4 pieces from the Philippines

KuKulzA28 · 30th November 2009, 05:05 PM

The first two seem to be of the Binagong/ginunting from Panay/Negros
The third seems to be of the talibon/garab type but without the characteristic pommel
the fourth might be a matulis/pinuti type from Luzon?

Those are my novice blade aficionado comments. I hope the gurus will speak

Freddy · 30th November 2009, 05:20 PM

I will start with the top one.

Total length : 76 cm
handle : 16 cm (wood)
blade thickness near handle : 1 cm !

Very sharp, single edged blade with a false edge starting at about the middle of the blade. Unfortunately, there is no sheath.

Freddy · 30th November 2009, 08:02 PM

This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade.

Total length : 60 cm
Handle : 15 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

Freddy · 2nd December 2009, 08:31 PM

I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau).

Total length : 51 cm
Handle : 9,5 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

Freddy · 4th December 2009, 04:21 PM

A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath.

Total length : 42 cm
handle : 9,5 cm
thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

migueldiaz · 9th December 2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath.

Total length : 42 cm
handle : 9,5 cm
thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

Leather scabbard and peened tang ... looks like another Luzon piece

I have a query for everyone ... does it appear that only Luzon pieces have octagonal hilts (i.e., like the one above)? Thanks in advance!

migueldiaz · 9th December 2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau).

Total length : 51 cm
Handle : 9,5 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

The chisel ground blade and the wooden sheath point to a Visayan origin. Also, I saw earlier in eBay a WW2 G.I. souvenir bolo which has a very similar pommel. Then in its scabbard, "Samar, Philippines" is engraved. Thus it is probable that this bolo came from Samar.

migueldiaz · 9th December 2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade.

Total length : 60 cm
Handle : 15 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

A leather sheathed Phil. bolo points to a Luzon origin. And then in the pics in the very first post, I thought I saw a peened tang. Thus once again, peened-tang blades are characteristic of Luzon bolos.

migueldiaz · 9th December 2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

I will start with the top one.

Total length : 76 cm
handle : 16 cm (wood)
blade thickness near handle : 1 cm !

Very sharp, single edged blade with a false edge starting at about the middle of the blade. Unfortunately, there is no sheath.

Hi Freddy, I have a similar piece which I got from Fernando. But I have yet to firmly establish as to what region in the Philippines such types come from.

Given that such blades (the one you and I have) are not chisel-ground (i.e., the Visayan blades), then in all probability your sword came from Luzon.

30th November 2009, 08:02 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	number 2 This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade. Total length : 60 cm Handle : 15 cm Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

2nd December 2009, 08:31 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	3rd sword I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau). Total length : 51 cm Handle : 9,5 cm Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

4th December 2009, 04:21 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	last piece A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath. Total length : 42 cm handle : 9,5 cm thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

30th November 2009, 05:05 PM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	The first two seem to be of the Binagong/ginunting from Panay/Negros The third seems to be of the talibon/garab type but without the characteristic pommel the fourth might be a matulis/pinuti type from Luzon? Those are my novice blade aficionado comments. I hope the gurus will speak

30th November 2009, 05:20 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I will start with the top one. Total length : 76 cm handle : 16 cm (wood) blade thickness near handle : 1 cm ! Very sharp, single edged blade with a false edge starting at about the middle of the blade. Unfortunately, there is no sheath.