Bagobo Or T'boli ?
 

Here is a very nice little knife that I just picked up on a trade and thought I'd post in hopes of finding more information on it. Any comments on possable age or any other information on it would be greatly appreciated. My thanks in advance for all help offered.

Robert

I vote for T'boli at present because of the T'boli brass bells at the end and the silver inlay motif on the blade.

Hello Jose, It is not silver inlay its either lime or white paint.

Robert

Possible use is to cut betel nut for betel chew. Betel chewing is a tradition in many people of the Philippines (and other Asian countries) even up to the present time. You should try it, Robert :)

When you try it try the dry nuts; the young ones are very very bitter! :p :D

OK you've got me interested, I've never tried betel nuts so one of you will have to send me some to try.:D
I'm still looking for more information on this knife though. Anyone have anything else that they would like to add about it?:confused:

Robert

It is one of the various Bagobo knives. Although the Bagobo are known to "export" such knives to other peoples of Mindanao.

These are also used by Bagobo women for handicraft work and harvesting rice.

Thank you very much for the information Nonoy Tan. So I take it that these are a pretty common item then ? One more question, what would you say the age on this piece might be? Thank you again.

Robert

So Nonoy Tan, these are common and Bagobo in origin (though this one is T'boli modified)?

The T'boli and Bagobo are known to make those small bells attached to the knife. Moreover, the simplicity of the technology used to make these bells allows almost anybody in Mindanao to make these bells nowadays. I think the knife is Bagobo in its entirety - i.e. all parts of it made by the Bagobo.

The knife is not common because it is limited in use within Mindanao only. The other betel chewing people of the Philippines have their own types of small utility knives. It is difficult for me to estimate the age but I don't think it is a tourist item - i.e. not made for the purpose of sale to tourists.

Robert, it is a beautiful piece in my opinion. Maybe someday we can use it and have betel chew together :-)

Nonoy Tan, Thank you so much for your kind words and all the great information on my new knife. For awhile there I was worried that I had acquired a piece meant for those who travel. As far as having a betel chew together we will just have to figure out where and when. ;) :D Thank you again.

Robert

P.S. If anyone has one of these small bells (1/2" Dia.) I could use one to replace the one that is missing on this.

Cool little knife Robert. The blade shape is somewhat similar to the coconut knife from Mindanao that was talked about in this thread.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4538

Steve

Hello Steve, and thank you for posting your knife as another example of Mindanao blades. You are right about the shape of the blade as they are quite a bit alike except for size as yours is far larger than the one I have. Thanks again.

Robert

I am going to try to get some Tboli bells - I will send you a couple if this works out. :D

Jose,
Thank you very very much. Making the missing links for the chain will be easy but casting a small bell like this can turn into a can of worms when you haven't done any casting in years. Thanks again.

Robert

Here's a similar piece ...

Thank you for sharing your knowledge - very helpful Nanoy Tan. :)

Here is my Bagobo knife (from ebay : :eek: ):

Here are some other pictures of this type of knife:

Here is another specimen.

Nonoy Tan, that is a nice piece right there. I usually don't go for this type of piece but yours is really nice. Especially like the bells and the brass/bronze work on the hilt.