My new old Bikol Minasbad Sword
 

Been wanting one of these for awhile. Just won this the other day. Was anyone else watching or bidding? haha :p I'll post more images when I get it.

Nice one. Yes I thought about it, but decided to pass. Looking forward to the close ups - congrats! Glad you got it! :D

Did not bid on it but was watching with interest just to see how much it would go for. Let us know how it is once you recieve it! Love the hilt.

nice one bro! i was gonna go for it as well, but i ended up winning the oakley juliets i was bidding on at the same time instead, lol. it was meant for you, brah!!!

Thanks guys! Glad none of you bid! HAHA :D

Good catch. Congrats.
I sent you an email.

I too was watching this but had other obligations that had to be taken care of first. Great looking sword and I'm very happy that you won it. Can't wait for more pictures and details. A very nice score.

Robert

Beautiful piece, Dimasalang... :) Maybe bring it for an up-close inspection if we ever meet up here in SD?

Thanks Kino! I sent you an email back. :D
Robert, I was worried I would be contending with you on this one. As you seem to be the one snatching everything up now-a-days. haha

laEspadaAncha, the Fil-Am Festival here in San Diego is in a few months. And the representative heading the main Filipino cultural booth have asked me if they can borrow some weapons(as if I had a ton)...let me know if you'd like to help display something. I still have your PM and your email. I'll send you info within the next few weeks. Also the Pacific Islander Festival is in Sept...I think that would be an awesome place for a display as well. :D

Hey Dimasalang,

I'd be down... I have a few pieces I think you'd be interested in including. :)

Hit me up with an email, as my PM box is kind of full (which I guess is like being "kind of" pregnant? :confused: )

I have a few good pieces that would make for a nice contribution at the Pacific Islander festival as well.

Of course, a meet-and-greet over some cerveza in Old Town is in order before we can discuss possible arrangements, don't you think? :D

Sounds good! I wonder if we can bring our swords in to the bar as well. :D
I'll be in touch.

dimasalang, nice one! and methinks i've been using all along the wrong key words in ebay ;)

and i love the sunny eyes of the guy. congrats.

Might get us a free round, though it kind of puts an odd - and possibly arrestable - slant on "Happy Hour..." :D

Got the sword in last week.
Finally took some pics. Sorry for the poor camera skills. :o

What is the definition of Minasbad? Another thread shows a variant of Parang Nabur under the same name.

Nice piece. Better to have the brass detail and the engraving on the blade. Bikolano, eh? Now I know thanks.

Actually I'm kind of glad that I had other obligations when this came to auction, otherwise the bidding could have been run up needlessly. The new pictures show just how beautiful this sword is. Now, I am extremely jealous and will have to find one with this style of blade for my own collection (again, here is where the forum needs a jealousy icon). Do you by any chance have an idea of the age of this sword as I have no idea at all of how to date them? Again my congratulations on this great addition to your collection.

Robert

Interesting sword. The bathead pommel is more usually seen with a parang nabur blade; here with a matulis/talibon style.
It's interesting too how the flat kind of shot-glass shaped saber butt was adapted part-and-parcel with the full-length tang in the swords of this region.

Im not positive on the definition of Minasbad or how it is filed under Parang Nabur. Lorenz would be able to answer that question.

Yes. Now that it is in my hands and seeing the details first hand, I am very happy with this buy. See --> :D

Thanks again Robert for not bidding. haha I thought it went high enough already. hehe I'm not positive on the age of this one, but I am guessing early 1900s? :shrug: Maybe others will input.
Anyone know how I can remove that surface rust with out removing any patina?

dam bro, that's a nice one! they're hard enough to come by, and to have a plated one like this is even rarer. congrats! is the handle kamagong?

It look on the pictures like it is only some surface rust so I would try to rub it away with WD 40.

BTW, very nice acquisition! :)

Regards,

Detlef

On the steel parts I use Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish and 0000 steel wool and just do a little at a time so you don't remove anything other than rust. I then wipe it down good and follow that up with Ren Wax.

Robert

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Ill give the WD40 method a shot first. :)


Tell me about it. Which is why I felt I had to have this one. And the entire set seems to be in good shape with none of the plates or parts missing. The handle looks to be carabao horn.

Your pictures are better - very nice. :cool:

Necro
 

Hullo, necro-ing this thread because I got a piece which I believe belongs in the same era as the original post... the blade profile of mine is called 'winastari,' it's 17in with a subtle clip-point in the last 1/4th of the spine. I'm not yet sure what [animal, deity] the figural represents.

Just wondering if anyone has arrived at a date or era for this dress style of Bicol blades. TIA!

No info, but have to say that is a distinctive style! Very cool - thank you for sharing.

Hello Ray,

Nice sword, congrats! Is it still a Minasbad with this blade style? I would associate this handle style with la ater date, WWII?? But I'm not sure.

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks, Jeff and Detlef!

I'm positing this as pre-WW2 because of the abundance of brass effects- as I understand, WW2 onwards would have integrated aluminum or other substitute metals. Although to be honest, I'm not so sure too- difficult to find Bicol swords with indicated area and date of production.