..and yet another Visayan Sword

[Spunjer]

here's one that was given to me by my wife as a b-day present. doesn't know much
about it except that it's visayan (cebu, perhaps?). starting with the blade:
beveled side is completely covered with engravings, save for the edge. close to
the tip, it has the rosicurian crucifix, and right below it, the initial "JHS"
which, after searching the net, found this latin description, "Jesu Hominem
Salvator" (Jesus, Savior of man). another peculiar thing are groups of three
hash marks scattered thru out the blade. now, with the cross, initials and three
hash marks combine, it represent the jesuit order. a friar's sundang? the handle
is carabao horn in a naga (man-og) form, with silver beads for eyes. also the
ferrule is silver. one thing i didn't notice right away was how the guard's end
is in the form of a snake. pretty slick, IMO... seems like whoever designed this
was in some serious snake cult.
the scabbard is kamagong, with three wide silver bands covered in some pretty
intricate okir-like designs. at the toe of the scabbard are again, silver,
discs. on the band closest to the throat, there's a metal loop, about quarter of
an inch in diameter, welded almost at the center of it. the purpose of this is
unknown.
as a sword, its weight is distributed proportionally.
anyone care to shed some more light on this sundang? i'm really interested in
knowing what part of the visayan region this one originated from. maybe from one
of the christian cults in bohol/samar/leyte area? anyhow, here are some detailed pics. enjoy.

here's the handle:

[Spunjer]

...and the blade

[Spunjer]

and finally, the scabbard...

[zelbone]

Nice blade!

Lucky you to have a wife to get you cool swords like this !

[Tim Simmons]

That is very interesting with the engraved crucifix on the blade also with the Roman Catholic letters at the base. I know there are Christian versions of PI weapons. There are some rare Christian snake cults but I always thought they were North American. With a bit of luck more information will be forthcoming. Tim

[Spunjer]

thanks zel and tim...

zel, would you care to elaborate on this piece? i saw it on day one at ebay, but seeing ibeam bidding on it (we have an agreement...), i let go of it. wifey slyly asked me if it's filipino and if it's old, and i said yes both, not thinking anymore about it, well, until my birthday came, lol. so anyways i didn't remember the seller's description...

im with you tim. the naga motif on this one is all over, but it's kinda ironic since the blade has some full on christian engravings, not to mention, the okir like designs (moro?)... would be interested to find out myself some more info about this...

[Battara]

Spunjer, "okir" like designs are not only delegated to Moro. I have seen these motifs on northern and Visayan pieces as well. I think it is region wide.

[Renegade Conquistador]

A very interesting sword.

There's a lot of European influence apparent on this piece--the Christian inscription, the engraved flourishes on the scabbard, and perhaps also the knuckle-bow (though we shouldn't discount Chinese influence there too).

And, given the strong case that FMA researchers like Celestino Machachor and Dr. Ned Nepangue have made for the Spanish influence on eskrima and arnis de mano, this sword might actually be fairly representative of what Visayan eskrimadors used in their fights against marauding Moros.

[Spunjer]

Battara,

thanks for that tidbit. i wasn't aware of that...

R.C.

yes, i've read the Macachor/Nepangue theory and it is very interesting. granted it's been defended by lots of people that FMA has been in the philippines since pre spanish times but it does kinda make you think the possibility of the creation of this was due to the need of the people to defend themselves against marauders.
going back to the sword: it is kinda odd why advertise the owner's faith on it (cross). couple things: could be the christian version of anting-anting, or some sort of identity against a different religion (in this case, islam), kinda like a coat of arms...

[VVV]

Spunjer,

I find your anting-anting assumption very probable.
When in Negros I saw some of the Visayan versions of anting-anting and they were based on old Latin texts and Catholic symbols.

Michael

[Spunjer]

thanks for your feedback, mike. i know what you mean about christian anting-antings. they are indeed heavy in catholic symbols and latin texts, as one can see on the agimats sold in Quiapo...