Material Analysis: Matched Pair of Antique Philippine Blades with Crystalline Matrix

Ian · 15th July 2026, 02:47 PM

Tim, I think we could classify nearly all Filipino kn ives and swords as being made from "ordinary tool steel." Exotic alloys were rarely, if ever, used pre-WWII. Likewise stainless steel. Perhaps there are some examples of modern alloys from the last 50 years that were produced by a curious (and wealthy) smith. Traditionally, however, Filipino steel was fairly ordinary tool steel as you suggest. That was true for tools and weapons.

As far as grind and file marks on blades, this is the norm for the vast majority of tools and weapons produced up to the mid-20th C. Early pieces of gentry quality were often well finished, but commoners tended not to fuss very much about the grinding marks on blades.

Both of the longer Filipino knives have blade patterns that were used as weapons. The one with an acutely pointed blade may be Ilokano or Kapangan in manufacture but I don't know the name of that blade style (Xasterix is our local expert on blade forms and can likely inform us more fully). The one with the sheep's foot style blade looks like a ginunting variant, and that blade style is definitely used as a weapon.

As far as the spider-like pattern on the first of these blades, that is seen quite frequently when older (19th C and earlier), heavily patinated blades are sanded back such that the crystalline structure becomes apparent. My thought has been that the spider-like areas might have higher carbon content, but I have no evidence for that. I've made similar comments about other knives and swords posted here, but a quick search found no other example to cross-reference here. X-ray fluorescence could shed some light on the local mineral content.

P.S. The first post in this thread shows the spidery effect I was referring to in a mid-19th C barung blade. This is a laminated blade,

View Poll Results: what type of metal
leaf spring	2	50.00%
wootz	1	25.00%
Pamor	0	0%
Damascus	0	0%
Just a rusty blade	1	25.00%
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll

15th July 2026, 02:47 PM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,745	Tim, I think we could classify nearly all Filipino kn ives and swords as being made from "ordinary tool steel." Exotic alloys were rarely, if ever, used pre-WWII. Likewise stainless steel. Perhaps there are some examples of modern alloys from the last 50 years that were produced by a curious (and wealthy) smith. Traditionally, however, Filipino steel was fairly ordinary tool steel as you suggest. That was true for tools and weapons. As far as grind and file marks on blades, this is the norm for the vast majority of tools and weapons produced up to the mid-20th C. Early pieces of gentry quality were often well finished, but commoners tended not to fuss very much about the grinding marks on blades. Both of the longer Filipino knives have blade patterns that were used as weapons. The one with an acutely pointed blade may be Ilokano or Kapangan in manufacture but I don't know the name of that blade style (Xasterix is our local expert on blade forms and can likely inform us more fully). The one with the sheep's foot style blade looks like a ginunting variant, and that blade style is definitely used as a weapon. As far as the spider-like pattern on the first of these blades, that is seen quite frequently when older (19th C and earlier), heavily patinated blades are sanded back such that the crystalline structure becomes apparent. My thought has been that the spider-like areas might have higher carbon content, but I have no evidence for that. I've made similar comments about other knives and swords posted here, but a quick search found no other example to cross-reference here. X-ray fluorescence could shed some light on the local mineral content. P.S. The first post in this thread shows the spidery effect I was referring to in a mid-19th C barung blade. This is a laminated blade, Last edited by Ian; 15th July 2026 at 05:21 PM.