Philippine Knife?
 

OK I know it's from the north but what is it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dagger-Oriental-...QQcmdZViewItem


Lew

Bargain land..

Here are some better pics.

You know, that "X" and bar design on the spine is really starting to fascinate me. You see it on No. African weapons, SEA weapons, and here on a weapon from the Philippines (and I am sure on weapons from other regions). I guess it is a pretty basic geometric design that is easy to put into steel, but the commonality of it, in particular the consistent location, still strikes me.

What I find unique about this bolo is it has some habaki like thing on the blade which looks as if it is made of one piece of brass. I have never seen anything like this before on a Luzon bolo. The blade is regular steel and I can see in good light a nice temper line. Seems to be WW2 or earlier. We will need the Philippine weapons guys to chime in on this strange beast.


Lew

For starters, the "X" mark in the Moro lands is a talismanic mark, so I would not be surprised if it were the same here as well.

On the brass bolster, I have usually seen these as made from one piece of brass, or more accuratly, pieces soldered together.

It looks like the blade is in a sandwich lamination.

A nice and interesting piece. :)