3 Talibons (or Garabs?)

Rafngard · 24th July 2015, 04:05 AM

Hello All,

My first three items from the Vasayans. All from Epray.
I'm not very clear on how a talibon is distinguished from a garab. Perhaps someone could clarify that for me.
None are very exceptional examples, but they were cheap, and I love them, which is the important part

The top one, with perhaps the best carvings is 17.75" long.
The middle, thicker one is 20.255" long
The bottom, thinner on is 21.5" long and as V.N.III carved on it, and I have no idea what that might mean.

I'd be happy to hear any comment's people may have on them.

Thanks,
Leif

Rafngard · 24th July 2015, 04:06 AM

Just a few more pics

Rafngard · 24th July 2015, 04:08 AM

Also, I have 5(!) more talibons coming in the mail. Will post pics when they arrive.

Rick · 24th July 2015, 04:17 AM

Caught the bug, have you ?

Rafngard · 24th July 2015, 04:38 AM

Yeah, just a bit. With the large supply of them, the great variety, and the relatively low price (particularly in comparison to moro and Indonesian items, which I also love), I'm loving the hell out of talibons.

Have fun,
Leif

Battara · 24th July 2015, 05:23 AM

Oh yes, PI weaponry rules!!!!! (my unbiased opinion

)

I might place these more from the 1940s.

That bigger one certainly has a unique design, doesn't it?

So far, it would seem different dialects/groups in the Visayas use the different names like tailbon and garab, and perhaps others.........

Rafngard · 24th July 2015, 12:06 PM

I don't think you can see it in these pics, but the longest one has a face on the hilt. I'll see if I can get a pic of it. It looks a bit like something from a children's cartoon show.

Have fun,
Leif

Rafngard · 25th July 2015, 03:01 AM

Here's a couple of pics (from the seller) where I've edited (and in some cases drawn on) them to show the face on the longer blade. It's ridiculously cute.

No idea if this is original. Given the Eagle on the scabbard, I do wonder if this an older blade refitted to sell to GIs

Ian · 25th July 2015, 05:15 AM

Leif:

These are fun knives indeed and they come in many sizes and varieties of hilt. Talibon or talibong is a common name applied to these knives that may be quite small up to sword length, but garab is probably an older term to describe a similar style of knife but that has an angle between the tang and the blade such that the hilt is tilted down. In addition, the garab has a depression just in front of the hilt on the back of the tang/blade which could serve as a thumb rest, and the garab usually has a tripartite butt that resembles the bud of a flower flanked by two leaves. I think the term garab is Eastern Visayan (possibly Warai), while talibon/talibong may be Western Visayan--but don't hold me to that. Attached below are pictures of two traditional garab from the late 19th/early 20th C which shows the features mentioned above.

Of the three knives you show in your post, the shortest one is the most traditional in style (although not showing all the features of the garab in the pictures) and may be a little older than the others. I think all of them come from the Western Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and are probably from the mid-20th C, dating from the end of WWII or a little later. Incidentally, the eagle and plaque shown on the longest one is the Philippine eagle insignia and is commonly found on these knives that date from the end of WWII or later. Knives with this insignia were common bring back items by GIs returning from the Pacific theater in the 1940s.

Ian.

Ian · 25th July 2015, 05:29 AM

A couple more dog headed ones from the same period.

Ian

Rafngard · 25th July 2015, 07:48 PM

Hello Ian,

Your answer was both complete and succinct. And such a lovely example. Thank you very much!

I think you're right about western Vasayans, and in fact the smaller one has "Vectori: La Pas: Leyte P.I." carved on it. So I think Leyte is a pretty strong possibility for that one. It's visible in one of the pictures, but upside down.

As for the Dog headed ones, those are excellent! I'm happy to know that my big one is not unprecedented.

Thanks,
Leif

Marcus · 4th March 2016, 08:52 PM

I have been calling this a Talibon but I guess it is more correctly a garab.

kronckew · 4th March 2016, 10:02 PM

nice, especially the last. i've only got three, a sword talibong and 2 shorter garab knives from jun silva. all right hand chisel ground

Rafngard · 5th March 2016, 10:35 PM

While I'm still looking for a early 20th/late 19th century Garab, I might have gotten a few more talibongs since I first made this post

kronckew · 5th March 2016, 11:47 PM

like that one with the hand on the scabbard & the finger guard.

24th July 2015, 04:05 AM	#1
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	3 Talibons (or Garabs?) Hello All, My first three items from the Vasayans. All from Epray. I'm not very clear on how a talibon is distinguished from a garab. Perhaps someone could clarify that for me. None are very exceptional examples, but they were cheap, and I love them, which is the important part The top one, with perhaps the best carvings is 17.75" long. The middle, thicker one is 20.255" long The bottom, thinner on is 21.5" long and as V.N.III carved on it, and I have no idea what that might mean. I'd be happy to hear any comment's people may have on them. Thanks, Leif Attached Images

24th July 2015, 04:06 AM	#2
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Just a few more pics Attached Images

25th July 2015, 03:01 AM	#8
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Close ups on the face Here's a couple of pics (from the seller) where I've edited (and in some cases drawn on) them to show the face on the longer blade. It's ridiculously cute. No idea if this is original. Given the Eagle on the scabbard, I do wonder if this an older blade refitted to sell to GIs Attached Images

25th July 2015, 05:15 AM	#9
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Leif: These are fun knives indeed and they come in many sizes and varieties of hilt. Talibon or talibong is a common name applied to these knives that may be quite small up to sword length, but garab is probably an older term to describe a similar style of knife but that has an angle between the tang and the blade such that the hilt is tilted down. In addition, the garab has a depression just in front of the hilt on the back of the tang/blade which could serve as a thumb rest, and the garab usually has a tripartite butt that resembles the bud of a flower flanked by two leaves. I think the term garab is Eastern Visayan (possibly Warai), while talibon/talibong may be Western Visayan--but don't hold me to that. Attached below are pictures of two traditional garab from the late 19th/early 20th C which shows the features mentioned above. Of the three knives you show in your post, the shortest one is the most traditional in style (although not showing all the features of the garab in the pictures) and may be a little older than the others. I think all of them come from the Western Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and are probably from the mid-20th C, dating from the end of WWII or a little later. Incidentally, the eagle and plaque shown on the longest one is the Philippine eagle insignia and is commonly found on these knives that date from the end of WWII or later. Knives with this insignia were common bring back items by GIs returning from the Pacific theater in the 1940s. Ian. Attached Images

25th July 2015, 05:29 AM	#10
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	A couple more dog headed ones from the same period. Ian Attached Images

24th July 2015, 04:08 AM	#3
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Also, I have 5(!) more talibons coming in the mail. Will post pics when they arrive.

24th July 2015, 04:17 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Caught the bug, have you ?

24th July 2015, 04:38 AM	#5
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Yeah, just a bit. With the large supply of them, the great variety, and the relatively low price (particularly in comparison to moro and Indonesian items, which I also love), I'm loving the hell out of talibons. Have fun, Leif

24th July 2015, 05:23 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Oh yes, PI weaponry rules!!!!! (my unbiased opinion ) I might place these more from the 1940s. That bigger one certainly has a unique design, doesn't it? So far, it would seem different dialects/groups in the Visayas use the different names like tailbon and garab, and perhaps others.........

24th July 2015, 12:06 PM	#7
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	I don't think you can see it in these pics, but the longest one has a face on the hilt. I'll see if I can get a pic of it. It looks a bit like something from a children's cartoon show. Have fun, Leif

25th July 2015, 07:48 PM	#11
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Hello Ian, Your answer was both complete and succinct. And such a lovely example. Thank you very much! I think you're right about western Vasayans, and in fact the smaller one has "Vectori: La Pas: Leyte P.I." carved on it. So I think Leyte is a pretty strong possibility for that one. It's visible in one of the pictures, but upside down. As for the Dog headed ones, those are excellent! I'm happy to know that my big one is not unprecedented. Thanks, Leif

4th March 2016, 08:52 PM	#12
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Grab I have been calling this a Talibon but I guess it is more correctly a garab. Attached Images

4th March 2016, 10:02 PM	#13
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	nice, especially the last. i've only got three, a sword talibong and 2 shorter garab knives from jun silva. all right hand chisel ground Attached Images

5th March 2016, 10:35 PM	#14
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	Family photos While I'm still looking for a early 20th/late 19th century Garab, I might have gotten a few more talibongs since I first made this post Attached Images

5th March 2016, 11:47 PM	#15
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	like that one with the hand on the scabbard & the finger guard.