Small Moro Knife For Comment

Lew · 12th September 2006, 02:21 AM

I picked this up from the another forum member does anyone know what it is called and it's use?

Lew

Ian · 12th September 2006, 02:40 AM

Hi Lou:

Both the T'boli and Bagobo tribes of Mindanao use knives of this shape and the scabbards are similar. Mostly these are work knives or "women's knives." There is a picture of a very similar knife to yours in the booklet, Tagabawa Bagobo, by Sonia Mangune (p. 39). The caption reads "SANGNGI Bagobo Knife."

Krieger's Plate 13 (no. 3) has another example labeled as a woman's knife, Bagobo. See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html

Ian

David · 12th September 2006, 02:42 AM

That's really pretty Lew. I don't know for sure, but from the looks of it i might guess that it is for agricultural use, perhaps for harvesting herbs or cutting rattan, something like that.

tom hyle · 18th September 2006, 08:41 PM

Where's it sharp? It looks like a rattan-splitting knife.

Lew · 18th September 2006, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Where's it sharp? It looks like a rattan-splitting knife.

Outside curved edge is sharp (The edge facing the scabbard).

Ferguson · 20th September 2006, 02:47 PM

That's a neat knife. Beautiful wood. I've seen a few on Ebay. Is it worn around the neck?

Steve

Battara · 20th September 2006, 04:55 PM

Like Ian said, it is a utility knife. Don't know why some say "woman's knife", I have seen pictures of Bagobo men wearing these too.

Flavio · 20th September 2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Don't know why some say "woman's knife", I have seen pictures of Bagobo men wearing these too.

Also small african knives are usually attributed to women. I don't know, but maybe because there is the belief that the smaller knives are "more appropriated" for women more than for men, but probably it's wrong

Tim Simmons · 20th September 2006, 05:11 PM

Macho collector say so. Especially when they do not have one.

Ian · 20th September 2006, 05:29 PM

I think the "woman's knife" attribution may be more a Western perception for knives that are for utility purposes and used by both men and women, as distinct from knives that would be considered mainly as weapons and used mainly by men.

In the southern areas of the Philippines, and perhaps elsewhere as well, women also carried weapons and knew how to use them in defence of their homes and people. So in that regard, a "woman's knife" is not necessarily a derogatory or dismissive term within the original culture.

Ian.

kai · 20th September 2006, 11:59 PM

I've also seen the spelling variant "Sangi" for this knife - seems also to be in use by the Bilaan tribe.

Regards,
Kai

12th September 2006, 02:21 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Small Moro Knife For Comment I picked this up from the another forum member does anyone know what it is called and it's use? Lew Attached Images

12th September 2006, 02:40 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	Probably a Bagobo sangngi Hi Lou: Both the T'boli and Bagobo tribes of Mindanao use knives of this shape and the scabbards are similar. Mostly these are work knives or "women's knives." There is a picture of a very similar knife to yours in the booklet, Tagabawa Bagobo, by Sonia Mangune (p. 39). The caption reads "SANGNGI Bagobo Knife." Krieger's Plate 13 (no. 3) has another example labeled as a woman's knife, Bagobo. See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html Ian

12th September 2006, 02:42 AM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,114	That's really pretty Lew. I don't know for sure, but from the looks of it i might guess that it is for agricultural use, perhaps for harvesting herbs or cutting rattan, something like that.

18th September 2006, 08:41 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Where's it sharp? It looks like a rattan-splitting knife.

20th September 2006, 02:47 PM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	That's a neat knife. Beautiful wood. I've seen a few on Ebay. Is it worn around the neck? Steve

20th September 2006, 04:55 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,218	Like Ian said, it is a utility knife. Don't know why some say "woman's knife", I have seen pictures of Bagobo men wearing these too.

20th September 2006, 05:11 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Macho collector say so. Especially when they do not have one.

20th September 2006, 05:29 PM	#10
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	I think the "woman's knife" attribution may be more a Western perception for knives that are for utility purposes and used by both men and women, as distinct from knives that would be considered mainly as weapons and used mainly by men. In the southern areas of the Philippines, and perhaps elsewhere as well, women also carried weapons and knew how to use them in defence of their homes and people. So in that regard, a "woman's knife" is not necessarily a derogatory or dismissive term within the original culture. Ian.

20th September 2006, 11:59 PM	#11
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	I've also seen the spelling variant "Sangi" for this knife - seems also to be in use by the Bilaan tribe. Regards, Kai