Tourist Or Child's Knife
 

Hello everyone, This is something else that I just found again while cleaning up. I don't really remember when I acquired it for sure. My question is, do you think that this small (barong ?) was made for those who travel or for a child? The overall length of the knife is 8-3/4 inches with a 5 inch blade. It is very nicely carved and looks to have some age to it. The way the two halves of the scabbard are held together is something I have not seen before. Any and all help with this will be very welcome.

Robert

Hello, I'm sorry but in my opinion the patina is not natural. I hope I'm wrong, and the knowledgable gentleman below me knows something about your child's knife.

I can only guess Robert, but my inclination is to say that this is something meant to attract the eye of the tourist in the marketplace. :shrug:

Carvings on this are recent and made for tourists.

Hello, and thank you all for your help on identifying what this was made for. Tourist it is then. :( Oh well, it will still make a nice letter opener. :D Again my thanks to you all.

Rlobert

Moro piece with a Pig on the scabbard !?!?

Malayan tapir perhaps?

Indeed, maybe . :)

Still it violates the proscriptions in the Koran, no ?

Hello Robert,

I'm not sure this really is an el-cheapo tourist ripp-off. Maybe made for local use but possibly post WW2?

If hard pressed, I'd guess that it may come from Palawan (or, less likely, Sabah) where non-Muslim groups have adapted Moro blade styles.

Regards,
Kai

Not halal for dietary purposes. Since art containing figural representation of any sort is generally proscribed, it would seem that the depiction of any animal would be inconsistent with an item designed to appeal to the local market. OTOH, an image of an unusual type of local fauna would be of greater interest to transient buyers.

Hello Kai,
I think you are right about this being from Palawan. I used the search function and did a search on Palawan and found some very interesting pictures of other barongs from there. The carving, the double banding on the hilt and the unique way the scabbard is held together all point to this small knife being from there also. Migueldiaz has a full sized one that is very similar at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=palawan post#5 Now as to whether this small barong is a tourist item or for a child :confused:??? There is also a blowgun with the same pig/tapir carved on it that is from Palawan in another thread.


Robert