Visayan Sword of the Phil. 1st Republic
 

Did I get lucky? Grabbed this off eBay(or should I say stole?)...ended at US$100. Not sure why nobody bid on it. :shrug:
My early Xmas present to myself. haha :D

http://fototime.com/399CC055C7EDEDD/orig.jpg

http://fototime.com/12BDF128115B410/orig.jpg

http://fototime.com/68FF328DD9EFF3C/orig.jpg

http://fototime.com/4072760BF281245/orig.jpg

Tada! The 1st Republic symbol on the scabbard.
http://fototime.com/1E515BC72D08288/orig.jpg

Is the former owner here on this forum? Thank you very maraming maraming talaga! :D Finally, not only a piece of history, but a weapon that belonged to the 1st Republic(been a personal goal of mine for quite sometime).

Given everything about it screams Visayan along with the 1st Republic symbol...I would like to think it possibly belonged to an officer of Martin Delgados group in Iloilo. Although there were many groups in the Visayan region that supported the 1st Republic...ill research more.
What do you all think? Please throw your 2 cents in...I would like to hear them. Thanks!

Nice sword, I didn't bid because I haven't seen it. :shrug: You want to replace the missing end cap of the handle?

Detlef

Thanks. Id like to replace the end cap..not sure how I would be able to do that though, and then make it match the patina on the brass. :shrug:

Dimasalang, wow nice catch indeed :)

Can you please show us close-up pics of the design on the scabbard? Thanks!

Dimasalang, very nice example. Good condition of the emblem. I saw this but I already have something in the works. Congrats. The mounts are steel, right?

Hey Miguel, I only have pics from the listing right now. Should take some better pics.

http://fototime.com/51C4F54D70C20ED/orig.jpg

Thanks, yah that mounts look to be steel now that I looked at it again. hehe :D

Well they look to be steel, but they could also be silver. Testing would determine.

The butterfly seems an unlikely symbolism on such a blade. Is there some significance i am unaware of. :shrug:

Hello Dimasalang,
What a great piece of history !!! I too was watching this but when it was up for auction I had just paid off some med bills and couldn't afford to bid. I am very happy to see someone from the forum was lucky enough to end up with this and especially someone who appreciates its significance. I can't wait to see the new pictures when posted. Do you have it yet or are you still waiting for it to arrive? My congratulations on your new acquisition.

Robert

It looks like a moth. Jose Rizal used the butterfly metamorphosis in speeches/writing to describe the Philippines emerging from colonial control. There is also the "moth to the light" parable of his own life: http://www.rizalismypresident.com/in...al_of_the_Dawn
Don't know if this has anything to do with this blade but any revolutionaries would be sure to have known Rizal's writings/legends.