![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
|
![]()
Just when you think you've seen it all with Moro stuff...set yourself up for a surprise.
Here is a Moro knife/chopper/golok in a form I have never encountered before. It is 22in. overall with a heavy, clever-like blade of typical Moro patter welded steel, measuring 14in. Note the unique chiseling at the ricasso and toward the down turned tip. I have no idea what this one is called or if it shows up on the OLD Moro weapons boards. The weight and balance of the thing does not make it perfect for a weapon, though certainly it could be pressed into service as one, no less than a kitchen clever could....and that's what it really feels more like, that is, a tool, or clever. The scabbard is new. Philip Tom and I tried to develop something ethnically and aesthetically correct, though we had absolutely nothing to go on for a piece of this type. Comments are welcomed. Last edited by CharlesS; 2nd July 2013 at 06:15 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kernersville, NC, USA
Posts: 793
|
![]()
Lovely knife, and great work on the scabbard.
![]() Steve |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,720
|
![]()
Hello Charles,
nice and interesting item, love the pattern of the blade. Very good job by the scabbard, it look like original. Regards, Detlef |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,189
|
![]()
I think I have seen this ups of knife before somewhere in the past. What I saw would have been Moro, though without the same quality of hilt.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
|
![]()
Hello Charles,
Congrats for grabbing this neat blade from the Higgins - did you try to inquire with them for the original collection notes? (In the auction, provenance was given for all other blades of the lot but this one...) Granting a fair bit of artistic license, the attached pic may show the same blade type with a different hilt (old miniatures from Carlos' collection; no names given). Regards, Kai |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
|
![]()
Hi Kai.
Thanks for the pic. I think the blade type is spot on, but it appears the board has sword types from all over and not necessarily Moro...is that correct? That makes me wonder what this miniature was being copied from. Last edited by CharlesS; 3rd July 2013 at 01:21 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,189
|
![]()
Another possibility is that it could be a traded blade......
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
|
![]()
THE HANDLE AND FERRULE APPEAR PURE MORO BUT THE BLADE IS MORE LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN BORNEO AND MALAYSIA REGIONS. THE FANCY CUT OUT WORK AT THE TIP AND BELLY OF THE BLADE AND THE SCABBARD MAKE ME THINK SO. THE BAGOBO AND TIBOLI SOMETIMES DO THE CUT OUT FILE WORK ON THE BLADE TIP BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT DONE ON THE BELLY OF THE BLADE BEFORE. A NICE LOOKING KNIFE HOWEVER IT CAME TOGETHER. THE MORO TRAVELED WIDELY SO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
|
![]()
Hello CharleS, The blade on your example "minus the fancy file-work" looked very similar to the blade on this Visayan piece I have, but now that I have them together there seems to be a difference in the angle of the hilt also.
Best, Robert Last edited by Robert; 5th July 2013 at 05:24 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
|
![]()
Interesting combination.
I vote for a trade blade, too. It's really strange that it has a Junggayan Barong hilt??? Michael |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,189
|
![]()
Michael you have a good point, so I wonder if it was purchased by a datu. It might appear unique and exotic to a Moro, or perhaps a gift?
Pure speculation of course. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
|
![]() Quote:
Michael |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
|
![]()
Of course it could be a trade blade, but it looks and feels like the Moro steel found on bangkungs and barongs(but these can, of course have trade blades too). The only other area in the Philippines that I am aware of that would made anything similar in weight and thickness would be Visayan, but I believe the Visayan example shown really illustrates as many differences as similarities to Moro blades.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 38
|
![]()
I'm surprised no one here has seen an utak janap....
....now you have Regards, Bangkaya |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,189
|
![]()
Thanks Bangkaya. I have seen newer janaps, but they did not look like this.
So this is an utak janap.........these aren't common are they? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
|
![]()
Thanks Bangkaya,
I have an old but "regular" Janap, but its blade look quite different from Charles'. What are the main variations of the Janap? Michael |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
|
![]()
Can we see pics of some of these other janaps mentioned for comparison?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,720
|
![]()
I think in this thread are shown some examples but they look different to my eyes: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=janap
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
|
![]()
I am seeing a lot of similarities in design with these other blades mentioned in comparison to mine, but there seems to always be two comparative differences as well...1.) The other blades seem to curve upward or, in the Visayan case, modestly downward. 2.) None of the blades mentioned really matches the elongated chiseled ricasso, though they may be similar.
The Moro blade I have pictured is practically straight across the top, including the ricasso. I have noted recently that Moro piras may also have that elongated ricasso. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|