At long last, Garabs!

[Rafngard]

Hello All,

We discussed the possibility of three categories of the Garab/Talibon(g) form (Perhaps better rendered as Garab -> Talibon). The discussion is here

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22271

A brief summary:

Category 1: "Garabs"
19th cent. (maybe earlier) - early 20th Cent.
Usually better quality blades, a thumb rest, and often an eye on the scabbard.

Category 2: "Early Talibon(g)s"
Early 20th - WWII
Often working pieces, retaining some, but not all of the characteristics of Category 1, usually with no thumb rest.

Category 3: "Talibon(g)s"
WWII - Present
Traditional forms sometimes retained, but a wide variety of divergent forms exist.

I have long Category 3 is widely available; I have a number. Category 2 is less common. Category 1 is the rarest and usually go for the highest price (especially when in excellent condition).

I have finally gotten what I believe are a couple of Garabs.
Both have clearly seem use. I strongly suspect someone's (great) grand father brought these back from the Spanish American war. The scabbard on both are damaged, and both blades need a cleaning (this will probably happen this weekend). At least one shows signs of lamination. The smaller one has some robe and red thread on the scabbard. I'm not sure if these are original or not. I'd guess the rope is, the red thread less so (though the seller thought it a sign of Bogobo ownership).

I took a few quick pictures this afternoon.

Comments? Thoughts? Am I right with the above? Completely wrong?
What do people think?


Have fun,
Leif