Hello all,
that the sheath is from Carabao hide was my guess because the information I get once in this thread, post #4:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11239. The leather is thick but could be as well from a cow.
About the knowledge how to make leather from hide: I know that in Indonesia/Java it was usual to wrap pedang sheaths with leather. Since there are so many leather sheaths in the Philippines, special Luzon, I don't think that this is imported leather. Who bring the technic to the Philippines I don't know.
About ironworking/-forging: I think that this technic coming from Indonesia since the kris most proable also coming to the South of the Philippines from Indonesia.
All this are only my thoughts and are of course unprofed.
Regards,
Detlef