knife Philippines

Hombre · 8th December 2015, 08:30 AM

This one was bought (not by me) in Manila 35 years ago. I do not know anything about it and should really appreciate any information at all when it comes to this knife. Is it just a tourist thing or....I know the pictures are not good at all but the only ones I have for the moment. Thank you!

Battara · 8th December 2015, 04:16 PM

Mabuhay!

This is called a gunong by the Moros of the Southern Philippines, most being from Mindanao Island, and therefore being of either the Maguindanao or the Maranao tribes.

In this particular example, this gunong seems to be post 1930s, based on the shape of the ivory pommel and the types of waves in the blade. The silver plating (so it looks to me) indicates easily Mindanao Island, along with the okir vegetation motif.

Congratulations and welcome to our little forum!

David · 8th December 2015, 05:49 PM

I'd love to see some better and closer images of the hilt. The color looks odd to me for older ivory and i am wondering if it is not clam shell.

Sajen · 8th December 2015, 07:56 PM

Hello Hombre,

welcome to the forum. The pommel don't look like ivory to my eyes either. How is the feel inside the hand? Like stone? Like David said it could be clam shell.
Here you can see some of my gunongs: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong but this isn't the only thread about gunongs, use the search function with the key word "gunong", you will find many informations.

Regards,
Detlef

kronckew · 8th December 2015, 09:22 PM

blade seems a bit roughly filed & of lesser quality than the rest of the unit. i would have expected a smoother finish and maybe even some incised line art. how thick is the blade?

David · 8th December 2015, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

blade seems a bit roughly filed & of lesser quality than the rest of the unit. i would have expected a smoother finish and maybe even some incised line art. how thick is the blade?

Agree about the blade and the pointiness of the curves makes me think it is much later than the 1930s.

Battara · 9th December 2015, 01:47 AM

Now that I see the pictures on a larger screen (and not a phone screen), I agree - the pommel might be something else - close ups might be helpful!

I agree David - the blade might well be the 1950s or even 1960s. However, I have seen 1930s looks/waves in the blade just like these.

Many of these after a certain time period were indeed made for US soldiers, although during the ban on Moro swords after the Battle of Bud Bagsak in 1915, gunongs grew more ornate and even larger since they were the only weapons not banned during that same time period for Moros to wear.

Robert · 9th December 2015, 02:16 AM

Maybr these will be of some help. My vote is for shell.

Best,
Robert

Hombre · 12th December 2015, 05:37 PM

Thank you very much for the nice welcome!
Also thank you very much for your inputs on this knife. I really appreciate it.
Will take more pictures of the knife when I can do it in natural light.

Sajen, you have a very nice gunong Collection. Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Stefan
Sweden

Hombre · 13th December 2015, 01:24 PM

Here come some more pictures....

Best,
Stefan
Sweden

kronckew · 13th December 2015, 07:18 PM

bone...

Sajen · 13th December 2015, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

bone...

Yep, agree, two glued (?) bone plates.

Hombre · 13th December 2015, 10:00 PM

Thank you very much for your information. I really appreciate it.

Does that mean that it is a tourist thing and not worth collecting or....

kronckew · 13th December 2015, 10:45 PM

i look on them as place holders in my collection until i can get a better one.

i do also have an oops corner in the closet for the real doozy mistooks. i think all collectors do. we learn from out mistakes.

Sajen · 14th December 2015, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hombre

Does that mean that it is a tourist thing and not worth collecting or....

Sorry, yes I think it's a tourist gunong, I've also two of this type and use them as letter opener.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 14th December 2015, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

i look on them as place holders in my collection until i can get a better one.

i do also have an oops corner in the closet for the real doozy mistooks. i think all collectors do. we learn from out mistakes.

I call mine the "drawer of shame."

Mistakes are inevitable, but we don't have to repeat them.

Hombre · 14th December 2015, 08:05 AM

Thank you again for the information.
Well, I guess, I am lucky then becuase it is not mine....

Instead as a beginner I have to put my money on books....

Best,
Stefan

Sajen · 14th December 2015, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hombre

Instead as a beginner I have to put my money on books....

Hi Stefan,

about gunongs you don't will find books.

But here is a link with some informations: http://home.earthlink.net/~federicom...roweapons.html
And this place will give you also some good informations.

Regards,
Detlef

Hombre · 14th December 2015, 08:15 PM

Thank you, Detlef!
I really appreciate it!

Best,
Stefan

Battara · 15th December 2015, 12:44 AM

The link Sajen provided is the best and most authoritative source on gunongs at present.

8th December 2015, 08:30 AM	#1
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	knife Philippines This one was bought (not by me) in Manila 35 years ago. I do not know anything about it and should really appreciate any information at all when it comes to this knife. Is it just a tourist thing or....I know the pictures are not good at all but the only ones I have for the moment. Thank you! Attached Images

9th December 2015, 02:16 AM	#8
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Maybr these will be of some help. My vote is for shell. Best, Robert Attached Images

13th December 2015, 01:24 PM	#10
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Here come some more pictures.... Best, Stefan Sweden Attached Images

8th December 2015, 04:16 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Mabuhay! This is called a gunong by the Moros of the Southern Philippines, most being from Mindanao Island, and therefore being of either the Maguindanao or the Maranao tribes. In this particular example, this gunong seems to be post 1930s, based on the shape of the ivory pommel and the types of waves in the blade. The silver plating (so it looks to me) indicates easily Mindanao Island, along with the okir vegetation motif. Congratulations and welcome to our little forum!

8th December 2015, 05:49 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I'd love to see some better and closer images of the hilt. The color looks odd to me for older ivory and i am wondering if it is not clam shell.

8th December 2015, 07:56 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Hombre, welcome to the forum. The pommel don't look like ivory to my eyes either. How is the feel inside the hand? Like stone? Like David said it could be clam shell. Here you can see some of my gunongs: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong but this isn't the only thread about gunongs, use the search function with the key word "gunong", you will find many informations. Regards, Detlef

8th December 2015, 09:22 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	blade seems a bit roughly filed & of lesser quality than the rest of the unit. i would have expected a smoother finish and maybe even some incised line art. how thick is the blade?

9th December 2015, 01:47 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Now that I see the pictures on a larger screen (and not a phone screen), I agree - the pommel might be something else - close ups might be helpful! I agree David - the blade might well be the 1950s or even 1960s. However, I have seen 1930s looks/waves in the blade just like these. Many of these after a certain time period were indeed made for US soldiers, although during the ban on Moro swords after the Battle of Bud Bagsak in 1915, gunongs grew more ornate and even larger since they were the only weapons not banned during that same time period for Moros to wear.

12th December 2015, 05:37 PM	#9
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Thank you very much for the nice welcome! Also thank you very much for your inputs on this knife. I really appreciate it. Will take more pictures of the knife when I can do it in natural light. Sajen, you have a very nice gunong Collection. Thanks for sharing. Best, Stefan Sweden

13th December 2015, 07:18 PM	#11
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	bone...

13th December 2015, 10:00 PM	#13
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Thank you very much for your information. I really appreciate it. Does that mean that it is a tourist thing and not worth collecting or....

13th December 2015, 10:45 PM	#14
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	i look on them as place holders in my collection until i can get a better one. i do also have an oops corner in the closet for the real doozy mistooks. i think all collectors do. we learn from out mistakes.

14th December 2015, 08:05 AM	#17
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Thank you again for the information. Well, I guess, I am lucky then becuase it is not mine.... Instead as a beginner I have to put my money on books.... Best, Stefan

14th December 2015, 08:15 PM	#19
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Thank you, Detlef! I really appreciate it! Best, Stefan

15th December 2015, 12:44 AM	#20
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	The link Sajen provided is the best and most authoritative source on gunongs at present.