Interesting Philippine Sword

Ian · 25th May 2024, 04:19 PM

Drac,

That's an interesting sword! I think it is older than your estimate. The inscription is Spanish (note the superscript letters indicating gender) and reads:

Regimento 73
Secundo Batallon
Cuarta Compañia
45

In English:
Regiment 73
Second Battalion
Fourth Company
45

(The "45" may be the number of the individual to whom the knife was issued)

Thus, this piece dates from the Spanish Colonial period. I have seen similar inscriptions on military bolos from the late Spanish period (end of the 19th C). The inscription is written in a style favored in the 19th C. These were most likely distributed to native Filipino militia and police in the Spanish Colonial forces.

I posted another example with a similar inscription many years ago in the old UBB Forum. I'll see if I still have pictures.

This style of blade has several names. Xasterix can fill you in on all of them. Many examples were made in Central Luzon, where they were sometimes referred to as "katana" (as used by the Aeta/Negritos for a fighting knife), and also called a "tabac" when used in the tobacco industry of N. Luzon. A similar profile was made in Pampanga, and has another local name which I cannot find in my records.

I think this is an old traditional Filipino blade style that served a wide range of purposes, but used mainly as a good general purpose jungle knife.

The knife and scabbard are in good condition for their age. Nice find.

25th May 2024, 04:19 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Drac, That's an interesting sword! I think it is older than your estimate. The inscription is Spanish (note the superscript letters indicating gender) and reads: Regimento 73 Secundo Batallon Cuarta Compañia 45 In English: Regiment 73 Second Battalion Fourth Company 45 (The "45" may be the number of the individual to whom the knife was issued) Thus, this piece dates from the Spanish Colonial period. I have seen similar inscriptions on military bolos from the late Spanish period (end of the 19th C). The inscription is written in a style favored in the 19th C. These were most likely distributed to native Filipino militia and police in the Spanish Colonial forces. I posted another example with a similar inscription many years ago in the old UBB Forum. I'll see if I still have pictures. This style of blade has several names. Xasterix can fill you in on all of them. Many examples were made in Central Luzon, where they were sometimes referred to as "katana" (as used by the Aeta/Negritos for a fighting knife), and also called a "tabac" when used in the tobacco industry of N. Luzon. A similar profile was made in Pampanga, and has another local name which I cannot find in my records. I think this is an old traditional Filipino blade style that served a wide range of purposes, but used mainly as a good general purpose jungle knife. The knife and scabbard are in good condition for their age. Nice find. Last edited by Ian; 25th May 2024 at 04:41 PM.