Help with identification please

[Inusuit]

This was donated to our museum in 1939 and described as "a Moro knife" with no other provenance.

I have been able to identify other Asian swords in our collection but this one has me stumped. It's the one on the bottom.

Thanks for any assistance. I'm new at this.

[carlos]

Hello
I have one like this un muy wall plaque.

[JeffS]

The cleaver-like blade is a little like the Lumad light choppers called purok bolos here but the rounded front of the blade and the distinctive badik-like bend in the handle would seem to have a specific function allowing both chopping and pushing. Is the rounded part of the blade sharp?

The top one is a bit unusual too with the Ifugao socket handle with rattan woven rings but a blade profile reminiscent of other Luzon groups.

[Battara]

It looks too big to be a betel nut cutter, but might still be. It looks Moro to me also.

[Inusuit]

I appreciate your input.

Yes, the rounded end of the blade is sharp.

I've tentatively identified the top blade as a bolo, which I realize is a very broad term. As noted, the grip is indeed a socket that would allow attachment of a staff to create a spear or polearm.

What expertise I have is firearms related, which is how I came to my volunteer work at the museum. I am learning a great deal about Asian weapons but remain woefully ignorant and have only scratched the surface.

Again, thank you for your assistance.

[kai]

Welcome to the forum - keep them coming!

Yes, the rounded end of the blade is sharp.

This certainly looks like a tool. Very nice and interesting to see a real example of one of the enigmatic pieces from these wall plagues!

Could you please add dimensions (including weight, blade thickness, etc.) and possibly some close-ups?

I've tentatively identified the top blade as a bolo, which I realize is a very broad term. As noted, the grip is indeed a socket that would allow attachment of a staff to create a spear or polearm.

Please post detailed pics in a separate thread. It does seem to be a really interesting piece from northern Luzon!

This is a typical hilt style for these blades. It is not supposed to be necessarily used as a spear.

Regards,
Kai

[JeffS]

I certainly don't consider myself to have expertise (just enthusiasm) but try to contribute observations to help keep the board lively. It is very exciting to see a new form posted that is one of a number of profiles found on the various "Weapons of Moroland" displays, such as Carlos posted, that we have not yet seen an example of on the forum. Hopefully folks come forward with additional examples to contribute to your post. This is known to happen sometimes years after the original post and is one of the reasons this forum is an amazing resource for simple enthusiasts like me and serious collectors and researchers.

[kino]

Originally Posted by Inusuit

What expertise I have is firearms related, which is how I came to my volunteer work at the museum. I am learning a great deal about Asian weapons but remain woefully ignorant and have only scratched the surface.

Fun and educational being able to have access to the museum’s storage area. A place where the public have limited contact with.

What museum do you do your volunteer work at? Does it have an electronic catalog of their collection?