Thanks Rob. I was hoping Jim McDougall might have dropped in and commented on this topic of "Bowies" in non-U.S. cultures and large fighting knives in general. Obviously, there could be parallel development of large fighting knives among different cultures, simply based on the effectiveness of such weapons at close quarters. There is only so many ways you can shape such a blade, and some similarity may be expected. That said, as you point out there was some imitation of the supposed Bowie knife, especially in western cultures.
We do seem to have evidence here of a Spanish/Mediterranean influence on Filipino blades in the latter part of the 19th C. To what extent the "Bowie" idea filtered its way to the Philippines pre-1900 is impossible to say at this point.
Post-1900 there is direct involvement of the U.S. in the Philippines. After the Span-Am war it is likely that U.S. influence on local knife-making emerged quite strongly as U.S. military personnel increased in the islands. As you have pointed out also, during WWII and later saw an increase in large fighting knives of the "Bowie" type. Many of these were sold to U,S, forces stationed at Clarke AFB and Subic Bay. Many large bladed knives of that period had no guard, but there are also plenty of examples with guards.
Thanks for raising this interesting topic and I hope we will hear from more members about it.
Regards,
Ian.
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