MY FIRST BINANGON

[VANDOO]

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO JUDGE AGE AND PATINA FROM A PICTURE SO YOU WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO JUDGE IF THE HANDLE LOOKS NEWER THAN THE SCABBARD. THE TYPE OF WOOD ALSO HAS QUITE A BIT TO DO WITH IT AS PHILIPPINE MAHOGANY DOSEN'T AQUIRE A LOT OF PATINA AND IF IT HAS NOT SEEN A LOT OF USE CAN REMAIN FAIRLY NEW LOOKING FOR A LONG TIME. THE OIL AND GRIME FROM HANDS PLUS THE WEAR FROM USE ARE WHAT CAUSES MAHOGANY TO GET A GOOD PATINA. I WOULD GUESS THAT YOUR EXAMPLE COMES FROM PANAY AROUND WW2 AND WAS BOUGHT NEW AND SAW VERY LITTLE IF ANY ACTUAL USE. LOOK UNDER THE FERRULE WHERE IT FITS UP AGAINST THE POMMEL FOR DIRT AND AGE IF THE WOOD IS NOT FRESHLY CARVED THERE I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT NEW BUT ORIGINAL TO THE ITEM. THE CARVEING APPEARS ABOUT AVERAGE BUT THE BLADE LOOKS TO BE OF VERY GOOD WORKMANSHIP A NICE FIRST EXAMPLE CONGRADULATIONS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE POST ON VISAYAS SWORDS BY BLADES YOU CAN SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF PATINA AND WEAR. THE THIRD PICTURE BY RHYSMICHAEL SHOWS A HANDLE AND SIMULAR FERRULE TO YOURS EXHIBITING WEAR AND PATINA. THE BLACK HANDLES ARE EITHER OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF WOOD OR PERHAPS SOAKED IN PITCH OR SOMETHING TO PRESERVE THEM BETTER. I HAVE SEVERAL WITH THE BLACK WOODEN HANDLES BUT HAVE NEVER TAKEN THEM APART TO SEE IF THE WOOD IS NATURAL OR STAINED OR COATED WITH SOMETHING, PERHAPS SOMEONE ELSE WILL KNOW.