Three Interesting Filipino Bangkungs

Battara · 10th May 2020, 07:00 PM

These are really nice and unique for sure.

I will state that for me all three seem to have Moro pommels. Even the bottom 3rd one I have seen on Moro kampilan before.

However, that third one does seem to have a ferrule and guard that does look Visayan to me.

My favorite is the naga one.

I think there are many more variations of Philippine weaponry than we have been led to believe. So the more we post these the better we can understand.

Gavin once had a Moro sword that had a similar pommel as the second one long ago.

Ian · 10th May 2020, 10:00 PM

Hi Charles,

More lovely pieces. Are these yours?

The ferrule on the third one has similarities to the banded brass hilts found on some pakayun from North Borneo, which have circular brass guards too. Also, the pommel style in the shape of a parrot or cockatoo was ascribed to Borneo on a kampilan shown here many years ago by Dan Wilke.

The forward weighted blade seen on bangkung is a common style found elsewhere in the Philippines (e.g., ginunting) and more southern Malay areas. For example, there is a similar, but shorter, bangkung attributed to Sulawesi. The atypical hilts on these examples could reflect origins beyond the Sulu Archipelago.

Ian

Battara · 11th May 2020, 12:41 AM

I will also say that I have also seen the "bird" pommel like this on a Bagobo piece as well.

The second middle one - I can see Borneo since Moros were also in Sabah (and still there).

10th May 2020, 07:00 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,325	These are really nice and unique for sure. I will state that for me all three seem to have Moro pommels. Even the bottom 3rd one I have seen on Moro kampilan before. However, that third one does seem to have a ferrule and guard that does look Visayan to me. My favorite is the naga one. I think there are many more variations of Philippine weaponry than we have been led to believe. So the more we post these the better we can understand. Gavin once had a Moro sword that had a similar pommel as the second one long ago.

10th May 2020, 10:00 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Hi Charles, More lovely pieces. Are these yours? The ferrule on the third one has similarities to the banded brass hilts found on some pakayun from North Borneo, which have circular brass guards too. Also, the pommel style in the shape of a parrot or cockatoo was ascribed to Borneo on a kampilan shown here many years ago by Dan Wilke. The forward weighted blade seen on bangkung is a common style found elsewhere in the Philippines (e.g., ginunting) and more southern Malay areas. For example, there is a similar, but shorter, bangkung attributed to Sulawesi. The atypical hilts on these examples could reflect origins beyond the Sulu Archipelago. Ian

11th May 2020, 12:41 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,325	I will also say that I have also seen the "bird" pommel like this on a Bagobo piece as well. The second middle one - I can see Borneo since Moros were also in Sabah (and still there).