the quiet kid in the back of the class, Bangkung...

Spunjer · 28th November 2010, 04:28 PM

prolly the least talked about weapon in cato's book due to its scarcity, the bangkung. here's one that's even rarer, which is a variation: instead of having a straight spine, this one has a curve spine, and a shandigan blade to boot. scabbard is made out of two different type of wood; narra for the back, and banati up front, chased with an amazing presentation of okir on the throat. the two halves are tied in an unusual fashion. enjoy!

ThePepperSkull · 28th November 2010, 04:45 PM

oh wow! The scabbard alone is beautiful! Imagine my reaction if I saw this sheathed and pulled out that wicked blade! Incredible find, Spunjer!

Spunjer · 28th November 2010, 04:56 PM

lol, yeah... a triple whammy, actually. the scabbard, which is an art to itself, then the curve blade, and finally a shandigan. i almost dropped it

ThePepperSkull · 28th November 2010, 05:02 PM

What of the okir on the throat? Is it MOP? Turtle shell?

Sajen · 28th November 2010, 05:21 PM

Beautiful bangkung, congrats!

What is the lenght of the blade? Do you plan to etch the blade?

Regards,

Detlef

Spunjer · 28th November 2010, 05:24 PM

it's bas-relief. then accentuated with lime to really stand out.

Spunjer · 28th November 2010, 05:32 PM

hi detlef,
blade is laminated, but not as pronounced. the blade itself is 18", and total length of the bangkung is 23".

Sajen · 28th November 2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

hi detlef,
blade is laminated, but not as pronounced. the blade itself is 18", and total length of the bangkung is 23".

Thank's!

Maurice · 28th November 2010, 06:22 PM

Ron,

This is by far the prettiest bangkung I've ever seen.
Congrats with this great addition!
Besides the great okircarvings, I also love the hidden ratan bands in the scabbard.
That is also found sometimes on mandauscabbards.

Maurice

Robert · 28th November 2010, 06:47 PM

Yes, what a wonderful addition to your collection.

Congratulations on such a rare find.

Robert

Spunjer · 28th November 2010, 07:43 PM

yes maurice, that's exactly what i was thinking about regarding the "hidden" rattan wrap style... thanks robert!

Battara · 28th November 2010, 08:10 PM

I was so impressed by the okir carvings when I saw the pictures. Congrats!

Maurice · 28th November 2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

yes maurice, that's exactly what i was thinking about regarding the "hidden" rattan wrap style... thanks robert!

Here an image of the "hidden" rattan wrap style on a mandauscabbard of mine.

Mytribalworld · 28th November 2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Ron,

This is by far the prettiest bangkung I've ever seen.
Congrats with this great addition!
Besides the great okircarvings, I also love the hidden ratan bands in the scabbard.
That is also found sometimes on mandauscabbards.

Maurice

I agree and see more mandau elements in it like the scabbard end,the line in the blade and blade point and the raised centre of the scabbard all over.

Arjan

kai · 28th November 2010, 10:24 PM

Congrats, Ron, that's one of the nicest I've seen so far of the shorter bangkung variant!

This looks very much like a piece from Palawan.

Regards,
Kai

Spunjer · 29th November 2010, 02:06 AM

that's my thought as well, kai. the form is similar to the barungs found in that area.

i wouldn't be surprise if this was inspired by a mandau, arjan. i saw a mandau once provenanced to a datu from sulu.

http://rbhayes.pastperfect-online.co...21520;type=101

t_c · 29th November 2010, 07:21 AM

Great Bangkung Spunjer, the okir work on the scabbard is especially nice.

When I saw this is, it reminded me of piece from Palawan that Ian posted:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...3&postcount=80

I'm curious about the cross section - is there a step or change in plane at the fuller?

Spunjer · 29th November 2010, 03:08 PM

t_c, i believe it's a similar type. btw, there is a step on the fuller..

t_c · 30th November 2010, 06:15 AM

Thanks Spunjer - I was asking about the fuller/cross-section because it is something I have seen on just a few blades (one of which I used to own). I was thinking this "step" to the back edge might be a specific to a region, but so far I really don't know...

Old Bangkung/Bolo(?) with what I believe might be a similar cross section:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6271

Dimasalang · 1st December 2010, 01:17 AM

How much you asking!?

That is one sword that just screams awesomeness!

Spunjer · 1st December 2010, 03:43 AM

Good point, t_c. But then again, between this one, your ex, ian's example, the one that was on ebay about a month ago, and another one that i sold a few months back, we could be looking at a whole new genre of moro weapon previuosly unknown.
Dimasalang: thanks, bro!

Mytribalworld · 4th December 2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

that's my thought as well, kai. the form is similar to the barungs found in that area.

i wouldn't be surprise if this was inspired by a mandau, arjan. i saw a mandau once provenanced to a datu from sulu.

http://rbhayes.pastperfect-online.co...21520;type=101

Thanks! thats interesting info!

Arjan

Battara · 4th December 2010, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t_c

When I saw this is, it reminded me of piece from Palawan that Ian posted:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...3&postcount=80

Good point about Palawan - I forgot about that.

CharlesS · 24th May 2013, 05:23 PM

Here is another bangkung for reference. The blade is fairly typical, but the hilt style, especially the pommel, is unique.

The scabbard is new and is based on a historical model.

28th November 2010, 04:28 PM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	the quiet kid in the back of the class, Bangkung... prolly the least talked about weapon in cato's book due to its scarcity, the bangkung. here's one that's even rarer, which is a variation: instead of having a straight spine, this one has a curve spine, and a shandigan blade to boot. scabbard is made out of two different type of wood; narra for the back, and banati up front, chased with an amazing presentation of okir on the throat. the two halves are tied in an unusual fashion. enjoy! Attached Images

28th November 2010, 04:45 PM	#2
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	oh wow! The scabbard alone is beautiful! Imagine my reaction if I saw this sheathed and pulled out that wicked blade! Incredible find, Spunjer! Last edited by ThePepperSkull; 28th November 2010 at 05:03 PM.

28th November 2010, 06:22 PM	#9
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,349	handsome!!!!!!! Ron, This is by far the prettiest bangkung I've ever seen. Congrats with this great addition! Besides the great okircarvings, I also love the hidden ratan bands in the scabbard. That is also found sometimes on mandauscabbards. Maurice

24th May 2013, 05:23 PM	#24
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Here is another bangkung for reference. The blade is fairly typical, but the hilt style, especially the pommel, is unique. The scabbard is new and is based on a historical model. Attached Images

28th November 2010, 04:56 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	lol, yeah... a triple whammy, actually. the scabbard, which is an art to itself, then the curve blade, and finally a shandigan. i almost dropped it

28th November 2010, 05:02 PM	#4
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	What of the okir on the throat? Is it MOP? Turtle shell?

28th November 2010, 05:21 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	Beautiful bangkung, congrats! What is the lenght of the blade? Do you plan to etch the blade? Regards, Detlef

28th November 2010, 05:24 PM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	it's bas-relief. then accentuated with lime to really stand out.

28th November 2010, 05:32 PM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	hi detlef, blade is laminated, but not as pronounced. the blade itself is 18", and total length of the bangkung is 23".

28th November 2010, 06:47 PM	#10
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Yes, what a wonderful addition to your collection. Congratulations on such a rare find. Robert

28th November 2010, 07:43 PM	#11
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	yes maurice, that's exactly what i was thinking about regarding the "hidden" rattan wrap style... thanks robert!

28th November 2010, 08:10 PM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I was so impressed by the okir carvings when I saw the pictures. Congrats!

28th November 2010, 10:24 PM	#15
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Congrats, Ron, that's one of the nicest I've seen so far of the shorter bangkung variant! This looks very much like a piece from Palawan. Regards, Kai

29th November 2010, 02:06 AM	#16
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	that's my thought as well, kai. the form is similar to the barungs found in that area. i wouldn't be surprise if this was inspired by a mandau, arjan. i saw a mandau once provenanced to a datu from sulu. http://rbhayes.pastperfect-online.co...21520;type=101

29th November 2010, 07:21 AM	#17
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Great Bangkung Spunjer, the okir work on the scabbard is especially nice. When I saw this is, it reminded me of piece from Palawan that Ian posted: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...3&postcount=80 I'm curious about the cross section - is there a step or change in plane at the fuller?

29th November 2010, 03:08 PM	#18
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	t_c, i believe it's a similar type. btw, there is a step on the fuller..

30th November 2010, 06:15 AM	#19
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Thanks Spunjer - I was asking about the fuller/cross-section because it is something I have seen on just a few blades (one of which I used to own). I was thinking this "step" to the back edge might be a specific to a region, but so far I really don't know... Old Bangkung/Bolo(?) with what I believe might be a similar cross section: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6271

1st December 2010, 01:17 AM	#20
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	How much you asking!? That is one sword that just screams awesomeness!

1st December 2010, 03:43 AM	#21
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Good point, t_c. But then again, between this one, your ex, ian's example, the one that was on ebay about a month ago, and another one that i sold a few months back, we could be looking at a whole new genre of moro weapon previuosly unknown. Dimasalang: thanks, bro!