Can anyone help me identify this dagger from Philippines

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

The handle could well be made of ivory rather than bone just looking at the smoothness of the finish and the markings exhibited by the material itself.

Hi Ian,

to my eyes the handle material seems clearly bone, see again to the attached picture, the material seems to be very cavernous in down.

Regards,
Detlef

[dark379]

Hi Mr. Vadoo thank for the information, i agree that might be the part of bone used on the dagger.

I see, so the Indonesia and Malaysia have similar dagger like this also. Which i think might be correct because most Philippine swords has an influence of Indonesian design (like the kris sword). And i see the dagger has a relation on magical or spiritual usage, but don't know the exact purpose.

[dark379]

Hi again mr. Sajen, i check the dagger again and looked at the section part (in the damage area). I can see the spongy bone area..

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by dark379

Hi again mr. Sajen, i check the dagger again and looked at the section part (in the damage area). I can see the spongy bone area..

Hi Dark379,

don't need to address me as Mr., sajen or Detlef is enough!
Regards,
Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

Interesting, love the face what a shame about the condition. Very interesting!!!

[dark379]

Thank you Mr. Tim, ya it will be nicer if the handle is complete.

[Robert]

Hello Dark379, I have always been interested in these copper and brass bladed Philippine knives/daggers. I even have a small collection of them myself that I try to add to as often as possible, but due to their rarity it is not often that I am able to. I find your example most interesting in that it not only has a full tang, but that the slab hilt plates are being held in place by two copper rivets. Then on top of all that the plates are carved in the shape of a mans torso with a full face. I have also heard (as David has pointed out earlier) that copper or brass blades were sometimes used to strike at subjects that are supposedly magically protected against attacks by iron and that the wounds that were made by these blades would not heal, but instead would become infected thus leading to the eventual death of the victim of the attack. I am wondering if the fact that your dagger has the face of a individual carved onto the hilt that it might have been made for an attack on a specific person? Like I said, a very interesting dagger.

Best,
Robert

[dark379]

Hi Mr. Robert first of all thank you for the application and information, and im glad to hear that you also collect Philippine copper / brass dagger & knife. Ya i rarely see antique daggers made from copper or brass here in Philippines. About the dagger, ya it has a copper rivets on it with a human image handle, which i also find it interesting and mysterious (in it's use). I also agree to Mr. David and you about the "used to strike at subjects that are supposedly magically protected against attacks by iron" and now i have an idea already for it's use. I check the dagger's tip edge, it's sharp that can use for stabbing someone. Ya there might be a chance that you're correct about the use of the face on the dagger, or there are some ritual done before using it. Ya a very interesting and mysterious dagger....Thank you again Mr. Robert

[Robert]

For comparison, here are a few of the items in my Philippine copper and brass dagger collection.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Robert

For comparison, here are a few of the items in my Philippine copper and brass dagger collection.

Best,
Robert

Hello Robert,
very nice collection of this rare Luzon daggers.

Regards,
Detlef