Items For ID Help

Robert · 19th June 2013, 01:24 AM

Hello everyone, I just picked up these two interesting pieces and would like to hear your thoughts on them. The larger one has kind of a bangkung look about and is 20 inches in total length with a blade thickness of 1/4 inch at the hilt. The smaller one is 17 inches in total with a 7 inch blade. Unfortunately I do not have any idea about at all about what it is or where it might be from. Any and all help with these would be greatly appreciated. I've added a couple more photos, one of the parangs blade and one of the smaller ones blade.

Best,
Robert

RhysMichael · 19th June 2013, 09:31 PM

Top one could be a bankoeng but to me it has a bit of a Philippine look I could be wrong. Is the blade sharpened from one side only ( chisel ground) or from both ?
Tirri's book, Islamic Weapons Maghrib to Moghul page 424 has a weapon very similar to the top one and he calls it a Badik from Savu or Timor ( fig 301) but I question that attribution. The first weapon in his picture does look like a badik and the second may have been an editorial mistake leaving it in. Others here will know better

And the bottom to me looks like it may be a Cayul

kai · 20th June 2013, 01:18 AM

Hello Robert,

Not a Moro bangkung for sure; looks very much like a Visayan "bolo" with the common knob pommel type to me...

Regards,
Kai

RhysMichael · 20th June 2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Robert,

Not a Moro bangkung for sure; looks very much like a Visayan "bolo" with the common knob pommel type to me...

Regards,
Kai

that's what I was leaning toward Kai the knob pommel, large ferrule and what seems to be a chisel grind blade.

Robert · 20th June 2013, 07:07 PM

RhysMichael and Kai, Yes the blade is chisel ground and as you both state it does have a very traditional style of Visayan hilt. The blade shape is what I find unusual as it has more of a bangkung or parang look instead of what you would expect to see on a Visayan bolo.

RhysMichael, you say that the smaller one might be a cayul

as I cannot seem to find any reference to that name could you please elaborate? Thank you both for your help on these items.

Best,
Robert

Robert · 21st June 2013, 07:50 AM

RhysMichael, I finally found a reference to a cayul in Albert's "Traditional Weapons Of The Indonesian Archipelago" on page 39. The description does fit this odd looking piece but there is only a drawing of one example with no photo. The description reads " Cayul Java A machete, used as an agricultural tool. The cayul has a short, broad blade with a convex sharp side and a slightly concave back. Its point is rounded, its hilt quite long." Does anyone happen to have a photo of one of these items that has been identified that they could post for comparison?

Best,
Robert

19th June 2013, 01:24 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Items For ID Help Hello everyone, I just picked up these two interesting pieces and would like to hear your thoughts on them. The larger one has kind of a bangkung look about and is 20 inches in total length with a blade thickness of 1/4 inch at the hilt. The smaller one is 17 inches in total with a 7 inch blade. Unfortunately I do not have any idea about at all about what it is or where it might be from. Any and all help with these would be greatly appreciated. I've added a couple more photos, one of the parangs blade and one of the smaller ones blade. Best, Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 19th June 2013 at 08:29 AM.

19th June 2013, 09:31 PM	#2
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Top one could be a bankoeng but to me it has a bit of a Philippine look I could be wrong. Is the blade sharpened from one side only ( chisel ground) or from both ? Tirri's book, Islamic Weapons Maghrib to Moghul page 424 has a weapon very similar to the top one and he calls it a Badik from Savu or Timor ( fig 301) but I question that attribution. The first weapon in his picture does look like a badik and the second may have been an editorial mistake leaving it in. Others here will know better And the bottom to me looks like it may be a Cayul Attached Images Last edited by RhysMichael; 19th June 2013 at 10:57 PM.

20th June 2013, 01:18 AM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Robert, Not a Moro bangkung for sure; looks very much like a Visayan "bolo" with the common knob pommel type to me... Regards, Kai

20th June 2013, 07:07 PM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	RhysMichael and Kai, Yes the blade is chisel ground and as you both state it does have a very traditional style of Visayan hilt. The blade shape is what I find unusual as it has more of a bangkung or parang look instead of what you would expect to see on a Visayan bolo. RhysMichael, you say that the smaller one might be a cayul as I cannot seem to find any reference to that name could you please elaborate? Thank you both for your help on these items. Best, Robert

21st June 2013, 07:50 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	RhysMichael, I finally found a reference to a cayul in Albert's "Traditional Weapons Of The Indonesian Archipelago" on page 39. The description does fit this odd looking piece but there is only a drawing of one example with no photo. The description reads " Cayul Java A machete, used as an agricultural tool. The cayul has a short, broad blade with a convex sharp side and a slightly concave back. Its point is rounded, its hilt quite long." Does anyone happen to have a photo of one of these items that has been identified that they could post for comparison? Best, Robert