Maranao Budiak Spear

Battara · 3rd December 2023, 05:39 AM

Greetings folks,

Recently I was able to acquire a Maranao budiak. Why Maranao? Well the okir decorations on the bronze segmented sleeve on top is in Maranao style.

It is 6 feet 5 inches (181.25 cm). The blade has some evidence of being laminated, but hard to tell much through the patina - there was a thick layer of rust covering the whole blade as well as corrosion on the bronze fittings. I left the scratches on the wood but recovered the shaft in a sealant that happened to narra red (or Philippine mahogany red?) matching the rest.

Also I made the bottom cap from scratch to replace the missing original.

Open for comments and folks - enjoy!

Ian · 3rd December 2023, 11:30 AM

Hi Jose.

Nice old example. The blade looks to be much older than the fittings, especially the brass collar. Since the decoration of the brass collar really drives the Maranao attribution, is it possible that this spear head is from another group and has been redressed with a Maranao collar? Is there anything about the head itself that tells us it is also Maranao?

Would you mind posting a picture of the blade bolster and adjacent couple of inches of the blade? I'm particularly interested in that area of these spears.

Regards,

Ian

Battara · 20th December 2023, 12:55 AM

Ian your hypothesis is quite possible. I too think the blade is much older than the collar.

Does this picture help?

Ian · 20th December 2023, 12:44 PM

Thanks Jose. Yes, that helps. Thank you.

3rd December 2023, 05:39 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Maranao Budiak Spear Greetings folks, Recently I was able to acquire a Maranao budiak. Why Maranao? Well the okir decorations on the bronze segmented sleeve on top is in Maranao style. It is 6 feet 5 inches (181.25 cm). The blade has some evidence of being laminated, but hard to tell much through the patina - there was a thick layer of rust covering the whole blade as well as corrosion on the bronze fittings. I left the scratches on the wood but recovered the shaft in a sealant that happened to narra red (or Philippine mahogany red?) matching the rest. Also I made the bottom cap from scratch to replace the missing original. Open for comments and folks - enjoy! Attached Images

20th December 2023, 12:55 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Ian your hypothesis is quite possible. I too think the blade is much older than the collar. Does this picture help? Attached Images

3rd December 2023, 11:30 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Hi Jose. Nice old example. The blade looks to be much older than the fittings, especially the brass collar. Since the decoration of the brass collar really drives the Maranao attribution, is it possible that this spear head is from another group and has been redressed with a Maranao collar? Is there anything about the head itself that tells us it is also Maranao? Would you mind posting a picture of the blade bolster and adjacent couple of inches of the blade? I'm particularly interested in that area of these spears. Regards, Ian

20th December 2023, 12:44 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Thanks Jose. Yes, that helps. Thank you.