17th March 2013, 12:23 AM | #1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Visayan/Moro Dagger - thoughts?
Ok.....I picked this up at a local gun and knife show here.
The hilt appears to be narra wood with engraved high quality silver mounts and teeth made of monkey teeth or odd bone. The form seems to be of an early Visayan deity head. On the back of the head is a crown with a cross on top. On the silver ferrule there is a flower on both sides. There is a crossguard made of lower coin silver. The blade and scabbard, however, are Moro with the blade being laminated in subtle patterns. Again high silver bands on the scabbard. What are your thoughts on this interesting dagger? |
17th March 2013, 11:27 AM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
|
What a beautiful and interesting modified gunong. What a bummer that this dagger can't tell us it's history.
Regards, Detlef |
17th March 2013, 09:42 PM | #3 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Yeah, Spunger and I discussed this in person. We wondered if a Visayan went down to live in Moro country, then got this made. Certainly someone who could afford the silver work.
|
18th March 2013, 02:45 AM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,083
|
Jose, your pictures don't really do this one justice. It is much nicer in person than these pictures. Really has a good feel and quality to it.
|
19th March 2013, 01:37 AM | #5 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Thank you Rick. I agree - I am not a photographer.
I wish some of our Filipino brothers would weigh in....... |
19th March 2013, 02:27 AM | #6 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,290
|
What are the dimensions, Jose ?
Agree about the pictures; I thought it was refinished . |
19th March 2013, 03:52 AM | #7 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
|
A very interesting and unusual dagger Jose. I love the carving, the teeth and all the silver work on it. As I know nothing about this, unfortunately I cannot add anything useful to the discussion. Great find and congratulations on being able to acquire it for your collection.
Best, Robert |
19th March 2013, 04:11 AM | #8 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Quote:
As far as the dimensions are concerned, overall it is 11 inches in scabbard, and the blade is 6 inches. |
|
19th March 2013, 04:45 AM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posts: 1,730
|
real nice dagger, this one. what's amazing are the teeth in it. it appears to be real monkey's teeth!
jose, if i may suggest, do not use flash when you take pictures. rather, place it on a well lit area. guys, believe me, it looks way better in real life, lol |
19th March 2013, 05:36 AM | #10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 134
|
Jose,
Is the blade chisel ground? |
25th March 2013, 03:44 AM | #11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Jonathan, it is double edged with a median line down the blade.
I agree Ron, these may really be monkey's teeth! Here are hopefully better pictures: |
2nd April 2013, 11:39 PM | #12 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,254
|
Hello Jose,
Congrats, this is ... ummm ... sweet... Don't show it to your dentist though! Quote:
IMHO this blade is not a Moro punal/gunong - the tip is much more upswept than I have seen in any Moro punal; also the crossguard doesn't look like Moro work and the scabbard bands are not typical either. While there may be some influence/inspiration from the neighbors' weaponry, I'm inclined to believe that this is genuine Visayan craftmanship all over. Regards, Kai |
|
3rd April 2013, 01:44 AM | #13 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,001
|
Jose, Congratulations!!!
I noticed that you were added to the staff. Don't abuse your power |
3rd April 2013, 03:23 AM | #14 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Quote:
|
|
3rd April 2013, 03:24 AM | #15 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Quote:
I'll try not to let the power go to my head (hehehehehehe )...... |
|
3rd April 2013, 08:16 AM | #16 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
|
Quote:
have a look to this one from my collection: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong Best regards, Detlef |
|
3rd April 2013, 08:40 AM | #17 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
|
Hello Detlef, The main difference that I see between your example and Jose's is yours has an extreme drop to the blade starting at the guard before it starts its upward sweep where Jose's does not. This is a very interesting knife in more than just the blade profile as it seems to display influences from more than one area. I like it.
Jose, my congratulations on having the good luck to acquires this very interesting new addition as well as your new forum status. Best, Robert |
3rd April 2013, 06:47 PM | #18 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posts: 1,730
|
Quote:
|
|
3rd April 2013, 11:43 PM | #19 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Spunger has a great point (get it? ) - variations on gunong blades.
Sajen, I forgot about your gunong example - thank you for brining that back for comparison. Thank you Robert - I originally turned down the offer due to time constraints and too many irons in the fire. Lew took my place and now he is gone and things have since changed for me. We need the help, and so I am honored that they considered me again. This has been a great forum for me and my main forum. I thought maybe I could give a little back.......... |
4th April 2013, 10:35 PM | #20 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
|
Quote:
Regards, Detlef |
|
4th April 2013, 10:44 PM | #21 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
|
Quote:
Also to you my best wishes for your new status. Best, Detlef |
|
5th April 2013, 04:07 AM | #22 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Quote:
Also thank you Detlef - I offer my services to the entire forum. |
|
5th April 2013, 05:16 AM | #23 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
|
Other that the figural hilt on your dagger the blade profile reminds me more of this one than most of the gunongs that I have seen.
Best, Robert |
5th April 2013, 08:53 PM | #24 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
|
Yes Robert, this is very close to my blade, including the midian ridge.
BTW - what do you folks think about the crown with a cross in silver on the top back of the head? Don't know what to make of it. |
|
|