Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


21 - Philippine Luzon 'Bowie' Knife, Mid 20th Century

The 8¾ inch (22.5 cm) long (measured from the guard) single edged blade starts from the hilt with a slight arching (convexity) that changes into a concave 'clip' at about two fifths of the distance up to an acute tip. From the tip, the edge is convex until curving into a narrower ricasso. Just beyond this ricasso the blade thickness is 0.22 inches (0.56 cm) where the blade faces are relatively flat beside the back and from which the face then is slightly convex to the edge. Numerous scratches under old patina suggest previous honing. A brass crossguard is present and there is a tapering octagonal ferrule that transitions smoothly into a caribou (water buffalo) horn hilt. A dark wood sheath is secured by brass bands; the band at the mouth appears to have been partially folded back to form a hook for a narrow cord. The knife is just over 12½ inches (32 cm) with a weight of just under 6½ ounces (187 grams). Sheathed the overall length is 13¼ inches (34 cm) with a weight of just under 9 ounces (257 grams).


Philippine Luzon 'Bowie' KnifePhilippine Luzon 'Bowie' KnifePhilippine Luzon 'Bowie' Knife
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