Gunong - Moro Tribal Knife   Little has been written about the gunong. However with its dubious place in the modern tourist market it tends to be one of the most prolific of Moro Swords floating in today's market, and invariably often is the first taste of Moro Weaponry for the beginning collector. The gunong is also commonly known as Punal, or Punal de Kris. This name is more often associated with pieces that are from Mindanao, where Spanish influence/interaction (as seen in their presence in Zamboanga, and at differing times Northern Mindanao), particularly on the Maguindanao Sultanate, was much more significant compared to the Sulu sultanate. Such influences on vocabulary can be seen in other Spanish loan words such as the title of Kapitan Luwat, versus the pre-Spanish Raja Luwat. Gunongs are often considered to be the dagger version of the Moro kris. With blades that often bare strong resemblance to their larger Moro Kris sword relatives. While many gunong blades are found as double edged either straight or wavy, there also exist gunong blade variants that are single edged, often with more crescent like blade shapes. It is unclear whether this is just a variant in blade form of the gunong proper, but it has been suggested that this blade form constitutes a different weapon in of in itself. It is possible that the true answer may be lost to the sands of time. What is clear though, gunong blades, while often resembling kris, lack many features normally associated with the kris blade, such as the presence of a gangya, and in the case of the single edged blades the tapering blade profile intrinsic to the kris form. Gunong hilts are what distinguish gunongs most from other Moro weapons. Many associate the bulbous pistol grip style pommel, which is often at extreme near right angles to the hilt proper, as being the traditional gunong hilt. However, truly old gunongs feature a straighter hilt. At some point between the turn of the century and the 1930s, gunong hilts gradually changed into the more familiar pistol grip. In this time period as well, gunongs start to appear made with much more extravagant fittings and materials. These newer gunongs often featuring beautifully chased bands on their scabbards, with conspicuous Western style belt clips on the top most band. Also, guards start to appear with more frequency, as well as hilts featuring socketed bulbed ferrules that connect to the bulbous pommel. As to why these changes started to occur are left to speculation. However, there are many factors that may have influenced these changes. First let us gain some background on the usage and intention of the gunong. Gunongs were often worn in the back of the sash, or were hidden in various spots on a person, such as the turban. They were daggers of last minute defense (similar to the Western Boot knife), as well as daggers for common utility. It has been reported in period documents that gunongs were often carried by both sexes, young and old. As such, in daily interaction with the newly colonial aspiring Americans, it is not surprising that gunongs would be commonly exchanged as souvenirs. With the fledgling tourist market, demand for gaudier gunongs would most likely have grown, and given their relatively small size the gunong is ideally suited for both the maker and the tourist for quick and easy manufacture and purchase. Another factor could be as American influence grew in Moroland, US colonial restrictions on the carry of traditional weapons, such as the kris or barong, left a gap in the daily attire of a native population whose culture required the daily wear of bladed weaponry. A gap, that the less menacing gunong, could easily fill, thereby existing as an in-offensive item of dress to the colonial fears of the US colonial powers. However, these are only possible factors in the evolution of the gunong. They are by no means definitive, and remain only speculative.     This old new clipping shows a great picture of Moro bladesmiths at work. This project has definitely given me a much greater appreciation for the craftsmanship that these 'primitive' peoples were capable of. Sadly, in our modern world, quality and craftsmanship of this level is becoming more and more rare. This information was compiled from 'Federico's Moro Swords', a collector and Moro weapons enthusiast, and from the book: 'A Glossary of the Construction, Deconstruction, and Use of Arms and Armor in all Countries and in all Times' by George Cameron Stone.   Order Information   Return to Knife Gallery     Copyright, West Coast Bladecraft