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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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I picked up this Pira a while back. it is the biggest one that i have seen.
The blade is 24 inches long, almost 3/8ths of an inch thick at the base and 30 inches overall. Blade is laminated along the cutting edge. As far as age, i think it might be from the middle 30's with the scabbard probably at least 2nd W.W. Any ideas..........Dave. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Dave,
Thanks for posting. These are always so nice to see because not only are they rare but it is becoming clearer that there are variations in size, hilt form, and scabbard type. Could you please post a pic of the complete blade, perhaps with the scabbard beside it. Do you think the pommel may have been cut down from something much longer originally, perhaps to make it a more practical utilitarian piece?? Thanks again for posting. Lovely example! |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 180
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Nice,
how thick is that spine? |
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#4 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
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A beautiful piece Dave! For those of us here not familiar with this sector of arms, can you say more on the regions and tribes who might have used these? I know you have specified the age as around 1930s up to WWII, but could the blade be older and remounted as with most ethnographic forms?
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#5 |
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Charles: I don't think that the pommel has been cut down. I can't see any
evidence of that, and the patina on the wood looks the same. If it was cut down it must have been shortly after it was originally carved. You are right. I have seen so many variations in different swords and knives in almost 29 years of collecting that i'm not surprised at any kind of variation seen. I think today many col- lectors think that if something dosn't follow a set pattern that it must be either recent or a tourist piece. Imas560: The thickness at the base of the blade is not quite 3/8ths of an inch. The blade is a little bit more heavier in the hand than some other moro pieces i have held. Jim: I'm not sure which group originally used the pira, but i seem to have a recollection that it was the Yakans. Not positive though............Dave. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 180
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Apologies Dave,
you did mention thickness in originating post, I just got excited and looked at the pictures |
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#7 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,285
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Did I miss a full picture of this piece unsheathed somewhere ?
![]() C'mon, take that pretty dress off . ![]() |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posts: 1,730
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Beautiful pira! To answer your question, Jim, pira are exclusively Yakan, an indigenous tribe from Basilan. Yeah, Dave, would love to see the shape of the blade. Question tho: do you think the scabbard is original to the blade?
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#9 |
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Spunger: Yeah, there is no doubt that the scabbard was made for this
blade. Whether or not it was made as a later replacement i can't Tell. Tomorrow i"ll try to post a picture of the blade next to the scabbard and i will do that from now on, as it does give a better perspective.........Dave. |
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#10 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
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Dave and Spunjer, thank you guys for responding to my questions. It truly does give me and others not familiar with these forms some perspective to what is obviously an attractive and interesting weapon.
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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A couple more pictures that Charles requested of the pira next to the
scabbard. Sorry, but i didn't get the whole thing in. I also took a closeup of a woven rattan belt loop closer. I can't remember seeing one like this before unless i just wasn't paying close attention and missed it.....Dave. |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,717
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Hello Dave,
nice pira you have there, congrats. Is the ferrule from silver? Regards, Detlef |
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#13 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Hi Detlef: Yes it's silver, with a small piece of horn between the pommel
and the ferrule..........Dave. |
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#14 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posts: 1,730
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wow, that's a long one! now that's a pira. it always boggles me why the drastic transition, shape wise, form the older type to this style. nevertheless, it's beautiful! thanks for posting this, Dave.
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#15 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Here is another pira for comparison. This one is just 26in. overall, with a 17in. pattern welded blade.
DaveS : The wood hilt/pommel is the same type of wood as yours. This particular one has an unusual nuance just above the grip. Were it not there it would be a more typical pira pommel. Perhaps you can see why I suggested that yours might have been cut down to make it a more practical utilitarian piece rather than just a weapon. I love these. They are very atypical to most Moro blades. |
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#16 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 338
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Officially the biggest blade I've seen of the newer form Pira. Colour me jealous, it's beautiful!
I have a similar one, I think made around the same time as yours. 18 inch blade with a thick spine as well. Will post pics soon. |
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#17 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Charles: I had a barong that i sold a number of years ago that had a
Pommel exactly like yours, a large upturned bunti wood one. Wish i could remember who i sold it to. Would like to buy it back....Dave. |
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#18 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Dave:
Ha ha!! you sold it to me years ago while I was out visiting Phil!! See this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=pir-rong No worries. It is still here and much loved! |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Charles: So it was you!!!!!!!!!!. Well, It really couldn't have a better home.
I'm glad that someone now owns it that has a real appreciation of these things. Why don't you come out in March and see Phil and Then come visit Lonna and me at the Pasadena Knife Show. Dave. |
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#20 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Dave,
I sent you an email....did you get it?? |
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#21 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
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Charles: Got it. Just replied........Dave.
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