A Very Interesting Philippine Weapon

drac2k · 1st August 2022, 08:50 PM

Well, interesting to me anyway. I think that this Philippine dagger was picked up by a US soldier and converted into a "D Guard," knife. Thank God that it was dated or it would probably have been listed as an American Civil War Confederate Dagger. It is also named F.A. NENSTIEHL which I am guessing isn't a Philippine name. The knife measures 17" long.
Any comments would be welcomed.

Ian · 2nd August 2022, 04:46 AM

This appears to be a wavy-bladed dagger made in Luzon. The date implies it came from the early period of U.S. occupation following the Spanish-American War. There are quite a few D-guard weapons from that period, some attributable to former Spanish units and some to revolutionary Filipino units. Some were also made as souvenirs for the victors. The terminal "dagger" point is a feature seen on some of the wavy-bladed weapons from the late stages of Spanish rule in the Philippines. I have a sword from that period showing the same feature. It was subsequently carried forward on wavy-bladed weapons made in central and northern Luzon until the mid-20th C and possibly later.

drac2k · 2nd August 2022, 12:28 PM

What you state makes complete sense; maybe it was a battlefield pick up and the soldier dated it and named it. One of the American Campaigns in the Philippines was against Mindanao from July 4, 1902, through Dec. 31, 1904, which kind of falls within the date on the handle; so even if the dagger was from Luzon, it would not be uncommon for soldiers to trade "war souvenirs."

Battara · 2nd August 2022, 11:26 PM

The scabbard though looks more Visayan to me. Ian what are your thoughts?

RobT · 3rd August 2022, 12:29 AM

Hi All,

Ian makes a good point (no pun intended). The point of my serpentine bladed short sword is a dead ringer for the one on drac2k's blade. I wonder if the strange metal piece in front of the D-guard isn't a remnant of the type of cross guard on my sword. Perhaps the dagger got a new sheath, hilt, and guard in the Visayas.

Sincerely,
RobT

drac2k · 3rd August 2022, 02:58 AM

The metal piece in front of the "D guard," is actually part of the blade; the same configuration as yours at the base of your blade above the hilt only shorter.

Ian · 3rd August 2022, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

The scabbard though looks more Visayan to me. Ian what are your thoughts?

I agree Battara. That leather wrap at the throat does have a Visayan flavor and the brass bands would also be consistent. Maybe a later pairing of blade and scabbard

Ian · 3rd August 2022, 01:18 PM

Hi Rob,

Your example is another central/northern Luzon piece, possibly Kapangan or Ilokano in manufacture. I think yours is somewhat later in manufacture, probably post WWII. These were common bring backs by U.S. military stationed in the Philippines after WWII.

Victrix · 3rd August 2022, 03:10 PM

I think the presence of a handguard marks this out as a military weapon.

drac2k · 3rd August 2022, 06:30 PM

In regards to a handguard disqualifying it as a military weapon, I respectfully disagree. We have our famous American Civil War "D Guard Bowies," The L.F.&C & the ACCO 1917 Trench Knives, as well as a host of WW1 & WW2 Theater Made knives w/"D Guards, " not to mention Jason McCord's cut-down Cavalry sword that he often employed in the Western Frontier.
Paramilitary units often had non-standardized weapons such as this one; whether the application was practical or not was of secondary importance; just so long as they were scary.
Usually, with your typical souvenir pieces, you not only have a date and a name but a place, which this one doesn't, which tells me that this one wasn't generically made.

1st August 2022, 08:50 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	A Very Interesting Philippine Weapon Well, interesting to me anyway. I think that this Philippine dagger was picked up by a US soldier and converted into a "D Guard," knife. Thank God that it was dated or it would probably have been listed as an American Civil War Confederate Dagger. It is also named F.A. NENSTIEHL which I am guessing isn't a Philippine name. The knife measures 17" long. Any comments would be welcomed. Attached Images

3rd August 2022, 12:29 AM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 486	Rehilted? Hi All, Ian makes a good point (no pun intended). The point of my serpentine bladed short sword is a dead ringer for the one on drac2k's blade. I wonder if the strange metal piece in front of the D-guard isn't a remnant of the type of cross guard on my sword. Perhaps the dagger got a new sheath, hilt, and guard in the Visayas. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

3rd August 2022, 02:58 AM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	The metal piece in front of the "D guard," is actually part of the blade; the same configuration as yours at the base of your blade above the hilt only shorter. Last edited by drac2k; 3rd August 2022 at 03:02 AM. Reason: to add information

2nd August 2022, 04:46 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	This appears to be a wavy-bladed dagger made in Luzon. The date implies it came from the early period of U.S. occupation following the Spanish-American War. There are quite a few D-guard weapons from that period, some attributable to former Spanish units and some to revolutionary Filipino units. Some were also made as souvenirs for the victors. The terminal "dagger" point is a feature seen on some of the wavy-bladed weapons from the late stages of Spanish rule in the Philippines. I have a sword from that period showing the same feature. It was subsequently carried forward on wavy-bladed weapons made in central and northern Luzon until the mid-20th C and possibly later.

2nd August 2022, 12:28 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	What you state makes complete sense; maybe it was a battlefield pick up and the soldier dated it and named it. One of the American Campaigns in the Philippines was against Mindanao from July 4, 1902, through Dec. 31, 1904, which kind of falls within the date on the handle; so even if the dagger was from Luzon, it would not be uncommon for soldiers to trade "war souvenirs."

2nd August 2022, 11:26 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	The scabbard though looks more Visayan to me. Ian what are your thoughts?

3rd August 2022, 01:18 PM	#8
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	Hi Rob, Your example is another central/northern Luzon piece, possibly Kapangan or Ilokano in manufacture. I think yours is somewhat later in manufacture, probably post WWII. These were common bring backs by U.S. military stationed in the Philippines after WWII.

3rd August 2022, 03:10 PM	#9
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 695	I think the presence of a handguard marks this out as a military weapon.

3rd August 2022, 06:30 PM	#10
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	In regards to a handguard disqualifying it as a military weapon, I respectfully disagree. We have our famous American Civil War "D Guard Bowies," The L.F.&C & the ACCO 1917 Trench Knives, as well as a host of WW1 & WW2 Theater Made knives w/"D Guards, " not to mention Jason McCord's cut-down Cavalry sword that he often employed in the Western Frontier. Paramilitary units often had non-standardized weapons such as this one; whether the application was practical or not was of secondary importance; just so long as they were scary. Usually, with your typical souvenir pieces, you not only have a date and a name but a place, which this one doesn't, which tells me that this one wasn't generically made.