unusual philippino sword
 

This is my last adquisition, i think is a unusual sword from Philippines, I hve seen another swords with similar blades but not with this hilt, made of brass. 23 in total length.
I wish enjoy pictures.
Any comments are welcome!
Thanks
carlos

Almost looks like a Visayan blade with a Moro hilt (copper triangles?). Not being too far away, this cross pollenization probably happens more than we realize (like my Visayan/Moro dagger: www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16964 ).

Very nice and unusual piece. Lucky you and congratulations. If you ever want to throw it away let me know (I'll go back behind your trash containers now :D ).

Wow, just proves you've never seen it all! What a lovely, interesting and unique Filipino piece. Congrats!

Carlos, that is really nice. Is the handle octagonal?

yes, but the front and the back are a little more narrow..
thanks

Really a wonderful piece, Carlos! Congrats!! :cool:

cool sundang! possible Bagobo in origin, carlos. i'm attaching a bagobo with with a similar style pommel.

Hello Carlos, I've just spent the last couple of days looking through my files trying to locate a photo I have hiding somewhere of the only other example that I have seen (so far anyway) of a sword like the one that you have posted. It has a blade of the same style of your example and also a brass hilt but the hilt is decorated in the manor of Spunjer's example and if memory serves, I believe that it was also attributed to being Bagabo in origin. All I can add to what has already been said about yours is congratulations and add the fact that I am VERY jealous of your good fortune of being able to add this to your collection.
If I can locate the lost photo I will post it here for later reference. I am sure that you will not part with this but just in case, I will be waiting with Jose back behind your trash containers.:D

Best,
Robert

Robert I'll save a place for you behind the trash cans at Carlos' house..... :D

Anyway, my only question is that usually the Bagobo brass/bronze hilts I have seen have the cast look with classic Bagobo swirls and motifs on them.

However, Carlos' piece does not - could this be some other influence? Also the blade sure looks Visayan to me - what do you think?

Hello Jose, I agree on the hilt looking rather non-traditional for Bagobo because of (as you pointed out) the lack of motifs and the smooth finish, maybe someone looking for something different? As for the blade, it looks to be of a V grind and not the traditional chisel grind found on most Visayan blades. Maybe some Bicol influence? A very interesting piece, I just wish I could locate that lost photo I have somewhere but it might only just add to the confusion.:confused: I have added a photo of the two hilts together for better comparison. I just remembered seeing a couple of Moro swords with this cutlass style blade. Time for me to start looking through the older posts.


Best,
Robert

V grind, eh? Yup not Visayan then......

Hello Jose, Here are a couple of links to Moro kris with basically the same blade style as Carlos's example but of course these have the traditional gangya where his sword has a more or less plain flat style of guard. I still cannot find the photo of the other sword that I referred to earlier though.:(

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=cutlass

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=rare+moro


Best,
Robert

Thanks Robert.

Yes I remember these kris. However they have gangas where as this piece in question does not have a ganga and thus I don't consider it a kris blade so far.

Hello Jose, here is another sword with a non-typical kris style blade. This one is from the town of Taal in Batangas. What I am getting at is that I believe that both this sword and the one that Carlos has are based on traditional (if be it rarer forms of) kris swords. The one pictured below is easy to identify where it is from seeing as it is inlaid into the hilt but the origin of the one Carlos has is a bit more of a problem. :confused:


Best,
Robert

Oh I understand better your argument now. :o

Interesting sword...too bad there isn't a scabbard to help identify its origin.

To me it looks like a terciada blade mounted in a Tagakaolo (or possibly B'laan) kakatua hilt.


Regards,

Bangkaya