Gunong

The tribes carried blades as part of their regular attire, both as a precaution for self-defense and for accomplishing daily tasks.

While the gunong dates back centuries before colonial times, it became more prevalent in 1915 when General John J. Pershing issued an order outlawing the wearing of swords.

Now unable to carry traditional machetes or broadswords, people turned to the gunong to fill the gap without arousing the fears of the American colonial authorities.

More extravagant fittings with chased bands on scabbards, belt clips, guards, and bulbous ferrules also became common.

After World War II, thinner-bladed gunong were made from newer materials like nickel and aluminium.

An antique gunong from Mindanao.
T'boli and Mandaya badao daggers with sheaths in the National Museum of Anthropology
An Iranun pirate from Sabah (formerly part of the Sultanate of Sulu ), with a kampilan , a gunong dagger tucked in his sash, and a budjak (spear)