The Tinguian and Ilocano Peoples--an ethnography based on the work of Cole

[A. G. Maisey]

Ian, I have no experience in the field of Spanish colonial knives.

For many years my single minded focus has been the Javanese keris, but I do have lengthy experience preceding that Javanese focus, in sharp pointy things in general, including about 20 years in custom knife making, mostly in blade smithing. Add to this a life long interest in the way in which edged weapons have been used in various societies, and that forms the background to my comments in respect of choils & notches.

I have owned a few Spanish, and Spanish-like knives over the years, but they have never been of much interest to me.

The only reason for my original comment was to attempt to identify the notch at the ricasso of the Tinguian knives for what I believe it to be.

I had no intention of diverting discussion of this thread into a different direction.