Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

RobT · Today, 02:12 AM

Lee,

Thanks for the new pictures, especially the one with the knife sheathed because I believe that (reverse) view shows the knife as it is meant to be sheathed. The clue is the diagonally transverse suspension which shows that the sheath is meant to be worn on the left side so that the throat points slightly forward and the tip points slightly backward. If the sheath were to be worn on the right side, the tip would point slightly forward and the throat slightly backward. If you strap your sheath to your waist, I’m sure you’ll see how awkward right side carry would look and how difficult it would be to quickly draw the blade.
All the similar sheaths in my collection show the same suspension configuration but more importantly, in all cases, when the blades are sheathed, either the hilts or the pommel are curved toward the front. That these blades were meant to be cross drawn is, I believe, an inescapable conclusion.
Given all of the above, I think that the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of a Philippine origin for your entire ensemble. Congratulations on a truly outstanding addition to your collection.

Sincerely,
RobT
PS. I’m still having all sorts of trouble accessing the forum. Sometimes it lets me in sometimes it won’t.

Today, 02:12 AM	#15
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 577	It Appears to Fit Correctly Lee, Thanks for the new pictures, especially the one with the knife sheathed because I believe that (reverse) view shows the knife as it is meant to be sheathed. The clue is the diagonally transverse suspension which shows that the sheath is meant to be worn on the left side so that the throat points slightly forward and the tip points slightly backward. If the sheath were to be worn on the right side, the tip would point slightly forward and the throat slightly backward. If you strap your sheath to your waist, I’m sure you’ll see how awkward right side carry would look and how difficult it would be to quickly draw the blade. All the similar sheaths in my collection show the same suspension configuration but more importantly, in all cases, when the blades are sheathed, either the hilts or the pommel are curved toward the front. That these blades were meant to be cross drawn is, I believe, an inescapable conclusion. Given all of the above, I think that the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of a Philippine origin for your entire ensemble. Congratulations on a truly outstanding addition to your collection. Sincerely, RobT PS. I’m still having all sorts of trouble accessing the forum. Sometimes it lets me in sometimes it won’t.