Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 19th July 2005, 05:01 PM

Hi Spunjer:

Hard to say if this one was made with a cut point, or simply lost its point over time and this is how it ended up. I would probably favor the latter because many of these matulis styles have tips that are bent or restraightened, and I've seen a couple where the tip has broken off.

I would consider this a short sword, in the manner of a European sidearm. Some might call it a long knife, and a blade length of 15-16 inches is sort of in between a long knife and short sword. I've read somewhere that a sword is usually considered to have a blade of 18 inches or longer, but I don't recall where I read that now.

This piece is from Luzon, perhaps Batangas.

Ian.

19th July 2005, 05:01 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Hi Spunjer: Hard to say if this one was made with a cut point, or simply lost its point over time and this is how it ended up. I would probably favor the latter because many of these matulis styles have tips that are bent or restraightened, and I've seen a couple where the tip has broken off. I would consider this a short sword, in the manner of a European sidearm. Some might call it a long knife, and a blade length of 15-16 inches is sort of in between a long knife and short sword. I've read somewhere that a sword is usually considered to have a blade of 18 inches or longer, but I don't recall where I read that now. This piece is from Luzon, perhaps Batangas. Ian.