Unusual Piras

Spunjer · 23rd February 2005, 10:45 PM

what's so unusual are the blades and handles. i'll post the group picture first:

Spunjer · 23rd February 2005, 10:49 PM

the first one according to mang ven (vm's antiques) is a b'laan type. i wasn't aware that b'laans used this type of sundang; i thought piras were yakan special.

Spunjer · 23rd February 2005, 10:54 PM

the second one is a more traditional yakan pira. the handle is carabao horn with a bone or ivory punto, i'm not sure. what's weird is the blade design towards the point; it looks like something one would see on a kampilan tip. a kam-pira, maybe?

Spunjer · 23rd February 2005, 11:02 PM

finally, the bottom one is similar to the one on top. the handle is traditional yakan style with a twist: it looks like it's made out of banati wood and is heavily ornated. the punto is made out of brass with some okir designs. on the tip of the handle, there's a coin dated '1915' on it. the blade tip is similar to the one on top also; ala kampilan. the design actually looks like the same type of pattern one sees on a kris. any thoughts and/or comments on these hybrids?

Federico · 24th February 2005, 03:44 AM

Interesting stuff. Any word on the age? I would guess 20th century due to the proliferation of the hilt/blade style (well blade style without the interesting tips) on Ebay of similar modern pieces. Are the blades hefty? Regardless very neat stuff.

Conogre · 24th February 2005, 06:48 AM

Are those now yours, Spunger?
I've got three as well, and the only problem I have with them being automatically being put into the "contemporary class" is that they all seem to have older, heavy, patterned steel blades that are, for lack of a better term, too good for the other modern pieces that I've seen and handled, on a par with early to mid 20th century barung blades.
For now, I'm content to just sit and watch for developements, but I, for one, am not turning loose of mine and am thrilled that something this nice is staying within my monetary reach, at least for now.
Mike

23rd February 2005, 10:45 PM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Unusual Piras what's so unusual are the blades and handles. i'll post the group picture first: Attached Images

23rd February 2005, 10:49 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	the first one according to mang ven (vm's antiques) is a b'laan type. i wasn't aware that b'laans used this type of sundang; i thought piras were yakan special. Attached Images

23rd February 2005, 10:54 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	the second one is a more traditional yakan pira. the handle is carabao horn with a bone or ivory punto, i'm not sure. what's weird is the blade design towards the point; it looks like something one would see on a kampilan tip. a kam-pira, maybe? Attached Images

23rd February 2005, 11:02 PM	#4
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	finally, the bottom one is similar to the one on top. the handle is traditional yakan style with a twist: it looks like it's made out of banati wood and is heavily ornated. the punto is made out of brass with some okir designs. on the tip of the handle, there's a coin dated '1915' on it. the blade tip is similar to the one on top also; ala kampilan. the design actually looks like the same type of pattern one sees on a kris. any thoughts and/or comments on these hybrids? Attached Images

24th February 2005, 03:44 AM	#5
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Interesting stuff. Any word on the age? I would guess 20th century due to the proliferation of the hilt/blade style (well blade style without the interesting tips) on Ebay of similar modern pieces. Are the blades hefty? Regardless very neat stuff.

24th February 2005, 06:48 AM	#6
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Are those now yours, Spunger? I've got three as well, and the only problem I have with them being automatically being put into the "contemporary class" is that they all seem to have older, heavy, patterned steel blades that are, for lack of a better term, too good for the other modern pieces that I've seen and handled, on a par with early to mid 20th century barung blades. For now, I'm content to just sit and watch for developements, but I, for one, am not turning loose of mine and am thrilled that something this nice is staying within my monetary reach, at least for now. Mike