Aluminium hilted Filipino knives--an origin

Ian · 10th January 2024, 10:09 AM

If you have ventured onto online auction sites selling ethnographic knives you have likely seen many Filipino knives of similar style with cast aluminium hilts with finger cut outs and a tri-lobed pommel. Like the one shown here. Some of them have dates stamped into the hilts; the earliest I have seen is 1945, which gives a clue that these probably started as WWII souvenirs. The latest date I have seen was in the 1950s. Whether these were dates of manufacture, and production continued later but they simply stopped stamping the date on them, is unknown. Perhaps production ceased in the 1950s. The clipped blades on these knives can be sharpened but I doubt that they are tempered to any great degree. The knives often come in a simple leather sheath, usually red in my experience, that was stitched simply along the back.

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Views: 1455
Size: 291.9 KB

It's been a bit of a mystery where they came from. Presumably the aluminium came from WWII debris, mostly downed planes (aluminium cans were not around until the 1960s). I have one knife stamped with "CEBU" on the hilt. The present example has information that may be a clue to the company that made them or sold them. Stamped on the back of the hilt:

OLYMPIO COMMERCIAL
PROGRESO ST CEBU CITY

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So, a second reference to Cebu. Although there are several stores selling clothing—Olympia Commercial; Olympion Commercial—listed online in Cebu City, none are located in Progreso Street. The original company/store may have gone out of business or moved. Further investigation requires a trip to Cebu (wife permiting).

10th January 2024, 10:09 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Aluminium hilted Filipino knives--an origin If you have ventured onto online auction sites selling ethnographic knives you have likely seen many Filipino knives of similar style with cast aluminium hilts with finger cut outs and a tri-lobed pommel. Like the one shown here. Some of them have dates stamped into the hilts; the earliest I have seen is 1945, which gives a clue that these probably started as WWII souvenirs. The latest date I have seen was in the 1950s. Whether these were dates of manufacture, and production continued later but they simply stopped stamping the date on them, is unknown. Perhaps production ceased in the 1950s. The clipped blades on these knives can be sharpened but I doubt that they are tempered to any great degree. The knives often come in a simple leather sheath, usually red in my experience, that was stitched simply along the back. It's been a bit of a mystery where they came from. Presumably the aluminium came from WWII debris, mostly downed planes (aluminium cans were not around until the 1960s). I have one knife stamped with "CEBU" on the hilt. The present example has information that may be a clue to the company that made them or sold them. Stamped on the back of the hilt: OLYMPIO COMMERCIAL PROGRESO ST CEBU CITY So, a second reference to Cebu. Although there are several stores selling clothing—Olympia Commercial; Olympion Commercial—listed online in Cebu City, none are located in Progreso Street. The original company/store may have gone out of business or moved. Further investigation requires a trip to Cebu (wife permiting).