4 pieces from the Philippines
 

These have been around for a couple of weeks. Can anyone tell me more ?

Hi Freddy,
Could you post pictures of the other side of these and of the end of the hilts. Measurements of blade length, width and thickness as well as total length would also be helpful.


Robert

The first two seem to be of the Binagong/ginunting from Panay/Negros
The third seems to be of the talibon/garab type but without the characteristic pommel
the fourth might be a matulis/pinuti type from Luzon?

Those are my novice blade aficionado comments. I hope the gurus will speak :D

I will start with the top one.

Total length : 76 cm
handle : 16 cm (wood)
blade thickness near handle : 1 cm !

Very sharp, single edged blade with a false edge starting at about the middle of the blade. Unfortunately, there is no sheath.

number 2
 

This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade.

Total length : 60 cm
Handle : 15 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

3rd sword
 

I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau).

Total length : 51 cm
Handle : 9,5 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

last piece
 

A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath.

Total length : 42 cm
handle : 9,5 cm
thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

Hi Freddy, I have a similar piece which I got from Fernando. But I have yet to firmly establish as to what region in the Philippines such types come from.

Given that such blades (the one you and I have) are not chisel-ground (i.e., the Visayan blades), then in all probability your sword came from Luzon.

A leather sheathed Phil. bolo points to a Luzon origin. And then in the pics in the very first post, I thought I saw a peened tang. Thus once again, peened-tang blades are characteristic of Luzon bolos.

The chisel ground blade and the wooden sheath point to a Visayan origin. Also, I saw earlier in eBay a WW2 G.I. souvenir bolo which has a very similar pommel. Then in its scabbard, "Samar, Philippines" is engraved. Thus it is probable that this bolo came from Samar.

Leather scabbard and peened tang ... looks like another Luzon piece :)

I have a query for everyone ... does it appear that only Luzon pieces have octagonal hilts (i.e., like the one above)? Thanks in advance!