Tanimbar, Visayan or ???

[VVV]

Hi all,

I just received this quite heavy sword today.
Unfortunately it didn't come with a scabbard
The seller wasn't sure about the origin and guessed Visayan.
When having a look in van Z p.136 I think it resembles a variation of pict 569 (blade) and 570 (hilt).
Any comments?

Thanks,

Michael

[Bill]

The sword doesn't really strike me as being from the Philippines, if anything, the blade form would be closer to something from Luzon. I think your on the right track with Tanimbar. The hilt does show influence from either Sumatra or Sulawesi, but not the same craftsmanship. The ferrule is simular to Zonneveld's examples; & his "Swords of Tanimbar" description does seem to fit. Nice find.

[VVV]

Thanks Bill,

Anybody else who has experience of Tanimbar swords?

Michael