The Phillipine Moro Barong Sword is leaf shaped with a one edged blade and is sometimes spelled Barung. The Moro Tausugs of Sulu with is a province within the Phillipines used this sword as their primary weapon. This weapon looks somewhat like a Machete but has much more of a curved handle on it. The blade on it is heavy and very thick, and the heavy weight makes it a lot easier to slice various objects. This weapon can be anywhere from 8 to 22 inches long. However the newer versions of this weapon are 18 to 22 inches.
Handles of the Phillipine Moro Barong Sword are called Hilts. Most were silver but some were brass but less common. Fiber Rings that were lacquered usually were laid at the top. The Hilts that the Nobles used were made of Ivory, and sometimes Carabao Horn or Phillipine Ebony. Swords used by the lower echelons and warriors of the time had inferior designed Hilts and were smaller as well. The common design of the Hilt was one of a Cockatoo, however some looked like Serpents.
The Scabbards of the Phillipine Moro Barong Sword were only partly wrapped with large Rattan, which is a type of palm tree, Lashings. The newer versions of the sword were fully wrapped with thin Rattan. Older Barongs had Scabbards that had boards that were thinner and fatter. Barongs that were made after World War II were Scabbards that were manufactured with a much thicker stock than the older ones were, and also had a central ridge line.
In fact, the Phillipine Moro Barong Sword is a very underestimated weapon by many. Because of the weight and strength of the blade and the way the Hilt was positioned, it had the ability to slice right through Musket Rifles and Barrels. This gave them an edge against the Spanish in the Early Colonial Days of the Moro Wars. In fact these weapons were used in battle against forces that were educated and technologically superior. In more recent battles, the Barong has even sliced through M-14 Rifles.
In the Philippines they have their own Martial Arts Styles. A few of the most popular ones are the Kali, the Eskrima and the Silat. The Barong Sword is used in all of these Martial Art Forms today.
Let Brian Garvin & Jeff West teach you more about the Katana Sword and the Sword Letter Opener on our website today.
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