Short Sword For Comment

RobT · 5th March 2017, 10:48 PM

Hi All,

I am posting this short sword for comment. At first glance, it would appear to be a double edge blade but it's not. It is single edge blade about 20.5 inches long with about 9 inch long false back edge. As can be seen in the pictures, the blade is offset from the hilt. The edge is further from the hilt than is the spine. The hilt (including pommel) is 5.5 inches long. The brass cross guard is about 3.5 inches long by 1.125 wide by just over 1/4 inch thick. The ferrule, butt cap, and pommel are all brass.

Sincerely,
RobT

Ian · 6th March 2017, 12:48 AM

The blade form is consistent with a dahong palay from the Philippines, and more specifically from Luzon. The brass guard and brass ferrules with full length, offset tang are most likely Ilocano work, although the screw on the end of a threaded tang is a little unusual (more common to see a peined tang on Ilocano hilts). This appears to be a recently made piece, second half of 20th C.

Ian.

RobT · 6th March 2017, 02:13 AM

Ian,

Good pick-up on the threaded tang. I forgot to mention it. I also think it is mid to 2nd half of 20th century. I wouldn't have pegged it as dahong palay since the tip is so bilaterally symmetrical. It would appear that the term dahong palay covers a lot of ground. What was really interesting to me was that the seller thought the sword was Chinese and I had a really hard time convincing him that it is Philippine. To be honest, I have to admit that it appears to me also that it has a fair amount of Chinese influence.

Sincerely,
RobT

Ian · 6th March 2017, 07:40 AM

Hi Rob:

The dahong palay typically has a symmetrical, spear-shaped tip. The term refers to the similarity of the blade to a rice leaf (dahong palay) or to a venomous snake (dahong palay) that has a similarly shaped head.

Ian

-------------------Attachments--------------------

Dahong palay (rice leaf)
Dahong palay [Trimeresurus flavomaculatus (KU 330049) from mid-elevation, Mt. Cagua - ZooKeys-266-001-g098]
Examples of typical dahong palay swords and knives. Most have brass guards and fittings to various Ilocano styles of hilts

.

Ian · 6th March 2017, 07:57 AM

Rob:

I would say the examples attached to this post are NOT dahong palay.

Ian.

--------------------Attachments-------------------

Examples of swords and knives that show asymmetric spear-shaped tips. These do not resemble the rice leaf or the snake that are each referred to as dahong palay.
.

RobT · 7th March 2017, 01:59 AM

Ian,

Thanks for the correction. For some reason, I had it backwards.

Sincerely,
RobT

PS. Really nice collection of dahong palay & non-dahong palay.

5th March 2017, 10:48 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 488	Short Sword For Comment Hi All, I am posting this short sword for comment. At first glance, it would appear to be a double edge blade but it's not. It is single edge blade about 20.5 inches long with about 9 inch long false back edge. As can be seen in the pictures, the blade is offset from the hilt. The edge is further from the hilt than is the spine. The hilt (including pommel) is 5.5 inches long. The brass cross guard is about 3.5 inches long by 1.125 wide by just over 1/4 inch thick. The ferrule, butt cap, and pommel are all brass. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

6th March 2017, 02:13 AM	#3
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 488	Thanks For the Info Ian, Good pick-up on the threaded tang. I forgot to mention it. I also think it is mid to 2nd half of 20th century. I wouldn't have pegged it as dahong palay since the tip is so bilaterally symmetrical. It would appear that the term dahong palay covers a lot of ground. What was really interesting to me was that the seller thought the sword was Chinese and I had a really hard time convincing him that it is Philippine. To be honest, I have to admit that it appears to me also that it has a fair amount of Chinese influence. Sincerely, RobT

6th March 2017, 07:40 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Hi Rob: The dahong palay typically has a symmetrical, spear-shaped tip. The term refers to the similarity of the blade to a rice leaf (dahong palay) or to a venomous snake (dahong palay) that has a similarly shaped head. Ian -------------------Attachments-------------------- Dahong palay (rice leaf) Dahong palay [Trimeresurus flavomaculatus (KU 330049) from mid-elevation, Mt. Cagua - ZooKeys-266-001-g098] Examples of typical dahong palay swords and knives. Most have brass guards and fittings to various Ilocano styles of hilts . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 6th March 2017 at 07:51 AM.

6th March 2017, 07:57 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Rob: I would say the examples attached to this post are NOT dahong palay. Ian. --------------------Attachments------------------- Examples of swords and knives that show asymmetric spear-shaped tips. These do not resemble the rice leaf or the snake that are each referred to as dahong palay. . Attached Images

7th March 2017, 01:59 AM	#6
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 488	Got It Ian, Thanks for the correction. For some reason, I had it backwards. Sincerely, RobT PS. Really nice collection of dahong palay & non-dahong palay.

6th March 2017, 12:48 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	The blade form is consistent with a dahong palay from the Philippines, and more specifically from Luzon. The brass guard and brass ferrules with full length, offset tang are most likely Ilocano work, although the screw on the end of a threaded tang is a little unusual (more common to see a peined tang on Ilocano hilts). This appears to be a recently made piece, second half of 20th C. Ian.