Huge Spanish Colonial Sword

M ELEY · 7th November 2005, 06:06 AM

Excellent example of similar form. I also noticed in the pictures of the sword in question that in the 8th pic down from the top, there are line decorations near the throat of the blade. These look like an imitation of the tiered effect seen on so many bolos I've seen (you know, the ones people try to pass off as colonial American!

). The floral pattern on the knuckle bow...could it possibly suggest any particular area in the Philippines?

Robert · 7th November 2005, 06:18 PM

Ian,
The fuller you mention on my sword is just an optical illusion caused by the lighting when the picture was taken. The sword has no fuller. By the way the sword you posted is absolutely beautiful.
Renegade,
I believe that this sword is definitely from the Philippines.
M Eley,
I'm glad you are interested in this type of sword too. Do you have any examples that you could post?
Battera,
I think you could be right about it belonging to a Katipunero officer and would be very interested in any more information you might be able to supply about them and the weapons that they carried. I have a couple more swords that I think were also carried by them and will post pictures of them as soon as I get my camera back.
Again I thank everyone for their help.

Robert

Ian · 8th November 2005, 03:29 AM

One thing I have noticed with Spanish colonial swords from the Philippines, i.e. those swords which seem to have Spanish influence, is that the tang and hilt are "off center" with respect to the long axis of the blade. The tang seems to be more asymmetrically positioned, towards the spine of the blade, such that the spine and handle often seem to have the same continuous line. This orientation is seen also in the so-called Mediterranean knives, and in Spanish colonial knives from the late 20th C. that are attributed to the Canary Islands.

You can see this feature in the first example of this thread, and in the pictures of the sword that I posted above.

While this feature may not be exclusively Spanish, when it is seen in former Spanish colonies I would suggest that it reflects Spanish influence on the local patterns of weapons.

Moro Swords/knives, Visayan weapons and traditional native weapons from Luzon consistently seem to have a tang that is placed centrally.

Having made this gross generalization, I await critics with a multitude of examples proving me wrong.

Ian.

Robert · 9th November 2005, 12:22 AM

Ian,
Out of all the Spanish colonial swords that I have only two have the tang centered on the blade. The rest are as you describe having the tang higher on the blade.

Robert

7th November 2005, 06:06 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,152	Excellent example of similar form. I also noticed in the pictures of the sword in question that in the 8th pic down from the top, there are line decorations near the throat of the blade. These look like an imitation of the tiered effect seen on so many bolos I've seen (you know, the ones people try to pass off as colonial American! ). The floral pattern on the knuckle bow...could it possibly suggest any particular area in the Philippines? Last edited by M ELEY; 7th November 2005 at 06:08 AM. Reason: Wrong numbered pic

8th November 2005, 03:29 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,395	One thing I have noticed with Spanish colonial swords from the Philippines, i.e. those swords which seem to have Spanish influence, is that the tang and hilt are "off center" with respect to the long axis of the blade. The tang seems to be more asymmetrically positioned, towards the spine of the blade, such that the spine and handle often seem to have the same continuous line. This orientation is seen also in the so-called Mediterranean knives, and in Spanish colonial knives from the late 20th C. that are attributed to the Canary Islands. You can see this feature in the first example of this thread, and in the pictures of the sword that I posted above. While this feature may not be exclusively Spanish, when it is seen in former Spanish colonies I would suggest that it reflects Spanish influence on the local patterns of weapons. Moro Swords/knives, Visayan weapons and traditional native weapons from Luzon consistently seem to have a tang that is placed centrally. Having made this gross generalization, I await critics with a multitude of examples proving me wrong. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 8th November 2005 at 03:40 PM.

7th November 2005, 06:18 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Ian, The fuller you mention on my sword is just an optical illusion caused by the lighting when the picture was taken. The sword has no fuller. By the way the sword you posted is absolutely beautiful. Renegade, I believe that this sword is definitely from the Philippines. M Eley, I'm glad you are interested in this type of sword too. Do you have any examples that you could post? Battera, I think you could be right about it belonging to a Katipunero officer and would be very interested in any more information you might be able to supply about them and the weapons that they carried. I have a couple more swords that I think were also carried by them and will post pictures of them as soon as I get my camera back. Again I thank everyone for their help. Robert

9th November 2005, 12:22 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Ian, Out of all the Spanish colonial swords that I have only two have the tang centered on the blade. The rest are as you describe having the tang higher on the blade. Robert