Philippine Axe

Lew · 13th April 2005, 07:24 PM

Tim

It looks like a Bontoc head hunters to me.

Lew

Ian · 13th April 2005, 07:58 PM

Hi Tim:

Lew is correct, I believe, in stating this axe comes from the Bontoc. I'm not sure whether it is a "head axe," implying a weapon used for beheading a victim, or more of a utility axe or tool. There are apparently distinctions, and one of my dealer acquaintances in Manila noted that the axes with convex edges (as your example has) are tools, while those with concave edges are weapons. I don't know how true this information may be because I have only heard it from a single source (although he is a well informed Filipino with many years of dealing in edged weapons).

Ian.

tom hyle · 14th April 2005, 12:49 AM

The collectors' tale (weigh accordingly) is in line with that; the beaknosed ones that look like wayang puppets' heads almost are the ones for headtaking. On the other hand, there is variation between tribes, too. The head taking ones are called pinagas.

Naga Basuki · 14th April 2005, 04:00 AM

How about this one? Comments?

tom hyle · 14th April 2005, 04:11 AM

Now that's a classic pinagas, with a nice handle, since ye ask, and the "finger" (my own term) that I think you wrap with your index finger in the manner famous with a quillon, for control; believe me, it makes a big difference on the ones I've handled. Someone else can probably tell you what tribe.

Federico · 14th April 2005, 05:51 AM

In the book Death Stalks the Philippine Wilds, Letters of Maud Huntley Jenks who was married to Dr. Albert Jenks, there are neat little hand drawings that distinguish Bontoc and Kalinga weaponry. According to these drawings, if I remember correctly concave heads were Kalinga and convex heads were bontoc. So that would make the 1st one Bontoc and the second Kalinga.

14th April 2005, 04:00 AM	#4
Naga Basuki Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Big old machine shop/foundry/warehouse in Atlanta GA USA Posts: 51	How about this one? Comments? Attached Images

13th April 2005, 07:24 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim It looks like a Bontoc head hunters to me. Lew

13th April 2005, 07:58 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Hi Tim: Lew is correct, I believe, in stating this axe comes from the Bontoc. I'm not sure whether it is a "head axe," implying a weapon used for beheading a victim, or more of a utility axe or tool. There are apparently distinctions, and one of my dealer acquaintances in Manila noted that the axes with convex edges (as your example has) are tools, while those with concave edges are weapons. I don't know how true this information may be because I have only heard it from a single source (although he is a well informed Filipino with many years of dealing in edged weapons). Ian.

14th April 2005, 12:49 AM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	The collectors' tale (weigh accordingly) is in line with that; the beaknosed ones that look like wayang puppets' heads almost are the ones for headtaking. On the other hand, there is variation between tribes, too. The head taking ones are called pinagas.

14th April 2005, 04:11 AM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Now that's a classic pinagas, with a nice handle, since ye ask, and the "finger" (my own term) that I think you wrap with your index finger in the manner famous with a quillon, for control; believe me, it makes a big difference on the ones I've handled. Someone else can probably tell you what tribe.

14th April 2005, 05:51 AM	#6
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	In the book Death Stalks the Philippine Wilds, Letters of Maud Huntley Jenks who was married to Dr. Albert Jenks, there are neat little hand drawings that distinguish Bontoc and Kalinga weaponry. According to these drawings, if I remember correctly concave heads were Kalinga and convex heads were bontoc. So that would make the 1st one Bontoc and the second Kalinga.