Barung; weapon, tool or tourist piece?

Emanuel · 7th July 2009, 04:20 PM

Looks like he's carrying a gayang http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8261

hideyoshi · 7th July 2009, 08:00 PM

it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think....

Lew · 7th July 2009, 08:23 PM

Looks recent to me also with a small blade. You can sever a head with a 9-12" as long as its sharp and is heavy enough but that blade is recently made looks nothing like the older barungs. Btw an weapon could be a janap and not a barung?

VVV · 7th July 2009, 08:25 PM

I have seen captured swords, barongs and kris, from a friend in the Force Recon of the Filipino Marines.
All of them seems to be late 20th C.
It´s interesting that the one on the picture is a shorter version.
The ginunting of the Filipino Marines is also shorter than the one that the instructors of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali got in the 90´s.
I was told that the reason why is for it to be easier to carry and that it´s only used for closed quarters.
I still prefer the old one that was individually measured for each instructor.

Michael

Dimasalang · 8th July 2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

I have seen captured swords, barongs and kris, from a friend in the Force Recon of the Filipino Marines.
All of them seems to be late 20th C.
It´s interesting that the one on the picture is a shorter version.
The ginunting of the Filipino Marines is also shorter than the one that the instructors of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali got in the 90´s.
I was told that the reason why is for it to be easier to carry and that it´s only used for closed quarters.
I still prefer the old one that was individually measured for each instructor.

Michael

I believe Lorenz brought this up before.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...7&postcount=28

I also bought a modern day ginunting from Buddy, the smith who makes them for the Filipino Marines.

migueldiaz · 12th July 2009, 03:48 PM

Some more recent blades, as used by the soldiers of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, from this video ...

David · 12th July 2009, 04:29 PM

I am sure that many if not all of these blade (i say blades but we don't really see them in these pictures and videos, just the dress) are fully functional and have utilitarian purpose. Most are probably recent blades, but some could be remounted old blades for all we know. After all, we don't really see them. But i think the bottom line really is that the barong and the kris are both deeply symbolic weapons to the Moros and carrying these smaller examples is no doubt meant to express this symbolic relationship. Obviously with automatic weapons and rocket launches on their shoulders these blades are no longer meant to be their main weapons as they once were. At smaller size they maintain the tradition and history of the Moro warrior and are probably pretty effective as brush cutters and utility knives.

migueldiaz · 13th July 2009, 05:50 AM

David, I agree with everything you said.

And occasionally, government and Moro rebel troops sometimes surprise each other in the middle of the jungle, such that instead of a firefight the encounter becomes a disorganized melee.

In those instances, blades would come in handy.

Recently, a friend (who knows the legendary Col. Ariel Querubin of the Phil. Marines) told me about such typical melee that happened in Mindanao, involving the troops of the said colonel.

The govt. troops were resting in the middle of the jungle while on patrol. Then they and some other guys (resting, too, on a nearby spot) realized very quickly that they were enemies, and so a melee ensued, with no firearms involved!

I'm sure aside from bare fists, rocks, and tree branches, blades were used, too.

David · 7th July 2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hideyoshi

it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think....

Actually the only similarity i can see is perhaps the color of the wood. The hilt form is definitely not the sam as these. The curve of the hilt looks much more pronounced and the back crest of the kakatau comes right off top of the pommel, not attached to the back of the hilt like the ones you show. The sheath form is also completely different. This is not to say that this isn't a recent blade, just that it is not the same as these ones you show.

migueldiaz · 8th July 2009, 01:21 AM

"Rambo" (the one with the M-60) seems to be clutching a blade, but with a shorter hilt ...

migueldiaz · 8th July 2009, 05:15 AM

By the way, the size of that barung looks like about the same size as the contemporary pira below.

I bought the pira from a local FMA blade instructor, who in turn got it from a Phil. military colonel who served in Basilan. Not sure though if the pira was a capture piece.

The pira's overall lt. is 410 mm (16"), and the blade length is 270 mm (10.5") (blade thickness at hilt is 6 mm or 1/4"). The blade's temper line is visible upon close inspection of the pira.

My point is that this small size (whether it's a barong or a pira, etc.) appears to be a good size for secondary and back-up purposes.

7th July 2009, 08:00 PM	#2
hideyoshi Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 58	it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think.... Attached Images

12th July 2009, 03:48 PM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Some more recent blades, as used by the soldiers of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, from this video ... Attached Images

8th July 2009, 01:21 AM	#10
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	"Rambo" (the one with the M-60) seems to be clutching a blade, but with a shorter hilt ... Attached Images

8th July 2009, 05:15 AM	#11
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	By the way, the size of that barung looks like about the same size as the contemporary pira below. I bought the pira from a local FMA blade instructor, who in turn got it from a Phil. military colonel who served in Basilan. Not sure though if the pira was a capture piece. The pira's overall lt. is 410 mm (16"), and the blade length is 270 mm (10.5") (blade thickness at hilt is 6 mm or 1/4"). The blade's temper line is visible upon close inspection of the pira. My point is that this small size (whether it's a barong or a pira, etc.) appears to be a good size for secondary and back-up purposes. Attached Images Last edited by migueldiaz; 8th July 2009 at 05:41 AM. Reason: Metric system added

7th July 2009, 04:20 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Looks like he's carrying a gayang http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8261

7th July 2009, 08:23 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Looks recent to me also with a small blade. You can sever a head with a 9-12" as long as its sharp and is heavy enough but that blade is recently made looks nothing like the older barungs. Btw an weapon could be a janap and not a barung?

7th July 2009, 08:25 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I have seen captured swords, barongs and kris, from a friend in the Force Recon of the Filipino Marines. All of them seems to be late 20th C. It´s interesting that the one on the picture is a shorter version. The ginunting of the Filipino Marines is also shorter than the one that the instructors of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali got in the 90´s. I was told that the reason why is for it to be easier to carry and that it´s only used for closed quarters. I still prefer the old one that was individually measured for each instructor. Michael

12th July 2009, 04:29 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	I am sure that many if not all of these blade (i say blades but we don't really see them in these pictures and videos, just the dress) are fully functional and have utilitarian purpose. Most are probably recent blades, but some could be remounted old blades for all we know. After all, we don't really see them. But i think the bottom line really is that the barong and the kris are both deeply symbolic weapons to the Moros and carrying these smaller examples is no doubt meant to express this symbolic relationship. Obviously with automatic weapons and rocket launches on their shoulders these blades are no longer meant to be their main weapons as they once were. At smaller size they maintain the tradition and history of the Moro warrior and are probably pretty effective as brush cutters and utility knives.

13th July 2009, 05:50 AM	#8
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	David, I agree with everything you said. And occasionally, government and Moro rebel troops sometimes surprise each other in the middle of the jungle, such that instead of a firefight the encounter becomes a disorganized melee. In those instances, blades would come in handy. Recently, a friend (who knows the legendary Col. Ariel Querubin of the Phil. Marines) told me about such typical melee that happened in Mindanao, involving the troops of the said colonel. The govt. troops were resting in the middle of the jungle while on patrol. Then they and some other guys (resting, too, on a nearby spot) realized very quickly that they were enemies, and so a melee ensued, with no firearms involved! I'm sure aside from bare fists, rocks, and tree branches, blades were used, too.