comments on this barung lamenation?

tom hyle · 1st June 2005, 09:21 AM

Rick's blade does seem to have an applied spine, which as far as I see, is the only unusual thing about it. A mysterious feature I've seen on a variety of swords. It does not particularly look like a sandwiched blade; where would you get that from? A pinched in edge that does not go all the way thru is more likely on a barong, though, of course, one cannot see the difference in a flatwise picture of a SE blade. Both these blades seem to show a long line down the center from a final fold, perpendicular to the plain of the blade (and made before edge insertion). An interesting thing about this is that it is common with Visayan blades to have the last fold leave a prominant closed loop/bend at the tip. How else would it be? folded flatwise. With the loop at the rear. With the loop cut off (often considered a weak/delammy place in many cultures, but here I think we see the Oceanic E Asian concept of completeness.). The spreading of the lines and then coming back together is a natural outgrowth of forging the barong shape; a thick narrow rod is forged out wider and then narrowed to the tip, and is spread out thinner and thinner....
On distinguishing an inlaid edge from a hardening line: It can be hard, especially from photos or with an unetched blade. The easiest way is to follow the layers. If the line follows the waves of the layers it's probably inlaid; if it cuts across the layers and they continue right across it, it must be a hardening line. Another is if you can see it at spine and tip. Outside of Japan temper lines are almost always more or less even/straight (ie. not waved, though they may curve), so if there's a lot of activity that points you toward a lamination line. Of course a blade might have both.

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1st June 2005, 09:21 AM	#10
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Rick's blade does seem to have an applied spine, which as far as I see, is the only unusual thing about it. A mysterious feature I've seen on a variety of swords. It does not particularly look like a sandwiched blade; where would you get that from? A pinched in edge that does not go all the way thru is more likely on a barong, though, of course, one cannot see the difference in a flatwise picture of a SE blade. Both these blades seem to show a long line down the center from a final fold, perpendicular to the plain of the blade (and made before edge insertion). An interesting thing about this is that it is common with Visayan blades to have the last fold leave a prominant closed loop/bend at the tip. How else would it be? folded flatwise. With the loop at the rear. With the loop cut off (often considered a weak/delammy place in many cultures, but here I think we see the Oceanic E Asian concept of completeness.). The spreading of the lines and then coming back together is a natural outgrowth of forging the barong shape; a thick narrow rod is forged out wider and then narrowed to the tip, and is spread out thinner and thinner.... On distinguishing an inlaid edge from a hardening line: It can be hard, especially from photos or with an unetched blade. The easiest way is to follow the layers. If the line follows the waves of the layers it's probably inlaid; if it cuts across the layers and they continue right across it, it must be a hardening line. Another is if you can see it at spine and tip. Outside of Japan temper lines are almost always more or less even/straight (ie. not waved, though they may curve), so if there's a lot of activity that points you toward a lamination line. Of course a blade might have both.