Share your Pulahanes Talibong

[xasterix]

This sword is hotly debated among my blade expert friends. Did it come from Central Cebu, or Eastern Visayas? Is there still a living traditional smith who can resurrect this blade from obscurity? How many variations are there?

These questions hound this blade, yet for me it's an awesome weapon, one that can dispose of even the thickest of water bottles very cleanly (I can just imagine what it can do one's limbs or head).

In the spirit of other past threads I've read here (Show us your Barung! Show us your Bangkung!, etc) I've thought of starting this thread to give some love to this particular talibong- which I've simply labeled as 'Pulahanes' in memory of those that wielded this particular weapon in my country during the 1900s.

To start it off, here's mine. I found it ignored and rusty in an antique shop without a scabbard (I had one built to accommodate it). Estimated by a blade expert-friend to be pre-WW2. 25-inch blade with heat treatment still intact, 7-inch hilt. Forward-weighted, gathers momentum pretty fast. Got three microcracks near the tip, and heavy patina at the 'action' portion of the blade. Once sharpened, cut like a beast.

Share your talibong/s as well!

[Sajen]

Hello Xasterix,

there should be a lot in the collections of our members, hope they will post their examples.
Here my ones, the first two pictures show the examples I have here in Germany, a Garab and two Talibon, I guess that the big Talibon is a very rare variant, worked for a left-hander. I am a left-hander so it's my personal weapon!
The next two pictures show another Talibon, one with a horn handle, the handle binding need to get restored.
Next pictures show a rather recent addition to the collection so only seller pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

My example is deep in one of my storage chests; but here is a picture from the History of Steel exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art some years back... until I can dig it out and re-photograph it.

[Rafngard]

Talibong/Garab?

I might have a few.

...and also a very curious cat.

Have fun,
Leif

[Spunjer]

Just a couple

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Xasterix,

there should be a lot in the collections of our members, hope they will post their examples.
Here my ones, the first two pictures show the examples I have here in Germany, a Garab and two Talibon, I guess that the big Talibon is a very rare variant, worked for a left-hander. I am a left-hander so it's my personal weapon!
The next two pictures show another Talibon, one with a horn handle, the handle binding need to get restored.
Next pictures show a rather recent addition to the collection so only seller pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

Great weapons, and I'm surprised at the belly-width of some of those talibongs! How many inches is the thickest among them?

Originally Posted by Rick

My example is deep in one of my storage chests; but here is a picture from the History of Steel exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art some years back... until I can dig it out and re-photograph it.

I've adored your talibong for a long time. Glad it's sleeping well!

Originally Posted by Rafngard

Talibong/Garab?

I might have a few.

...and also a very curious cat.

Have fun,
Leif

You have an amazing Talibong family- really nice hilts especially!

Originally Posted by Spunjer

Just a couple

The aesthetic value of your pieces rock!

[xasterix]

If I may add a rejoinder- any thoughts regarding the varying belly width of talibongs? Which do you think are the older variants- thin ones or the thick ones? Or they coexisted at the same time period?

[kronckew]

I have a couple of 'villager' garabs and a talibong. all right hand chisel edged. All razor sharp. All from Jun Silva, from the Cebu area, latter half 20thc.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by kronckew

I have a couple of 'villager' garabs and a talibong. all right hand chisel edged. All razor sharp. All from Jun Silva, from the Cebu area, latter half 20thc.

Thanks for buying from a Filipino artisan sir. The Silvas are still smithing blades nowadays

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by xasterix

If I may add a rejoinder- any thoughts regarding the varying belly width of talibongs? Which do you think are the older variants- thin ones or the thick ones? Or they coexisted at the same time period?

Personally I think they coexisted at the same time period!

[Sajen]

[QUOTE=xasterix]Great weapons, and I'm surprised at the belly-width of some of those talibongs! How many inches is the thickest among them?/QUOTE]

Thank you! The left-hander one with the big belly is 2 1/4" broad at the widest point.

Regards,
Detlef

[kino]

Here are mine.

[kino]

Originally Posted by xasterix

I found it ignored and rusty in an antique shop without a scabbard (I had one built to accommodate it).

That’s a fine replacement scabbard. Did you make it or had it commissioned from someone?

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by kino

That’s a fine replacement scabbard. Did you make it or had it commissioned from someone?

Hi sir, I had it made by Jun Deuna, a traditional smith from Southern Palawan. He mostly does Palawan blades (Badung, Bangkung, etc). You can look him up on Facebook, Blade Jun Traditional Philippine bolo is his Facebook page.

[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by kino

Here are mine.

Ayos!

[kino]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

Ayos!

Lolz

[Battara]

Here is mine. It was captured/turned in on the island of Bohol, July 1901.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Battara

Here is mine. It was captured/turned in on the island of Bohol, July 1901.

It seems frozen in time. Great work preserving this one!

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by kino

Here are mine.

Delectable swords sir, I an most curious about the straight variant. What is its blade length? It reminds me a bit of the Lawihan blade from Cebu.

Also, how is it with regard to handling? Is it forward-tipping as well like the angled hilt variants, or does it just glide along smoothly?

Btw, credits to Filipino Traditional Blades Facebook page for the photos I'm attaching.

[SanibelSwassa]

Only have two... but here they are. Always hunting more... but so hard to come by.

Thank you all for sharing your collections and knowledge.

[Indio_Ira]

Here's my Tailbong with engraving and red guard from the Pulahan movement.

From the provenance of this blade, it was captured from a dead native man in 1906 in Samar Leyte.

There was a lot of Pulahan movement in Leyte during that time.

Xasterix - hopefully the engravings can help your research, I also would like to know if anyone has any knowledge on my blade besides what the information that was given to me.

[xasterix]

Been a while since I've checked this thread, bumping it up with additional pieces...I feel lucky to now have three garabs...thanks to Rick and Kino for these!

[SanibelSwassa]

Here is where the collection stands. Always looking for others to join the little family.

Thank you to all who have shared their collections and their knowledge!

[kai]

Wow, great collection and the one with the long blade really tops it: Usually, the longer blades tend to be more slender (possibly to make up for the additional material needed during blade-smithing). Despite it's length, this blade is really beefy and must be a real beast! I guess it's still nicely balanced as pretty much all long-time survivors are?

Laminations also seem to be the rule rather than the exception for these old-timers...

Regards,
Kai

[AHite]

I acquired these two Talabongs at the same shop. I believe they were brought to the USA by a US sailor or Marine after their service in the Philippines. One is marked "Subiner", possibly the maker's spelling for "Souvenir" with the date 1945. The other is unmarked but I believe from the same era. The Subiner talabong has wire binding the scabbard, while the other uses rattan. The handle (hilt?) of the Subiner talabong is damaged with part of the guard broken off. Both are razor sharp.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by AHite

I acquired these two Talabongs at the same shop. I believe they were brought to the USA by a US sailor or Marine after their service in the Philippines. One is marked "Subiner", possibly the maker's spelling for "Souvenir" with the date 1945. The other is unmarked but I believe from the same era. The Subiner talabong has wire binding the scabbard, while the other uses rattan. The handle (hilt?) of the Subiner talabong is damaged with part of the guard broken off. Both are razor sharp.

Nice bringbacks! These were the blades that many guerillas used in the war, then later on became souvenirs to US soldiers.