Philippine Dagger Just Ended On Ebay

Robert · 1st February 2009, 09:09 PM

Nice Philippine dagger with a very unusual guard. Thank you Steve for pointing this out to me. Looks like a lot of the turtle shell is missing off the scabbard. Will know more of were in the Philippines when it arrives and I can see the end of the grip. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ies%26_fvi%3D1
Comments are welcomed on this especially on the guard and its possible use in fighting.

Will post new pictures when it arrives.

Robert

Here are the pictures from the auction.

Atlantia · 1st February 2009, 09:52 PM

Looks really nice mate!
Certainly going to be amongst friends in your collection

Definately post some pics when it arrives!

Gene

Robert · 2nd February 2009, 03:34 AM

Thank You for your interest Gene. Yes, it will have new friends when it arrives,

including a straight bladed brother with the same style of scabbard. Will post pictures as soon as it arrives and as has been cleaned of the rust on the blade. Any thoughts on the strange shape of the guard? Something else that is odd about this, the hilt looks to be off-set and not centered to the blade. I've seen this quite a bit on Philippine swords and knives that are of Spanish influence in their design but this is the first dagger I've seen like this.

Comments anyone ?

Robert

Atlantia · 2nd February 2009, 02:19 PM

Hi Robert.
Well these are completely out of my experience, so I'm just an interested admirer, but the guard looks like its been made as a tool. One side elongated and pointed the other shorter broader and flattened.
Could it be old enough to have been used alongside muzzle loaders?
A little spike and flat screwdriver could be useful?

Just a wild guess

Regards
Gene

Dimasalang · 2nd February 2009, 06:07 PM

Very nice! Nice price too.

I hope and pray I can find a Philippine dagger like this someday. Why cant I ever get this lucky... sigh...

Robert · 2nd February 2009, 07:08 PM

Gene, Going by the pictures I would only estimate the age of this dagger to be first quarter 20th century at best and more likely the second quarter. I will know more when it arrives. What still looks odd in the pictures is that if the hilt is off-set it looks like it was designed to be held with the pointed side of the guard pointing down or out (fingers side) and the shorter side (thumb side) pointing up or in. Most daggers with straight guards that I've seen seem to be designed to be griped ether way.

Dimasalang, Thank you very much for your kind words. If this had not been pointed out to me by another member of this forum I might have overlooked it myself.

There are still probably quite a few of these out there so you should be able to find one. Good luck in the hunt and when you do find one please post pictures.

Thank you both again for you interest.

Robert

1st February 2009, 09:09 PM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Philippine Dagger Just Ended On Ebay Nice Philippine dagger with a very unusual guard. Thank you Steve for pointing this out to me. Looks like a lot of the turtle shell is missing off the scabbard. Will know more of were in the Philippines when it arrives and I can see the end of the grip. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ies%26_fvi%3D1 Comments are welcomed on this especially on the guard and its possible use in fighting. Will post new pictures when it arrives. Robert Here are the pictures from the auction. Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 2nd February 2009 at 03:27 AM.

2nd February 2009, 03:34 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank You for your interest Gene. Yes, it will have new friends when it arrives, including a straight bladed brother with the same style of scabbard. Will post pictures as soon as it arrives and as has been cleaned of the rust on the blade. Any thoughts on the strange shape of the guard? Something else that is odd about this, the hilt looks to be off-set and not centered to the blade. I've seen this quite a bit on Philippine swords and knives that are of Spanish influence in their design but this is the first dagger I've seen like this. Comments anyone ? Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 2nd February 2009 at 05:54 AM.

1st February 2009, 09:52 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Looks really nice mate! Certainly going to be amongst friends in your collection Definately post some pics when it arrives! Gene

2nd February 2009, 02:19 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Robert. Well these are completely out of my experience, so I'm just an interested admirer, but the guard looks like its been made as a tool. One side elongated and pointed the other shorter broader and flattened. Could it be old enough to have been used alongside muzzle loaders? A little spike and flat screwdriver could be useful? Just a wild guess Regards Gene

2nd February 2009, 06:07 PM	#5
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Very nice! Nice price too. I hope and pray I can find a Philippine dagger like this someday. Why cant I ever get this lucky... sigh...

2nd February 2009, 07:08 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Gene, Going by the pictures I would only estimate the age of this dagger to be first quarter 20th century at best and more likely the second quarter. I will know more when it arrives. What still looks odd in the pictures is that if the hilt is off-set it looks like it was designed to be held with the pointed side of the guard pointing down or out (fingers side) and the shorter side (thumb side) pointing up or in. Most daggers with straight guards that I've seen seem to be designed to be griped ether way. Dimasalang, Thank you very much for your kind words. If this had not been pointed out to me by another member of this forum I might have overlooked it myself. There are still probably quite a few of these out there so you should be able to find one. Good luck in the hunt and when you do find one please post pictures. Thank you both again for you interest. Robert