords of Jolo, Sulu 1 Ma Uno Uno Na Kaw! My friends My apologies for my extended absence from the forum. But be assured that I have not been idle in the realm of learning and sharing what you all have taught me about history, culture and of course swords. What follows will be installments of photos and descriptions of the best of the kalis and barong that I have run across during the last 5 months on Jolo, Sulu. I've shared what I know and created several new enthuasiats in the process, many of them Tausug. Many have picked up nice pieces that we will share. I can only hope that what Ian, Frederico and the rest of you have taught me has stood me in good stead and the advice I have given others will be echoed in your comments. As always don't hold back. This first piece, is the first genuine piece that my Blade Hunter, Ali-pala Jamala, brokered for me after two months of trash and a lot of lessons. I have a line waiting to post their kalis for comment. They're new to swords and hungry for every scrap of information you can give them regarding their new acquisitions. BTW, the internet is real iffy here and the competion for the few computers we have is fierce. We'll post and answer as we get the chance and the power cooperates. This first piece I consider my "find", iron and nickel, original scabbard with buffalo horn cap on the bottom which I had rewrapped by the local craftsmen, handle is also buffalo horn and mother pearl (not original) and the blade cleaned using the traditional process which I'll go into later. Somebody help me out with the luuk count, no matter which way I count them I come up with 8? Enjoy Dan Attached Images

11th May 2006, 08:12 PM	#5
D Wilke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Okinawa, JN Posts: 22	More Later Rick, More pics later if the sun cooperates. 13 or 15 luuk? must've missed a lesson there on how to count em (thought you just counted the outside curves). We have about 7 kalis and two barongs worth posting. They are exceeding hard to find here and they are truly "pusaka" here (they use the same term). We'll be posting each in a seperate thread so they can get individual feedback. This post was just a test to see if I still rememebered how. Gonna have to work on the size of those photos, but in the meantime while I still have the computer (2am here) I'll post the barong I picked up. It has the swollen edge (concave in the center of the blade) I had the braided cord on the handle replaced with braided silver wire and a new scabbard built for it (the one that came with it was new AND broken). Ian, I never get lost, especially in the jungle! Course around here only the bad guys go in the jungle and you know I'm one of the good guys Attached Images

11th May 2006, 08:20 PM	#6
D Wilke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Okinawa, JN Posts: 22	Siku Morningstar, thanks I've asked but none of the Tausug here could give the term (just called them waves) been trying to talk to a blacksmith here, but have missed him everytime. So much of their history is lost to them here a shame, but many are trying to rebuild the pride that used to go with being Tausug. Familiar with Lu'uk, will be there Sunday running a medical mission for 1000 people. Thanks again for correct term. Dan

11th May 2006, 07:36 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Hey Dan ! Good to hear from you . I believe I count 15 waves in this blade . A shot of it from straight above against a lighter background would be helpful . So would a close up of the gangya area . Absolutely beautiful forging pattern . Rick

11th May 2006, 07:53 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Hi Dan: Good to hear from you again. Was beginning to think you might have disappeared in the jungle. Nice example of a Sulu kris. This one looks like an older blade in new dress. Hard to count the number of luk from the picture, and some of the early 20th C. blades had really shallow luk anyway. Just looking at the spacing of the curves along the blade, I would say it is probably a 13 or 15 luk example (always an odd number). A better picture would help. What else you got to show us? Ian.

11th May 2006, 08:02 PM	#4
themorningstar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 55	in jolo, it's siku not luks.... luuk is a province in sulu by the way...

11th May 2006, 08:21 PM	#7
themorningstar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 55	not a problem... i've sent you a pm.