......"B'LAAN TOOLS AND WEAPONS".....

......Tools and Weapons......

     Numerous varieties and types of knives,
all with specialized purpose and function,
are used by the knife.  A large knife is referred 
to as a bansung and an even larger knife as a
sundang.  A long knife carried by a (Fulong)
 Datu is referred to as a long knife(fa-is).

*KNIFE-(Talos)...
      A typical knife (tlo-as) consist of a wooden 
handle, with a curved steel neck and blade.  The
sheath(lo-es) consists of two piece of curved wood
which are placed over a frame.  The end or base 
of the sheath is held together and decorated with
timber, which is wrapped by a thin, continuous
strand of wire.  Decorative chain link are attached
to the protruding eyelets of the wrapped strand wire.


*LONG KNIFE-(Fa-is)...Long knife is carried by a Datu (Fulong), can be described as possessing a brass handle with numerous small brass rings on the butt.  A  red black striped scarf has been wrapped around the upper section of the sheath.  The upper section of the sheath measured approximately 15 cm. long.
A woven flat cord, followed by a beaded string has been wrapped around the middle section of the sheath.  The mid section of the sheath measured approximately eight centimeters long.  The lower, section of the sheath, which measures approximately 20 cm. long consist of a carved wooden casing.  Between the lower section of the sheath and of the sheath, two cooled brass tabs, approximately
2 cm. wide, can be found.  The end of the sheath is characterized by two flowing horse hair plumes. approximately 30 cm. long, which are attached to the lower section of the sheath by thin leather wrapping.


*SPEARS-(S-dak or Agass)...The B'laan are also
acclaimed for their fine manufactured of bronze spears. 
These spears are often carried by( Bong 
Fulong) Datu in order to mark their
status and importance within B'laan society. 
The s-dak is made of wood with sharp meta
points. The spears, which are approximately 190cm. long, consist of a black steel shaft.  Fine bronze thread, which is made by stretching the heated metal, is often found tightly wound sections along the base and neck of the spears.  The base of the  average spears is approximately 10 cm. long, while
head of the spears is usually 30 cm. long.  The spears head, which is commonly made of polished steel, often contains an inscribed design.  The of the B'laan
leader, was the well known for his fine manufactured of spears and other bronze items.




*BLOW PIPE-(Asfut)..Men often used
blow pipe(asfut) for hunting.  Besides also killed
also by means of reed blow guns.  As a rule
such weapons are used by boys.  The blow pipes were manufactured by the men from a particular
type of bamboo, referred to as ash-god.  The designs on a man's blow pipe would  often resemble the tattooed designs on his chest 
and hands.  The distinctive designs would readily identify a particular blow pipe as the property of a specific individual.  These tattooed designs are still prominent on the chest of some of the older men.  The darts used in the blow pipe are made of a thin silver of wood, with a small amount of brush cotton or kapok attached
to the end.  Today, the blow pipe are
predominantly used by children for bird hunting.




BOW AND ARROW-(Segti)...The arrows
consisted of a bamboo shaft with a steel
head.  The segti or bow and arrow are fashioned from wood and arrows lopped with shaft metal points.  The steel head was fastened to the
bamboo shaft by layers or woven rattan mine.  Often, a double pronged steel head was placed on arrows used for bird hunting.
The bamboo bow as given additional strength and flexibility by the placement of woven rattan
vine straps located approximately every 5 cm. along the length of the bow.  The bow string (nito) which consists of a single strip of bamboo, is firmly attached to the base of the bow.  The top
of the string, however, is formed into a woven 
loop, which easily fits into a notch at the top
of the bow.


*RIFLES-(Paltik)...Some B'laan groups initially used low pipe.  Bow and arrows in their resistance activities against the enemies.  Through trade the B'laan were able to obtain old rifles that were left behind.  The B'laan also became very adept at the construct of their own rifles. Pieces of pipe were used to construct the gun barrels.  Phosphorous, obtained from the head of matches, was combined with  gunpowder as ammunition.  Strikers were used to detonate the charge,
while small pieces of metal were used as shot.