Visayan "pinuti"

Ian · 15th April 2005, 05:15 AM

A couple of months ago I was discussing this knife with Laban_Tayo (Shelley) who had also bid on it.

The knife came from a Visayan dealer in the Philippines. It has a blade that is slimmer than the usual talibon, with the usual wide bevel and chisel-ground edge of Visayan knives and swords. The dealer informed me that it was called a pinuti, which I believe means "pointy" in one of the Visayan dialects (please correct me if I have the translation wrong). The dealer went on to say that this knife was from the Eastern Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and probably around 60-80 years old.

OAL = 18.0 inches Blade = 13.5 inches

Ian.

Spunjer · 15th April 2005, 11:27 AM

never seen anything like it, ian, but as far as the term is concerned, pinuti was derived friom the word puti, meaning white.

tom hyle · 15th April 2005, 12:07 PM

Also rather matulis-like (as well as talibesque), especially if envisioned with the (probably older, and in any event, more common in my experience) curved spine to the cutting blade. I think I see the hardening line.

Conogre · 15th April 2005, 06:35 PM

On some of the "weapons of the Philippines" plaques that occasionally show up I've been able to enlarge the image enough to be able to read the inscriptions under each representation, one of which is often "pinuti".
As to the shape of the weapon, in most cases th miniatures are of such poor quality that few, if any, are recognizable, even in well known styles.
Mike

RhysMichael · 16th April 2005, 01:13 AM

Ian
In Mark V. Wiley's book "Filipino Martial Culture " He talks about a pinute as a type of bolo. He states that the term is derived from "puti" which means white , after the white ray of light that forms along the edge of a properly hardened and sharpened blade. So that re-enforces Spungers comment.
John

Conogre · 16th April 2005, 02:01 AM

I recently saw a statement saying that in some Philippine tribes, a blade must be cleaned to "whiteness" to be a true battle weapon, which would support what RhysMichael and Spunjer are saying, but also casts some doubt as to whether it's a specific style, or refers to any knife/sword, possibly indicating that a ritual cleansing is all that's required to turn a bladed piece from a tool to a weapon.
Often it appears the task ends up being to gather bits of information from several half truths, hopefully ending up with a/the correct whole at the end.
Mike

15th April 2005, 05:15 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Visayan "pinuti" A couple of months ago I was discussing this knife with Laban_Tayo (Shelley) who had also bid on it. The knife came from a Visayan dealer in the Philippines. It has a blade that is slimmer than the usual talibon, with the usual wide bevel and chisel-ground edge of Visayan knives and swords. The dealer informed me that it was called a pinuti, which I believe means "pointy" in one of the Visayan dialects (please correct me if I have the translation wrong). The dealer went on to say that this knife was from the Eastern Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and probably around 60-80 years old. OAL = 18.0 inches Blade = 13.5 inches Ian. Attached Images

15th April 2005, 12:07 PM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Also rather matulis-like (as well as talibesque), especially if envisioned with the (probably older, and in any event, more common in my experience) curved spine to the cutting blade. I think I see the hardening line. Last edited by tom hyle; 15th April 2005 at 12:39 PM.

15th April 2005, 11:27 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	never seen anything like it, ian, but as far as the term is concerned, pinuti was derived friom the word puti, meaning white.

15th April 2005, 06:35 PM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	On some of the "weapons of the Philippines" plaques that occasionally show up I've been able to enlarge the image enough to be able to read the inscriptions under each representation, one of which is often "pinuti". As to the shape of the weapon, in most cases th miniatures are of such poor quality that few, if any, are recognizable, even in well known styles. Mike

16th April 2005, 01:13 AM	#5
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Ian In Mark V. Wiley's book "Filipino Martial Culture " He talks about a pinute as a type of bolo. He states that the term is derived from "puti" which means white , after the white ray of light that forms along the edge of a properly hardened and sharpened blade. So that re-enforces Spungers comment. John

16th April 2005, 02:01 AM	#6
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	I recently saw a statement saying that in some Philippine tribes, a blade must be cleaned to "whiteness" to be a true battle weapon, which would support what RhysMichael and Spunjer are saying, but also casts some doubt as to whether it's a specific style, or refers to any knife/sword, possibly indicating that a ritual cleansing is all that's required to turn a bladed piece from a tool to a weapon. Often it appears the task ends up being to gather bits of information from several half truths, hopefully ending up with a/the correct whole at the end. Mike