Unknown Short Sword

tanaruz · 24th October 2022, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

Hi All,

Has anyone seen one of these before. The hilt looks like a Kachin dao hilt. The ferrule is exactly the same as a khukri ferrule. The 19" (48.26cm) kopis blade looks like a huge, curved warncliffe and appears to have been made from a file (one heck of a whacking big file at that). The spine of the blade is just under 3/8" (9.525cm) at the hilt and shows no real distal taper until the down curve at the tip. There is a 1-5/8" (41.275mm) ricasso and the blade is symmetrically ground. The sheath is black leather wrapped wood. The leather wrap is expertly stitched along the back with a single seam from throat to tip. Under the leather, there appears to be a cord binding holding the upper portion of the sheath together. There is a decorative leather flap below this binding that appears to have had one time some sort of leather suspension loop.
It is important to note that the ferrule fits the hilt and blade perfectly and the blade fits into the sheath just as well, so this isn't some sort of cobbled together chimera. All of the components are consistent with Nepalese manufacture but I have never seen anything like this before.

Sincerely,
RobT

Hello RobT,

IMHO, that's a ginunting (hasp file) and most probably from the Iloilo/Panay area. My basis is that the leather part (which serves for the blade not to slide down) of scabbard (which is not on the throat area) but on the upper part of the scabbard. Most (if not all of my blades (old) from that area has the similar feature). But then of course, it's just my opinion.

Ian · 24th October 2022, 10:14 PM

Tanaruz, hard to say from the original picture, so I adjusted the contrast of the OP to get a better look at the leather-wrapped scabbard (attached). It does not look Visayan to me. While there is a superficial resemblance, the overall construction of RobT's sheath seems unlikely to be Visayan.

Wayne, thanks for the additional pics of the Nepalese sickle and other work knives. Ooops, where did Wayne's post with those pictures disappear to?

.

kai · 25th October 2022, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Wayne, thanks for the additional pics of the Nepalese sickle and other work knives. Ooops, where did Wayne's post with those pictures disappear to?

Post #7, Ian?

24th October 2022, 10:14 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,469	Tanaruz, hard to say from the original picture, so I adjusted the contrast of the OP to get a better look at the leather-wrapped scabbard (attached). It does not look Visayan to me. While there is a superficial resemblance, the overall construction of RobT's sheath seems unlikely to be Visayan. Wayne, thanks for the additional pics of the Nepalese sickle and other work knives. Ooops, where did Wayne's post with those pictures disappear to? . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 24th October 2022 at 10:47 PM. Reason: Wayne's World ...