Dagger For Comments
 

Well folks here's another of my favorite Philippine daggers showing strong Spanish influence for comments. Total length is 15-1/2" with a blade thickness of a little over a 1/4". Nicely shaped brass guard. Fittings are brass with soldered seems. The smooth grip is made from horn. Late 19th or early 20th century. Strange blade with ricasso and long tapering tip. Hope you like it.

I would say Ilocano (NE Luzon). The Ilocano were the only ones that I know outside the Moro that used wavy bladed daggers. Possibly Katipunan period based on the blade and the base of the blade. Nice blade - I like it.

That's the one that prompted me to make the post asking questions about wavy bladed non-Moro pieces. :) Glad you got it. You and I seem to have similar taste in PI pieces. :D

Steve

Battara, Thank you as usual for the information. I thought this was probably Ilocano as it was so much like the last two daggers that I've posted.
Steve, I am happy to hear that you are one of the other people here on the forum that appreciate this style of weapon as much as I do. If you would, please post pictures of any example of these that you might have.
Does anyone have any information or even suggestions on the reason for such an elongated tip as on this dagger? To me it would seriously limit its usefulness except for one. Could this possible be a Philippine version of a Misericord dagger?



Robert

I believe that Spanish espada y daga influenced Filipino arnis/escrima and thus during the Katipunan period there would have been a short sword to go along with this dagger. This style would have used the dagger for stabbing after opening up the opponent with the sword. Ilocano wavy bladed daggers were not for slashing unlike the Moro styles.

Battara,
Thank you again. I didn't think this dagger would be much good for slashing which only leaves stabbing. Even then with this style of tip one would have to be careful not to hit a bone which would be difficult unless ones opponent was completely or almost completely disabled. That is why I brought up the possibility that it might be a form of Misericord dagger. I haven't yet found any information or accounts of Misericords being used by the Katipunans but thought they might have been but just not openly discussed or talked about. Is this the style of sword that would have been used with this dagger? Thanks again or your help.

Robert

Forgive mky ignorance (which is great :o ) but what is a Misericord?

The word misericord goes back to Latin misericordia, “mercy,” derived from misericors, “merciful,” which is in turn derived from miserr, “to pity,” and cor, “heart.” It is a form of dagger used to dispatch a wounded foe.

Robert