Hello everyone!

[Ian]

Hello Gus!

Welcome to the Ethno Forum. What an interesting sword you have posted! There has been increased interest in recent years with the long-bladed, square-ended, Ilocano/Kapangan sword called talunasan. Your sword certainly bears a resemblance to those uncommon long swords described with this name.

However, the hilt on yours is not associated with northern/central Luzon weapons. I would describe the pommel on your example as being in the genre of an "aso motif," resembling a dog or bat. Such hilts are usually associated with Bicol or Batangas, or even into the Visayas.

I notice that one half of the guard on your sword seems to be missing/broken off. Is that the case? It leaves me wondering if this sword may have had a D-guard at one time, and the knuckle bow was broken or removed for some reason. The presence of a knuckle bow could again suggest a Bicolano origin (such as seen on minisbad).

I look forward to Raymundo's (xasterix) comments on your sword.


Regards, Ian