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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kennewick, WA
Posts: 33
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I was cleaning the hilt on this beat up old sansibar and it accentuated some writing on the hilt. I am curious if anyone can interpret what it means. I am showing two of the three lines, the third face is so hard to discern that I can't make much out even in the best of light. I am showing two versions one is under normal light, the second is my attempts to enhance the writing to make it more distinct.
Even if nobody can make heads or tails of this, is this sort of thing common or uncommon? Once again, thanks in advance. |
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#2 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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I am wondering where the 'Zanzibar' designation comes from on this.
The wood hilt is quite unusual and the blade seems to recall some of the heavier 'flyssa' type sabres from Algerian Berber regions in 20th c. Not sure on the writing which hopefull our linguists might recognize. |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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hello. that looks like a luzon tabak (war sword). similar examples are below. as for the engraving, the repetition of the words/abbreviations makes it a good candidate for an anting-anting incantation, which is usually rendered in pig latin. thanks for sharing the pics!
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#4 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kennewick, WA
Posts: 33
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![]() Quote:
My naming of the blade comes from martial arts references (which I am perfectly sure aren't always accurate) regarding the common blade term, it is entirely possible I am off a region or dialect. I have frequently seen (and heard) references to the Sansibar, and I thought it was based off of blade shape, and that the term was common to the eastern Visayas. Speaking of which, I have also seen this type of blade (and that tabak) called a "matulis." |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kennewick, WA
Posts: 33
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Here is the image from the scabbard:
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