Is this a Batangas piece?
 

I have forgotten, but is this Batangas or Tagalog?

http://www.antiqueswords.com/bq1492.html

Hi Jose:

Bantangas would not be my first thought. Could be from Ilocos, Pangasinan or Pampanga. I think it has a strong Spanish colonial influence from north of Manila.

Ian.

Thank you Ian, I have a similar piece and was wondering. One day I may take some pictures and post.

not Batangueno
 

Tabaks from north central Luzon...Pampanga or Pangasinan. The chopped tips comply with Spanish law at that time that bolos could not have sharp points because they were considered "threatening." The long tabak has a bone hilt.

Thanks Zel. Very helpful. On your example on the bottom, does it have a sunburst/flower on the butt ? Mine does and I was thinking that this is a Katipunan piece. What do you think? (When I get pictures I'll post).

No sunburst pattern on the butt of my sword. It could very well be a Katipunan...at least from the same time period.

Origin of "tabak"
 

Hi Zel:

I was interested to see you use the term "tabak" to describe this blade. As I recall, "tabak" refers to a blade mainly for chopping or cutting, whereas "tusok" or "matulis" refers to pointed blades better adapted for stabbing.

The word "tabak" also means tobacco in a couple of European languages, and I wonder whether this blade style was originally popular among Filipino tobacco farmers (who are mostly from the northern areas of Luzon), hence a "tabak," which later came to mean a bolo for chopping. Seems plausible. Any thoughts?

BTW, in some southern areas of the US where tobacco is grown a machete is often termed a "tobacco knife."

Ian.

Hi Ian!
Well since those swords I posted aren't pointed I didn't want to call them matulis.....which means pointed in tagalog.

Tabak is the term I've heard referred to these types, but could also describe other blade forms. Sticking with tagalog I probably also would have just called them itak, or if I was in Batangas, gulok. But Luzon sandata isn't my specialty. Tabak possibly could have been derived from tobacco...Tabacalara is the largest cigar manufacturer in the Philippines ( the 1881 Robusto reminds me of a Partagas #10.)

Zel

Finally, here are pictures of my now Pampangan piece. Hilt is brass with some zinc(?) or greenish metal in the spiral. Somewhat laminated, the brass flower/sun is on the butt (not on mine :D ) and the leather sheath has shrunk over the years and no longer completely fits the blade.

Thanks for all your help.