A pair of interesting Philippine Edged Weapons

[JeffS]

The Visayan scabbard does not look correct for the top bolo. For the knife, is the handle peened?

[drac2k]

Yes both handles are peened.They have matching collection numbers on the scabbards and the weapons, but we all know how museums are.I agree, that the longer sword was either cut down or it is a mismatched sheath..

[Sajen]

Hello David, I agree with Jeff, the top bolo looks very Luzon to my eyes while the scabbard looks Visayan and the scabbard looks like a mismatch.
The Visayan knife looks very nice!

[drac2k]

I agree with both of you.The knife is my favorite as well;it is heavy and by its configuration, I think its main purpose was for fighting.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by drac2k

The knife is my favorite as well;it is heavy and by its configuration, I think its main purpose was for fighting.

Jep, it's also my favorite!

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by drac2k

I agree with both of you.The knife is my favorite as well;it is heavy and by its configuration, I think its main purpose was for fighting.

Yes, indeed, it caught my eye as well. The triangular blade cross-section is interesting.

[drac2k]

The triangular cross section is only on one side;the blade measures 9.75" long x 1&5/8" at its widest.

[Ian]

Hi Drac,

Two nice Luzon knives with some age I believe.

The smaller one with the triangular blade plus D-guard with down-turned quillion has Spanish colonial features. I think this one was locally made in Luzon (the full tang hilt and Spanish colonial features suggest Luzon rather than Visayas) and perhaps from the Batangas/Lake Taal area to the south of Manila. The lines and cross-hatching are features I've seen on other Batangas/L-T knives. This one could be late 19th C in manufacture.

The longer one has not been cut down in my opinion. The shape of this blade is commonly found in Northern Luzon (Ilokos) as well as Central Luzon (Pampanga) and other Tagalog areas. The Visayan scabbard appears misplaced for this knife. Hard to judge the age of this one. Perhaps WWII-era or a little earlier.

Regards, Ian.