Help pls. on 15th-17th C. cutlass & scimitar

migueldiaz · 11th February 2009, 03:54 AM

Reviewing the info posted above on the falchion, the bracamarte, and the other cleavers and choppers, one cannot help but see a possible similarity in the evolution of certain ethnic Phil. swords.

For instance in the case of European swords, it was proposed that the falchion was an intermediate form (see att. below), and said falchion then eventually morphed into the cutlass, the saber, etc.

As an aside, one wonders whether the original generic Phil. bolo when it became the pinahig or the binagong or the bangkung, were the equivalent of such intermediate form.

And then (to continue the speculation) the Moros merely further pushed the envelope until they came up with the pira and the kampilan, for instance.

[We can recall that Cato said that the bangkung is a much older form amongst the Moro blades.]

Once again, these are my own "unschooled" musings

Hopefully we get inputs from the experts, to either validate or refute this (wild) theory!

But we are really talking here about European cutlasses and 16th century Spanish swords. So pardon me for the digression ...

Gonzalo G · 11th February 2009, 09:01 AM

Neverthless, we must distinguish among straight blades with curved edges, from the curved blades...of course, also with curved edges. I think the weapon called alfanje had a curved blade, and according with Beraiz, also the scimitar. but in the case of the last one I feel not certainty.

11th February 2009, 03:54 AM	#1
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Reviewing the info posted above on the falchion, the bracamarte, and the other cleavers and choppers, one cannot help but see a possible similarity in the evolution of certain ethnic Phil. swords. For instance in the case of European swords, it was proposed that the falchion was an intermediate form (see att. below), and said falchion then eventually morphed into the cutlass, the saber, etc. As an aside, one wonders whether the original generic Phil. bolo when it became the pinahig or the binagong or the bangkung, were the equivalent of such intermediate form. And then (to continue the speculation) the Moros merely further pushed the envelope until they came up with the pira and the kampilan, for instance. [We can recall that Cato said that the bangkung is a much older form amongst the Moro blades.] Once again, these are my own "unschooled" musings Hopefully we get inputs from the experts, to either validate or refute this (wild) theory! But we are really talking here about European cutlasses and 16th century Spanish swords. So pardon me for the digression ... Attached Images

11th February 2009, 09:01 AM	#2
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	Neverthless, we must distinguish among straight blades with curved edges, from the curved blades...of course, also with curved edges. I think the weapon called alfanje had a curved blade, and according with Beraiz, also the scimitar. but in the case of the last one I feel not certainty. Last edited by Gonzalo G; 12th February 2009 at 05:44 AM.