what is this knife?
 

It has a horn grip, silver ferrules and a distinctive blade shape that I don't recognise, any ideas?

It's a form of Philippine bolo.



Lew

I believe this is a Tabak with a grip of Spanish influenced styling. Very nice, I really like these.


Robert

Thanks, guys!
;)

Thanks guys ! Most interesting discussion, and its great to learn all about new weapons~
Now when I see one of these I'll know exactly where its from :)
Is a Tabak the same as a bolo? Why is the blade shaped like that?

Hi Jim,
I believe a Tabak is a type or bolo that had its start in Spanish Colonial times. IF I remember right the Spanish had the bright idea that if the people of the Philippines weapons had a blunt tip that it would help to make them less prone to aggressive behavior and the Spanish safer from attack. It didn't work very well though and seems that it was just another example of Military Intelligence at its best. :D


Robert

those who do not learn from history are forced to repeat it. the UK is lobbying along these lines now, setting us up for future meaningless and ineffective bans; releasing reports by eminent UK doctors that there is no need for knives to have points and that if only they were mfg. with blunt tips that stabbings would go down. see the existing thread on UK samurai sword ban, when will we ever learn.....

This is a Pampangan tabak. Yes it is a type of bolo and typical of Pampangas region on Luzon. Robert is right in that this is why there is not a sharpened tip on the piece - Spanish restrictions. It also looks like the hilt is of horn and silver. I would place this at the late 19c.