Help on what I just bought....

[blindside]

As a bit of an update, today a modern Filipino maker publicized pictures of his reproduction matulis. It certainly shares many of the characteristics of my blade. I am trying to find if he based his reproduction on any particular piece. The maker is Illocano Traditional Blades. https://www.facebook.com/ar.cie.167

So mystery largely solved!

[David R]

I think you are to be congratulated, taking a punt and winning indeed.

[blindside]

Ilocano Traditional Blades said this about his sword:

this blade sir is a rice-leaf blade shape that we called it BULONG PAGAY in ilocano. This blade sir is used among katipunan bolos to cut or used for fighting to their enemies and the handle is inspired by the horse hoof. The origin of this blade sir is from northern Luzon

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by blindside

Ilocano Traditional Blades said this about his sword:

this blade sir is a rice-leaf blade shape that we called it BULONG PAGAY in ilocano. This blade sir is used among katipunan bolos to cut or used for fighting to their enemies and the handle is inspired by the horse hoof. The origin of this blade sir is from northern Luzon

Sorry to burst the bubble, blindside. The ILT proprietor is a friend of mine...but he has very limited traditional blade knowledge. The blade that you posted actually isn't endemic to the Ilocanos...it has a backstory.

Several years back, the governor of Ilocos saw the Ars Cives Macau Exhibition, wherein several PH swords were exhibited and erroneously labeled as Ilocos- when actually they came from other Luzon areas such as Batangas and Cavite. Inspired by what he thought of as Ilocos swords, that governor had the ILT guys make reproductions of what he thought were Ilocos-provenanced blades.

The rest...is history. I've told ILT the facts, but of course it won't do well with marketing, and they're hesitant to back out of designs which they were told were originally Ilocano.

I'm of half Ilocano lineage myself, but in this matter, I believe things must be straightened out, in deference to the other Luzon pandays.

As for your blade...I don't really know where it is from. A lot of friends have debated over it, and their consensus is that it's not of PH provenance due to certain construction indicators.

[Battara]

I was going to say that the blade and the cap mounts look odd to me for Ilokos. Thanks for clarifying this confirmation.

[Ian]

Thanks Xas. I've refrained from commenting on this one because I did not think it was Filipino in origin, and more likely western in manufacture (no idea where exactly).

Several elements of the hilt are not "right," and the engraved designs look atypical to me. Superficially it resembles work from several Luzon areas, but not really ...

[kronckew]

Another hoofy weapon from an auction I lost today: Described as a 'Spanish Dagger': blade ~6 in./ 15 cm. (there were 2 other daggers in the lot with more conventional grips with similar scabbards and blades)

[blindside]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Sorry to burst the bubble, blindside. The ILT proprietor is a friend of mine...but he has very limited traditional blade knowledge. The blade that you posted actually isn't endemic to the Ilocanos...it has a backstory.

Several years back, the governor of Ilocos saw the Ars Cives Macau Exhibition, wherein several PH swords were exhibited and erroneously labeled as Ilocos- when actually they came from other Luzon areas such as Batangas and Cavite. Inspired by what he thought of as Ilocos swords, that governor had the ILT guys make reproductions of what he thought were Ilocos-provenanced blades.

The rest...is history. I've told ILT the facts, but of course it won't do well with marketing, and they're hesitant to back out of designs which they were told were originally Ilocano.

I'm of half Ilocano lineage myself, but in this matter, I believe things must be straightened out, in deference to the other Luzon pandays.

As for your blade...I don't really know where it is from. A lot of friends have debated over it, and their consensus is that it's not of PH provenance due to certain construction indicators.

Thank you, I really appreciate the information.