A WW-II Barong

This wonderfully preserved “Brush Knife” belonged to PFC. Wm. M. Mears, 19135664. He was stationed with the Headquarters Battalion, DIVARTY. He was born in 1919 and enlisted at age 23 in 1942. With a recorded three years of college he was probably better educated than many of the men his age. Most likely that education landed him his position with the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Department. The 1st Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the divisional artillery command for the 1st Armored Division normally stationed at Fort Bliss. The DIVARTY served with the division in World War II.

 

One of the most exciting parts of this purchase was the shipping container. Suffering a few splits, occurring over the last 70 years, the bamboo that was used as a shipping tube has held up quite well. The knife has been well cared for and there is no rust on the hand forged blade. The buffalo horn handle is iron mounted and has a full length tang which is peened over on the butt cap. It remains tight and without and cracks. The bamboo tube contained the knife housed in its rather crude wooden scabbard. The scabbard has several cracks, either from age or shrinkage. The outside of thte bamboo was wrapped with a parchment type paper and still has military inspection marks, the shipping and return address. The labeling is rife with valuable information. Mear’s  APO 25 address places him somewhere in the Phillipine Islands, which certainly provided him with the opportunity to buy this fine brush knife, better known as a barong. It would be more dramatic to envision Wm. Mears hacking his way through the jungle, tracking down Japanese soldiers, but being assigned to JAG he probably spent most of his life behind a desk.

Back in 1970 while in route to the island of Diego Garcia we made a refueling stop at Clark Air Force base in the Filipines. Imagine the Commanding Officers comments when we re-boarded and I had led a buying spree wherein we cleaned out the local bolo knife maker. The CO was a good sport and did not make us take them back.