Upper class Datu ivory, swassa, and silver barong

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by kino

More likely birdshot. I believe back then steel shot were not used, so if leadshot, would it have the velocity to damage hardened edge?

Steel shot has only been in use for a few decades, as environmentalists shuddered at the thought of lead being used on waterfowl, and accumukating in the muck beneath the waters.

I don't think a shotgun pellet, made of lead as it would have been in the day, would be able to punch through the blade in question.

There was a descussion a few years ago about a barong that had experienced a losing battle with a firearm. It was pointed out at the time that a lead bullet of military caliber (.38 at the time) would have destrroyed the sheath as well as not have made a clean hole through the barong. It was agreed that the weapon in question might well have been a Mauser model 1896, which fires a jacketed bullet of 7.63 mm.

(Discussed on pg 2 of this thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=mauser&page=2)

I have no idea of the measurement of Battara's damage site. I merely recouunt the tale of a somewhat similar wound.

[Battara]

Thank you for the information folks.

Xasterix I thought only nobility were allowed to wear top materials like ivory, swassa, etc.

Regarding the area of "damage" it is 2 mm in diameter. Maybe a forging bubble ?

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Battara

Thank you for the information folks.

Xasterix I thought only nobility were allowed to wear top materials like ivory, swassa, etc.

Regarding the area of "damage" it is 2 mm in diameter. Maybe a forging bubble ?

Nobility in general yup- upper strata of Moro society, which includes the "job descriptions" I previously mentioned, not limited to royalty or military. It's important to distinguish between the two terms:

Royalty = Datu, Sultan, etc, considered as members of nobility class
Nobility class = doesn't automatically mean (or limited to) royalty; includes ranking military officers, community leaders, merchants, dignitaries, etc

Then there are oral traditions of nobility-tier blades being awarded to non-nobility, or gifted to outsiders.

[kino]

Originally Posted by Bob A

Steel shot has only been in use for a few decades, as environmentalists shuddered at the thought of lead being used on waterfowl, and accumukating in the muck beneath the waters.

I don't think a shotgun pellet, made of lead as it would have been in the day, would be able to punch through the blade in question.

Thanks Bob.

[Battara]

Thanks Xasterix.

Also very true about giving high status gifts to noted strangers, foreign dignitaries, etc.

[Battara]

By the way, this is how I originally got the piece. I etched the blade, cleaned up the hilt and took off the former "repair" tail off and did my best to repair/restore the tail.

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by Battara

By the way, this is how I originally got the piece. I etched the blade, cleaned up the hilt and took off the former "repair" tail off and did my best to repair/restore the tail.

Beautiful work on the tail!

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Battara

By the way, this is how I originally got the piece. I etched the blade, cleaned up the hilt and took off the former "repair" tail off and did my best to repair/restore the tail.

Honestly, I liked the blade better before the etching. This is neither a wootz, nor a pattern welded blade where the pattern of the steel has some intrinsic purpose. This is simply a laminated blade and I consider it should be kept as clean as possible and definitely not etched.

But this is my opinion...

[Battara]

Actually it is custom to etch the blade on these pieces. I'm following tradition.