Archaic Moro barung

[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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