Go on... show us your Barung!!!

JeffS · 23rd August 2022, 05:29 PM

I had been looking for the right barong for a couple of years, a few months back I finally found one. The blade was very rusty but cleaned up nice outside of some pitting. The ferule is very thick silver. Below is a more recent purchase.

xasterix · 27th July 2023, 02:35 PM

Nice barungs, gentlemen! It still amazes me just how many variants and personal effects barungs can have through the different eras and locations in the Sulu archipelago.

It's almost been a year, so I'm necro'ing this thread again

here's my all-time favorite barung, a variant with an upper clipped edge. It is WW2-era, and I reset it just recently.

kronckew · 27th July 2023, 03:12 PM

Forget to add this one from northern Borneo, fullered and decorated blade

Others at the Barung with fullers thread.

kai · 29th July 2023, 06:59 PM

Hello Wayne,

I realise that you put 'Dyak' in quotes but for future reference we should clarify here that these barung originate from Moro expat communities on the northern coasts of Borneo and are not culturally associated with any of the Dayak ethnic groups.

I believe that most of these variant examples originate from Kota Belud which has been a blade making center supplying probably all of Sabah's western coast (and, considering the short distance, not surprising to show up in major ports like Kota Kinabalu). One might also note that Kota Belud is really close to Palawan, too.

Regards,
Kai

werecow · 30th July 2023, 01:46 PM

Attached are the sales pics from my example, which I bought about 2.5 years ago. Blade length 42 cm. The scabbard is missing a bit at the top and is split in a few places.

xasterix · 30th July 2023, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

Attached are the sales pics from my example, which I bought about 2.5 years ago. Blade length 42 cm. The scabbard is missing a bit at the top and is split in a few places.

Wonderful barung, straight-up fighter!

JeffS · 7th August 2023, 10:44 AM

A couple more have sprouted up since my last photo... Thanks to Kino for the great new addition.

23rd August 2022, 05:29 PM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	I had been looking for the right barong for a couple of years, a few months back I finally found one. The blade was very rusty but cleaned up nice outside of some pitting. The ferule is very thick silver. Below is a more recent purchase. Attached Images

27th July 2023, 02:35 PM	#2
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 674	Nice barungs, gentlemen! It still amazes me just how many variants and personal effects barungs can have through the different eras and locations in the Sulu archipelago. It's almost been a year, so I'm necro'ing this thread again here's my all-time favorite barung, a variant with an upper clipped edge. It is WW2-era, and I reset it just recently. Attached Images

27th July 2023, 03:12 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	'Dyak' Barung Forget to add this one from northern Borneo, fullered and decorated blade Others at the Barung with fullers thread. Attached Images

29th July 2023, 06:59 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Wayne, I realise that you put 'Dyak' in quotes but for future reference we should clarify here that these barung originate from Moro expat communities on the northern coasts of Borneo and are not culturally associated with any of the Dayak ethnic groups. I believe that most of these variant examples originate from Kota Belud which has been a blade making center supplying probably all of Sabah's western coast (and, considering the short distance, not surprising to show up in major ports like Kota Kinabalu). One might also note that Kota Belud is really close to Palawan, too. Regards, Kai Last edited by kai; 30th July 2023 at 11:28 AM.

30th July 2023, 01:46 PM	#5
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 565	Attached are the sales pics from my example, which I bought about 2.5 years ago. Blade length 42 cm. The scabbard is missing a bit at the top and is split in a few places. Attached Images

7th August 2023, 10:44 AM	#7
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	A couple more have sprouted up since my last photo... Thanks to Kino for the great new addition. Attached Images