Ivory Fist Dagger - Katipunan?

[Robert]

Hello Jose, Everything about this looks like older Philippine work to me "except" the pinning (if it in fact does go through the tang) and the hilt carving. The poor quality of the carving makes me think that if this is Philippine that the hilt was most likely made post WWII as a replacement as everything else looks much older. These are just my opinions and I could easily be completely wrong but, it could also explain the pinning as I have been seeing more and more of it being used on newer Philippine blades of older styling coming up for sale lately. Are you sure that the pins go completely through the hilt and tang and are not just decoration set into the ivory?

Rick, All of the figa charms that I have seen have the thumb protruding out between the fingers and not in the clenched fist manner with the thumb laid along side the fingers. The figa charm I believe was more for good luck and fertility while the clenched fist was more a symbol of defiance and solidarity.
As I said above, I could be completely wrong about this also.

Best,
Robert