yup, i'd say late 19th c/ early 20th c... the handle on yours is kamagong, a native hardwood. what you got is a smaller garab, since the blade on these are normally longer; around 18-19 inches. i have a similar type, see the similarities? understand at this point in time, samar was still a dangerous place; general smith just converted the place into a "howling wilderness", so there's no reason for the locals to make trinkets for the visiting soldiers.
the length of the blade on mine is the same: around 15 inches. IMHO, these were the 'sneaky' types... easy to sneak and do the job. still doesn't see the similarity? check the toe on the scabbard. it's the not to common type. congrats!
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