Is this a Pira?
 

A friend of mine just picked up this blade. Is it a Pira? If not what? Looks post WWII to me. No sheath unfortunately. Any ideas welcome.

Hello David,

I think it's a rare Negrito Diplata from Luzon. Michael have posted once his beautiful example.

Regards,
Detlef

hmmm...blade form looks a bit different from Michael's example, which seems fatter and much less pointy.
This blade is 15" long btw, just about 2" at the widest stop in width.

Perhaps Michael can fill us in on some more info on this name and where he came by it. It is only referenced once on this site by him and i cannot find this name in any of my reference books or on a google search (except, of course, the thread where it was posted). :shrug:

I think that the blade form can vary but the handle form is very typical.
Here you can find some more information.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=negrito
I've seen a few more but can't remember where. But I think that other knowledge members like Jose, Ian and some others will confirm my guess. Direct when I see this sword I was sure about the orgin. When your friend don't like it........ ;) :D

Regards,
Detlef

I agree with Sajen. I have seen varying blade shapes on these.

Congratulations Dave - these are harder to find.

Thanks gentlemen. Again, José, this belongs to a good friend of mine so he get's the congrats....and he found it at a flea market for $20.
I am still curious about the name. Michael specifically calls it a Negrito Diplata which doesn't get me any hits anywhere. In the second thread you posted Detlef someone calls it a Negrito Bolo. That i find more hits for. So i'm still wondering where Michael found this name and if it is from any particular reference books.
My friend should be pleased that he scored a rarity cheap. :)

Being a rare piece, it is indeed hard to find any information on it. I will double check but there is some information on it. Diplata is correct as far as I know.

Here is a reference picture that I have saved on my computer. However, I am not close to my books at the moment and I don't remember from which book it was.
Perhaps some other collector could fill in?
It might be from The People and Art of the Philippines, if someone has it and can check page 229?

Michael

I don't have this book but I am nearly sure that Sentrad aka Udo have it, maybe he can help? :shrug:

Regards,
Detlef

Wilhelm Hein Page 346 has a picture of the same hilt, sword handle of the Negritos Sierra Zambales of Luzon, from a german collection 1877 but I guess the form continued for a good while