unusual philippino sword

Battara · 8th April 2013, 04:28 AM

Robert I'll save a place for you behind the trash cans at Carlos' house.....

Anyway, my only question is that usually the Bagobo brass/bronze hilts I have seen have the cast look with classic Bagobo swirls and motifs on them.

However, Carlos' piece does not - could this be some other influence? Also the blade sure looks Visayan to me - what do you think?

Robert · 8th April 2013, 05:17 AM

Hello Jose, I agree on the hilt looking rather non-traditional for Bagobo because of (as you pointed out) the lack of motifs and the smooth finish, maybe someone looking for something different? As for the blade, it looks to be of a V grind and not the traditional chisel grind found on most Visayan blades. Maybe some Bicol influence? A very interesting piece, I just wish I could locate that lost photo I have somewhere but it might only just add to the confusion.

I have added a photo of the two hilts together for better comparison. I just remembered seeing a couple of Moro swords with this cutlass style blade. Time for me to start looking through the older posts.

Best,
Robert

Battara · 8th April 2013, 11:49 PM

V grind, eh? Yup not Visayan then......

Robert · 9th April 2013, 08:43 AM

Hello Jose, Here are a couple of links to Moro kris with basically the same blade style as Carlos's example but of course these have the traditional gangya where his sword has a more or less plain flat style of guard. I still cannot find the photo of the other sword that I referred to earlier though.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=cutlass

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=rare+moro

Best,
Robert

Battara · 9th April 2013, 05:39 PM

Thanks Robert.

Yes I remember these kris. However they have gangas where as this piece in question does not have a ganga and thus I don't consider it a kris blade so far.

Robert · 9th April 2013, 06:52 PM

Hello Jose, here is another sword with a non-typical kris style blade. This one is from the town of Taal in Batangas. What I am getting at is that I believe that both this sword and the one that Carlos has are based on traditional (if be it rarer forms of) kris swords. The one pictured below is easy to identify where it is from seeing as it is inlaid into the hilt but the origin of the one Carlos has is a bit more of a problem.

Best,
Robert

Battara · 9th April 2013, 11:59 PM

Oh I understand better your argument now.

8th April 2013, 05:17 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Jose, I agree on the hilt looking rather non-traditional for Bagobo because of (as you pointed out) the lack of motifs and the smooth finish, maybe someone looking for something different? As for the blade, it looks to be of a V grind and not the traditional chisel grind found on most Visayan blades. Maybe some Bicol influence? A very interesting piece, I just wish I could locate that lost photo I have somewhere but it might only just add to the confusion. I have added a photo of the two hilts together for better comparison. I just remembered seeing a couple of Moro swords with this cutlass style blade. Time for me to start looking through the older posts. Best, Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 8th April 2013 at 05:56 AM.

9th April 2013, 06:52 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Jose, here is another sword with a non-typical kris style blade. This one is from the town of Taal in Batangas. What I am getting at is that I believe that both this sword and the one that Carlos has are based on traditional (if be it rarer forms of) kris swords. The one pictured below is easy to identify where it is from seeing as it is inlaid into the hilt but the origin of the one Carlos has is a bit more of a problem. Best, Robert Attached Images

8th April 2013, 04:28 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Robert I'll save a place for you behind the trash cans at Carlos' house..... Anyway, my only question is that usually the Bagobo brass/bronze hilts I have seen have the cast look with classic Bagobo swirls and motifs on them. However, Carlos' piece does not - could this be some other influence? Also the blade sure looks Visayan to me - what do you think?

8th April 2013, 11:49 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	V grind, eh? Yup not Visayan then......

9th April 2013, 08:43 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Jose, Here are a couple of links to Moro kris with basically the same blade style as Carlos's example but of course these have the traditional gangya where his sword has a more or less plain flat style of guard. I still cannot find the photo of the other sword that I referred to earlier though. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=cutlass http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=rare+moro Best, Robert

9th April 2013, 05:39 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Thanks Robert. Yes I remember these kris. However they have gangas where as this piece in question does not have a ganga and thus I don't consider it a kris blade so far.

9th April 2013, 11:59 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Oh I understand better your argument now.