Unusual Visayan features?

[Bangkaya]

Hello,
This is an Akeanon talibung with a linamay type blade, not an Ilonggo tenegre. The type of bakunawa pommel with the shorter nose and longer "eye stems" and "ears" sets it apart from other Akeanon talibungs with the typical elongated nose or folded nose variety. Generally, these more "bat-like" features are found from the panday clans that more coastal such as in Makato, Ibajay, and Tangalan. The long nose or folded nose variety are more of a highland variety usually associated with the sword making traditions of Malinao, Libacao and Balete. It is interesting to not that the the original poster's talibung has a symmetrical round guard, whereas most of these "bat-like" bakunawa hilt talibungs (such as Spunger's) have asymmetrical guards more similar to the sanduko of Capiz.

As for the beetle wing decoration, it is said that this particular beetle has certain anting-anting qualities. Yet it is also said that the number of beetle wings also marks the number of times the talibung has been used.

Regards,
Bangkaya