A barong for good price - had to grab it!

[ThePepperSkull]

Originally Posted by Battara

Now for the scabbard - it is usually the type of detailed carving and okir used on that carving on top and bottom. What makes this difficult is that the scabbard outlines look similar from Samal and late 20th century Sulu. So I also look at the pommel with is usually shorter in dimensions with an almost 90 degree angle versus the usual 45 degree angle for Sulu hilts. Again this gets confusing for 20th century examples that seem to take on Samal characteristics.

Ok I just made it clear as mud. Sorry.

Actually this did make things a lot clearer for me, despite it still being confusing -- this is the nature of 'later' Moro Swords I guess.

Moro blade/hilt characteristics do tend to get melded together and are harder to differentiate from one specific origin to the next if we're talking about linking particular tribes to region-specific weaponry. I thought I was the only one that thought this, so to know I'm not the only one that finds that fact confusing is rather comforting I must say.


Also, the description regarding the pommel helps a lot. I notice this hilt also has wrapping on it as well as a punto. Would the style of wrap be any indicator of the origin? (i.e. did the Samal twine/vine-wrap their hilts in different patterns than the Yakan or the Tausug?) Would material coe into play as well (perhaps one tribe preferred rattan strips versus some type of twine wrap or something to that effect)?