Question ?

Freddy · 11th December 2005, 09:58 AM

Could anyone show me the butt end of a Bontoc spear ?

The reason why I'm asking this, is because I got a spear offered to me which appears to be Bontoc (as far as I can judge). It has a harpoon shaped spear head. The wooden shaft is a bit 'swollen' at the spot where the spear blade enters the wood. There's also a heavy metal band to prevent the wood from splitting. It has a short spike at the other end.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures (the spear isn't mine, yet

)

I'm still hesitating to buy it, that's the reason of my question. I have little knowledge of Philippino weapons.

ibeam · 11th December 2005, 05:57 PM

Freddy,
Here ya go. Hope this helps your butt end.

Battara · 12th December 2005, 09:04 AM

Your puppy sounds Igorot to me.

Freddy · 30th December 2005, 02:41 PM

Remember some weeks ago my question about a Philippino spear. Well, I finally bought it (and got a nice deal, too.

)

I don't know much about it, but I guess it's Philippino. I would appreciate any comments of more knowledgeable forumites.

Total length is 161 cm. The spear blade measures 27,5 cm. The wooden shaft is thicker at the place where the spear blade enters the wood. At that spot there's also a metal ferule. No other decoration on the shaft. It has a metal spike at the bottom end of the shaft (length : 10 cm). The whole piece is very heavy. It reminds me of a harpoon. Is this a fighting spear ? What tribe ?

Look at the pics :

Rick · 30th December 2005, 03:52 PM

I believe it's an Igorot Falfeg .
See Krieger's .
http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html
Sixth plate down , #9 .

Spunjer · 30th December 2005, 04:01 PM

yes, filipino. from northern luzon. it's pictured on kreiger's plate:

http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html

Spunjer · 30th December 2005, 04:02 PM

rick beat me to it, lol...

Rick · 30th December 2005, 04:13 PM

Different time zones Ron .......

Battara · 30th December 2005, 06:27 PM

Supposedly the barbs are to frighten away evil spirits. Some say that this belongs to the Kalinga, though I have yet to see evidence supporting this view. Definitely used by the Igorot tribes in northern Luzon, but by one or most - jury still out. I have seen pictures of it with the other types as well so I would suggest that it was used by most of the Igorot tribes (until proven otherwise

).

Freddy · 30th December 2005, 07:00 PM

Thanks for the info, guys.

With the identification you gave me, I started a little search on the internet and this is what I found :

In Stone's Glossary there's a picture of a falfeg, but this spear has only two barbs. Mine has 3 pairs of barbs. On the same page, I found a pic of a Ifuago spear with multiple barbs, called 'sinalawatan'.
As Battara said : these spears were used to ward of evil spirits. The more barbs, the better it works (according to Stone's).

Anyway, you can find the pics in Stone's Glossary page 225, fig. 278-3 (falfeg) and fig. 278-1 (sinalawatan).

This is what is written about the second type of spear :

SINALAWATAN. An Igorot spear similar to the falfeg, or ordinary war spear, except that it has several barbs in place of a single pair. It is not used in war or hunting but is valued solely as a protection from anito, or evil spirits. When a man goes alone into the mountains the anito are very apt to trouble him; if, however, he carries one of these spears they will not molest him as they are afraid of the formidable array of barbs. The more barbs, the more effective the spear.
There is one in the American Museum of Natural History with sixteen pairs of barbs. The original owner must have been a most timid person.
(Stone's Glossary, p 565)

11th December 2005, 09:58 AM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Question ? Could anyone show me the butt end of a Bontoc spear ? The reason why I'm asking this, is because I got a spear offered to me which appears to be Bontoc (as far as I can judge). It has a harpoon shaped spear head. The wooden shaft is a bit 'swollen' at the spot where the spear blade enters the wood. There's also a heavy metal band to prevent the wood from splitting. It has a short spike at the other end. Sorry, I don't have any pictures (the spear isn't mine, yet ) I'm still hesitating to buy it, that's the reason of my question. I have little knowledge of Philippino weapons.

11th December 2005, 05:57 PM	#2
ibeam Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 134	Bottom Spike Freddy, Here ya go. Hope this helps your butt end. Attached Images

30th December 2005, 02:41 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I got it ! Remember some weeks ago my question about a Philippino spear. Well, I finally bought it (and got a nice deal, too. ) I don't know much about it, but I guess it's Philippino. I would appreciate any comments of more knowledgeable forumites. Total length is 161 cm. The spear blade measures 27,5 cm. The wooden shaft is thicker at the place where the spear blade enters the wood. At that spot there's also a metal ferule. No other decoration on the shaft. It has a metal spike at the bottom end of the shaft (length : 10 cm). The whole piece is very heavy. It reminds me of a harpoon. Is this a fighting spear ? What tribe ? Look at the pics :

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12th December 2005, 09:04 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	Your puppy sounds Igorot to me.

30th December 2005, 03:52 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I believe it's an Igorot Falfeg . See Krieger's . http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html Sixth plate down , #9 .

30th December 2005, 04:01 PM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	yes, filipino. from northern luzon. it's pictured on kreiger's plate: http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html

30th December 2005, 04:02 PM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	rick beat me to it, lol...

30th December 2005, 04:13 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Different time zones Ron .......

30th December 2005, 06:27 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	Supposedly the barbs are to frighten away evil spirits. Some say that this belongs to the Kalinga, though I have yet to see evidence supporting this view. Definitely used by the Igorot tribes in northern Luzon, but by one or most - jury still out. I have seen pictures of it with the other types as well so I would suggest that it was used by most of the Igorot tribes (until proven otherwise ).

30th December 2005, 07:00 PM	#10
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Thanks for the info, guys. With the identification you gave me, I started a little search on the internet and this is what I found : In Stone's Glossary there's a picture of a falfeg, but this spear has only two barbs. Mine has 3 pairs of barbs. On the same page, I found a pic of a Ifuago spear with multiple barbs, called 'sinalawatan'. As Battara said : these spears were used to ward of evil spirits. The more barbs, the better it works (according to Stone's). Anyway, you can find the pics in Stone's Glossary page 225, fig. 278-3 (falfeg) and fig. 278-1 (sinalawatan). This is what is written about the second type of spear : SINALAWATAN. An Igorot spear similar to the falfeg, or ordinary war spear, except that it has several barbs in place of a single pair. It is not used in war or hunting but is valued solely as a protection from anito, or evil spirits. When a man goes alone into the mountains the anito are very apt to trouble him; if, however, he carries one of these spears they will not molest him as they are afraid of the formidable array of barbs. The more barbs, the more effective the spear. There is one in the American Museum of Natural History with sixteen pairs of barbs. The original owner must have been a most timid person. (Stone's Glossary, p 565)