Powder-Monkeys Knife

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by Robert

Here are a few photos of what I believe to be a true powder-monkeys knife from the Philippines. The actual age of this piece is unknown to me and the seller had no information on it or its previous owner other than to say that it was purchased from an estate sale. Other than turning the guard to its correct position (the hilt was loose from the blade when it arrived) I have only cleaned and oiled the scabbard and wooden section of the hilt. Later I will replace the small brass band now missing from the tip of the scabbard. There are marks in the wood as evidence that one was originally there to keep the end of the scabbard together and the short nail that was supposed to hold it in place is still in the back half of the scabbard as well. I must also repair a break in the guard where the tang passes through before reattaching the hilt in a more permanent manner. The total length of the knife is 12-3/4 inches, the "copper" blade has a single beveled cutting edge, is 8-1/2 inches in length, 1-1/8 inches wide at the hilt and is 3/8 inch thick. All in all a very heavily built piece. This knife would serve well for cutting open powder bags as well as cutting fuse without the problem of producing sparks. I will be posting more photos of this unusual knife as the work on it progresses. Any comments or information that anyone would like to share on this piece would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Robert

hello it is not a powder monkeys knife..

it is a knife with "spiritual qualities" blades of metals copper, nickle silver gold and bronze and considered in these Malay cultures in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia these are to fight spirits, daemons, phantoms that may come in sleep and persons under the power of magic..

i have very fine moro examples of knives with nickle blades ..

in fact last month i was in lombok in indonesia.. and there still many people carry brass or bronze bladed little kris daggers wrapped in the folds of the sarongs the first guy i met i asked about knvies.. at some isloated dock surrounded by jungle he produced a small kris about 6 inch blade form his sarong it was brass, the friend i was with was totally confused as to why it was not steel.. hahaha.

this is such a knife. theyer not tourist items