Simple but old Minasbad

[Sajen]

Not the first time that something pop up when I just have bought something. But a Minasbad was already so long on my wish list and the price was just alluring so I can't resist.
It is not very fancy and have seen for sure much better times but I think it's quite old and with some care it can look nice again. Here the pictures from the seller.

[Sajen]

I get doubts if it is a Minasbad, the blade form is different from other examples wich was shown here before and it is with 20 inches rather short. But I think that I am correct with the origin (Bicol), so what is it?

[Robert]

Hello Detlef,
With the chisel ground blade I do not think that this would be classified as a minasbad either. Looks Visayan to me.

Best,
Robert

[Battara]

Robert I just saw this and I agree - not a minisbad, although it somewhat looks like one regarding the hilt. The blade does not fit the profile however and does look Visayan, even resembling those from Panay. The hilt could be a form of deity hilt, which also is Visayan (again possibly from Panay?).

[Sajen]

Thank you both for comment and have to agree with you. A further sign that it isn't a Bicol blade is that the tang isn't peened through the hilt.

Would like to read what Bangkaya think about this knife, maybe he will be able to pin down the origin.

Robert, do you have something similar in your collection?

Regards,

Detlef

[Robert]

Hello Detlef, Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you on this but again I have been under the weather for the last few days. However I do have one item in my collection that has a hilt with a quite similar carving. I believe that the scabbard on your item at one time had a curled toe "now broken" that would have looked similar to the one shown below. The main difference is that the blade on my example has a curved spine while on yours the spine looks straight. My example has a more rustic appearance to it while yours is more refined in its appearance. The monkey skull has been removed from the scabbard, I just haven't taken any new photos of this piece yet.

Best,
Robert

[VVV]

Nice catch again Detlef!
You seem to be both very active and lucky this month.

This bolo was on my watch list, too, but then "somehow" the auction was ended in advance.
Here are three old Visayan swords from my collection that I think are related.

Michael

PS The one without a D-guard is about 2/3 the size of the others.

[Nonoy Tan]

Those Bisayan hilts appear to be Chinese-inspired. They look like Chinese dragons - perhaps a result of influence from Chinese traders and immigrants?

[VANDOO]

PERHAPS THE BUDDHIST FOO DOG/ LION IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS FORM OF CARVED HANDLE.
WHAT SETS THESE KNIVES APART FROM WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS MONSTER HEAD BOLO'S ? NICE KNIFE IT SHOULD CLEAN UP NICELY.

[FilAmfighter1]

I think based up my information that this a Bagabo sword, a nice one at that. The sheath is definitely made in the PI looks like about 1900s, due to the thin can metal used to hold the 2 piece sheath. The monkey head carving makes sense due to the people from India having settled there. Know the cultural lore and influences.

[Sajen]

Thank you Robert (hope you feel well again) and Michael for posting examples with similar hilts. So this bolo is from the Visayas but now I would be interested from which island. When I read again the explanation from Bangkaya in the thread about Roberts bolo I think we can exclude the Waray origin like by Roberts bolo. But the first (very nice BTW) one Michael has shown look very similar from the handle and the blade, Michael, do you know from where is this one?

Best regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Nonoy Tan

Those Bisayan hilts appear to be Chinese-inspired. They look like Chinese dragons - perhaps a result of influence from Chinese traders and immigrants?

Hello Nonoy,

very interesting theory. So little is written and known about Visayn weapons, someone should write a book about them!

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

PERHAPS THE BUDDHIST FOO DOG/ LION IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS FORM OF CARVED HANDLE.
WHAT SETS THESE KNIVES APART FROM WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS MONSTER HEAD BOLO'S ? NICE KNIFE IT SHOULD CLEAN UP NICELY.

Thank you Barry,

let's see what I will be able to manage!

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by FilAmfighter1

I think based up my information that this a Bagabo sword, a nice one at that. The sheath is definitely made in the PI looks like about 1900s, due to the thin can metal used to hold the 2 piece sheath. The monkey head carving makes sense due to the people from India having settled there. Know the cultural lore and influences.

What let you think in this way? Can you explain this a little bit further, maybe with examples?

Regards,

Detlef

[Nonoy Tan]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

PERHAPS THE BUDDHIST FOO DOG/ LION IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS FORM OF CARVED HANDLE.
WHAT SETS THESE KNIVES APART FROM WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS MONSTER HEAD BOLO'S ? NICE KNIFE IT SHOULD CLEAN UP NICELY.

Yes, the Foo Dog/Lion. The similarities can't be ignored.

[Battara]

A good point Nonoy Tan and Vandoo - Chinese influences have been in the Philippines for over 1000 years!

[VVV]

Originally Posted by Sajen

[snip]... Michael, do you know from where is this one?

Best regards,

Detlef

Hello Detlef,

No, unfortunately not.

Michael

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VVV

Hello Detlef,

No, unfortunately not.

Michael

Hello Michael,

maybe Bangkaya see this thread and will be able to pin down both!

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Have received the sword and it is a nice one. I would guess that it is from around 1890, it has a very thick blade (9 mm at the base), it is 51 cm long without scabbard and a heavy one. The guard is from black horn.
Here some pictures after some maintenance. Maybe I will look for brass bullen-nails in the same size to replace the missing ones at the handle.

[Sajen]

Here a picture together with my other Visayan swords.