Help Identify this knife

Mike · 31st March 2005, 01:59 PM

I found this Forum looking to identify this knife. A friend gave it to me and he thinks his Uncle, who was in the Pacific during WW2 brought it back. Any help or information will be appreciated. I hope the pictures are clear, this is my first time to post....

Conogre · 31st March 2005, 04:21 PM

Welcome Mike (great name, by the way)
I'm going to be interested in heraing the other responses on this one as I have one that's very similar (the scabbard is not original to the knife, but rather is merely one I had that fits it perfectly).
I've seen these identified as both Philippine talibons and as Javanes labedos and have never thought to seek the opinions of some of our members that are VERY good in both areas.
In either case, I think you've got a beautiful specimen there, so congratulations.
Mike

Montino Bourbon · 31st March 2005, 04:49 PM

Here's a similar one that I just aquired.

Ian · 31st March 2005, 07:44 PM

I think all three of these knives are from the Eastern Visayas -- Samar, Leyte -- from their general shape and the way the scabbards are constructed. The style of hilt is similar to another one I have that is definitely zoomorphic, much like Montino's example, with two small nails for "eyes."

Be interested to hear from Zel and Shelley about these knives. They strike me as WWII or later.

Ian.

Battara · 31st March 2005, 10:13 PM

I agree with you Ian. They look like versions of talibons, WWII.

Conogre · 2nd April 2005, 03:00 AM

That was my impression when I got mine, and if so, I'm thrilled, although the "horse hoof" hilt did trouble me somewhat, plus the angle of the blade seemed subtly "off" a trifle compared to other talibons I have and have seen, but here too, there is a tremendous amount of variation among hand made weapons, so that is to be expected.
It was when I ran into the Javanese larbedos that I began to be suspicious and uncertain, with small reservations still remaining.
I can't speak for the other two, by the way, but mine came out of a museum with no origin, only an aquisition date of 1903, while the scabbard, as I said, is one that I had laying around and just happens to fit perfectly, not original to the knife, probably circa WWII.
Mike

zelbone · 2nd April 2005, 01:13 PM

It looks like a small WWII era "talibon" knife to me.

FYI...another name for these little "talibons" is plamenko. I can't remember which dialect this word originates (or even if I spelled it right

) but it's another term I've heard used for these smaller versions of the garab.

Montino's example is probably probably pre-WWII.

Montino Bourbon · 2nd April 2005, 08:55 PM

Mine looks to be bigger- blade length 18 1/2 inches, total 22 inches; also quite thick and heavy, thickness at the middle of the back 5/16 inches, more of a sword than a knife.

tom hyle · 2nd April 2005, 09:23 PM

The hoof (canoe prow? Naga?) handle seems unusual on these; there seems to be so much variation with region/island/time.....it is a style of handle I more usually see on a straighter "sansibar"/espada type blade. I've got one just like Montino's, only with about a 12" blade. I've always liked these; I guess I was country when country wasn't cool or something, but it's not hard when you love every sword you see......Now I'll try to learn this "new" name for the little ones. I think the "chisel ground" blade was more widespread in the past, but has become increasingly localised in the 20th century, but I guess that's mostly just a feeling..........

Threetemper · 4th April 2005, 04:21 AM

I aquired one of these some years ago. I figured it was from Samar because it was carved into the scabbard.

Chisel ground and nicely done.

31st March 2005, 01:59 PM	#1
Mike Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	Help Identify this knife I found this Forum looking to identify this knife. A friend gave it to me and he thinks his Uncle, who was in the Pacific during WW2 brought it back. Any help or information will be appreciated. I hope the pictures are clear, this is my first time to post.... Attached Images Last edited by Mike; 31st March 2005 at 02:22 PM.

31st March 2005, 04:21 PM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Welcome Mike (great name, by the way) I'm going to be interested in heraing the other responses on this one as I have one that's very similar (the scabbard is not original to the knife, but rather is merely one I had that fits it perfectly). I've seen these identified as both Philippine talibons and as Javanes labedos and have never thought to seek the opinions of some of our members that are VERY good in both areas. In either case, I think you've got a beautiful specimen there, so congratulations. Mike Attached Images

31st March 2005, 04:49 PM	#3
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Here's a similar one that I just aquired. Attached Images

4th April 2005, 04:21 AM	#10
Threetemper Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oakhurst,NJ Posts: 14	Talibon I aquired one of these some years ago. I figured it was from Samar because it was carved into the scabbard. Chisel ground and nicely done.

31st March 2005, 07:44 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	I think all three of these knives are from the Eastern Visayas -- Samar, Leyte -- from their general shape and the way the scabbards are constructed. The style of hilt is similar to another one I have that is definitely zoomorphic, much like Montino's example, with two small nails for "eyes." Be interested to hear from Zel and Shelley about these knives. They strike me as WWII or later. Ian.

31st March 2005, 10:13 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I agree with you Ian. They look like versions of talibons, WWII.

2nd April 2005, 03:00 AM	#6
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	That was my impression when I got mine, and if so, I'm thrilled, although the "horse hoof" hilt did trouble me somewhat, plus the angle of the blade seemed subtly "off" a trifle compared to other talibons I have and have seen, but here too, there is a tremendous amount of variation among hand made weapons, so that is to be expected. It was when I ran into the Javanese larbedos that I began to be suspicious and uncertain, with small reservations still remaining. I can't speak for the other two, by the way, but mine came out of a museum with no origin, only an aquisition date of 1903, while the scabbard, as I said, is one that I had laying around and just happens to fit perfectly, not original to the knife, probably circa WWII. Mike

2nd April 2005, 01:13 PM	#7
zelbone Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: VISAYAS and MINDANAO Posts: 169	It looks like a small WWII era "talibon" knife to me. FYI...another name for these little "talibons" is plamenko. I can't remember which dialect this word originates (or even if I spelled it right ) but it's another term I've heard used for these smaller versions of the garab. Montino's example is probably probably pre-WWII.

2nd April 2005, 08:55 PM	#8
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Mine looks to be bigger- blade length 18 1/2 inches, total 22 inches; also quite thick and heavy, thickness at the middle of the back 5/16 inches, more of a sword than a knife.

2nd April 2005, 09:23 PM	#9
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	The hoof (canoe prow? Naga?) handle seems unusual on these; there seems to be so much variation with region/island/time.....it is a style of handle I more usually see on a straighter "sansibar"/espada type blade. I've got one just like Montino's, only with about a 12" blade. I've always liked these; I guess I was country when country wasn't cool or something, but it's not hard when you love every sword you see......Now I'll try to learn this "new" name for the little ones. I think the "chisel ground" blade was more widespread in the past, but has become increasingly localised in the 20th century, but I guess that's mostly just a feeling..........