questions about a couple Filipino weapons

mercierarmory · 16th February 2008, 05:08 AM

Today I was just given a couple blades from the Philippines (yes given). They are both veteran bringbacks from WWII and one of them still has the tag the soldier had to fill out to send them home. The sad story is that after the soldier sent them home, he was killed in action and never was able to enjoy these.
Anyways, since I am mostly unfamiliar with weapons of the Philippines, am wondering the specific name of the larger one. I assume the smaller one is a bolo, but am also wanting to know if it's possible to date these at all. I would assume they are 20th century. Are there any good informational websites out there about Filipino weapons?

Of course any comments on these are greatly appreciated. They are quite sturdy and I would assume are functional weapons, not just ones meant as a tourist piece.

Mike

Ferguson · 16th February 2008, 12:48 PM

Welcome,
I think they are Talibon. The larger one is often referred to by collectors as a Garab. I've tried to enhance the photo of the larger one.
Steve

kronckew · 16th February 2008, 01:44 PM

the talibon is one of my favourites, i like it more than my pinute, and ginunting.
mine are reversed, the talibon is the large one and the garab knife is the small one.

i sometimes use This Site as a reference source for modern filipino terminology on these, it's a commercial site, so i apologize for that part. (haven't bought any from them yet)

mercierarmory · 16th February 2008, 03:03 PM

I assume these are 20th century weapons? Is there any way to date them at all? The vet who acquired these also got 2 katanas from Japan that I am currently planning on buying from the person that gave these to me. I should have them by the end of the weekend.

Anyways, back to the 2 blades in question. From what I read these were primarily tools, but were obviously suitible for weapons. Were there ones that were specifically designed as weapons rather than tools?

Mike

VANDOO · 16th February 2008, 07:26 PM

THESE WERE NOT MORO TOOLS OR WEAPONS BUT NO DOUBT SOME WERE CAPTURED AND USED BY THE MORO IF NEEDED. THEY ARE FOUND MOSTLY AMONG THE TRIBES THAT ARE NOW CHRISTIAN AND EVERYONE USED TO CARRY THEM AS A TOOL FOR CHOPPING BRUSH OR GATHERING FOOD FOR ANIMALS ECT. THE LARGER ONES WERE PROBABLY CARRIED BY WARRIORS AND WERE USED FOR THE USUAL JOBS AS WELL AS USED FOR WAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THEM IS OFTEN THE OWNER PERSONALIZES THEM WITH CARVED DECORATION.
THE FORM OF THE BLADE DOSEN'T VARY MUCH BUT YOU SOMETIMES SEE A VARIATION BUT NOT OFTEN. THE FORMS OF HANDLES DO VARY BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL TRADITIONAL FORMS ENCOUNTERED MOST OFTEN, YOURS HAVE WHAT I REFER TO AS A TRI LOBED POMMEL FORM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE TRADITIONAL FORM MOST OFTEN ENCOUNTERED, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS?. MANY OF THE SMALL WORK KNIVES HAVE A PLAIN HANDLE WITH NO CARVEING AND ARE USUALLY SHAPED WITH A KNOBED POMMEL TO HELP THE GRIP WHEN USING THE KNIFE. A CLENCHED FIST IS ANOTHER FORM OFTEN ENCOUNTERED. THE SCABBARDS ARE MADE OF TWO PIECES OF WOOD BOUND TOGETHER WITH FIBER BANDS OR SOMETIMES METAL BANDS. THE CARVING ON THE SCABBARDS RANGES FROM NONE TO SOME ENTIRELY COVERED WITH VERY BEAUTIFUL CARVING WITH A UP-TURNED TIP.
UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE REFRENCES OR KNOWLEGE TO IDENTIFY THE CARVINGS TO INTREPRET WHAT THEY REPRESENT OR WHERE THEY ORIGINATED. I WOULD SAY YOUR EXAMPLES LOOK TO BE ONES MADE FOR ACTUAL USE BY THE LOCALS RATHER THAN MADE FOR TOURISTS, MOST LIKELY MADE AROUND THE TIME OF WW2. THE BLADES COULD BE OLDER AS THE WOODEN PARTS WEAR OUT BEFORE BLADES DUE TO USE AND CLIMATE IN THE TROPICS. TWO NICE EXAMPLES AND BEST OF ALL FREE

Battara · 16th February 2008, 10:23 PM

Well you came to the right place - use the search here and on older versions of this forum to get some info ("garab" and "talibon").

Both of these look 20th century and are from Cebu in Visayan Islands in the middle of the Philippines. The larger one may be the older of the 2.

16th February 2008, 05:08 AM	#1
mercierarmory Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 18	questions about a couple Filipino weapons Today I was just given a couple blades from the Philippines (yes given). They are both veteran bringbacks from WWII and one of them still has the tag the soldier had to fill out to send them home. The sad story is that after the soldier sent them home, he was killed in action and never was able to enjoy these. Anyways, since I am mostly unfamiliar with weapons of the Philippines, am wondering the specific name of the larger one. I assume the smaller one is a bolo, but am also wanting to know if it's possible to date these at all. I would assume they are 20th century. Are there any good informational websites out there about Filipino weapons? Of course any comments on these are greatly appreciated. They are quite sturdy and I would assume are functional weapons, not just ones meant as a tourist piece. Mike Attached Images

16th February 2008, 12:48 PM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Welcome, I think they are Talibon. The larger one is often referred to by collectors as a Garab. I've tried to enhance the photo of the larger one. Steve Attached Images

16th February 2008, 01:44 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	the talibon is one of my favourites, i like it more than my pinute, and ginunting. mine are reversed, the talibon is the large one and the garab knife is the small one. i sometimes use This Site as a reference source for modern filipino terminology on these, it's a commercial site, so i apologize for that part. (haven't bought any from them yet)

16th February 2008, 03:03 PM	#4
mercierarmory Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 18	I assume these are 20th century weapons? Is there any way to date them at all? The vet who acquired these also got 2 katanas from Japan that I am currently planning on buying from the person that gave these to me. I should have them by the end of the weekend. Anyways, back to the 2 blades in question. From what I read these were primarily tools, but were obviously suitible for weapons. Were there ones that were specifically designed as weapons rather than tools? Mike

16th February 2008, 07:26 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THESE WERE NOT MORO TOOLS OR WEAPONS BUT NO DOUBT SOME WERE CAPTURED AND USED BY THE MORO IF NEEDED. THEY ARE FOUND MOSTLY AMONG THE TRIBES THAT ARE NOW CHRISTIAN AND EVERYONE USED TO CARRY THEM AS A TOOL FOR CHOPPING BRUSH OR GATHERING FOOD FOR ANIMALS ECT. THE LARGER ONES WERE PROBABLY CARRIED BY WARRIORS AND WERE USED FOR THE USUAL JOBS AS WELL AS USED FOR WAR. ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THEM IS OFTEN THE OWNER PERSONALIZES THEM WITH CARVED DECORATION. THE FORM OF THE BLADE DOSEN'T VARY MUCH BUT YOU SOMETIMES SEE A VARIATION BUT NOT OFTEN. THE FORMS OF HANDLES DO VARY BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL TRADITIONAL FORMS ENCOUNTERED MOST OFTEN, YOURS HAVE WHAT I REFER TO AS A TRI LOBED POMMEL FORM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE TRADITIONAL FORM MOST OFTEN ENCOUNTERED, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS?. MANY OF THE SMALL WORK KNIVES HAVE A PLAIN HANDLE WITH NO CARVEING AND ARE USUALLY SHAPED WITH A KNOBED POMMEL TO HELP THE GRIP WHEN USING THE KNIFE. A CLENCHED FIST IS ANOTHER FORM OFTEN ENCOUNTERED. THE SCABBARDS ARE MADE OF TWO PIECES OF WOOD BOUND TOGETHER WITH FIBER BANDS OR SOMETIMES METAL BANDS. THE CARVING ON THE SCABBARDS RANGES FROM NONE TO SOME ENTIRELY COVERED WITH VERY BEAUTIFUL CARVING WITH A UP-TURNED TIP. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE REFRENCES OR KNOWLEGE TO IDENTIFY THE CARVINGS TO INTREPRET WHAT THEY REPRESENT OR WHERE THEY ORIGINATED. I WOULD SAY YOUR EXAMPLES LOOK TO BE ONES MADE FOR ACTUAL USE BY THE LOCALS RATHER THAN MADE FOR TOURISTS, MOST LIKELY MADE AROUND THE TIME OF WW2. THE BLADES COULD BE OLDER AS THE WOODEN PARTS WEAR OUT BEFORE BLADES DUE TO USE AND CLIMATE IN THE TROPICS. TWO NICE EXAMPLES AND BEST OF ALL FREE

16th February 2008, 10:23 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Well you came to the right place - use the search here and on older versions of this forum to get some info ("garab" and "talibon"). Both of these look 20th century and are from Cebu in Visayan Islands in the middle of the Philippines. The larger one may be the older of the 2.