UNKNOWN PHILIPPINE FIGHTING KNIFE

[VANDOO]

I JUST PICKED THIS UP ON EBAY, THE HANDLE AND SCABBARD ARE NORMAL PHILIPPINE IN FORM. THE BLADE IS HAND FORGED BUT IS MORE IN THE SHAPE OF SOME INDIA OR MIDDLE EAST FORMS. THE BLADE IS A GOOD DESIGN FOR SLASHING AND THRUSTING BUT WOULD BE A VERY POOR WORK KNIFE. BLADE 11. 1/2INCH, TOTAL IN SCABBARD 16.3/8 ANY COMMENTS ON WHAT ITS CALLED AND WHAT GROUP MAY HAVE MADE IT WELCOME. :D

[Battara]

For me at first glance there is a Visayan feel to this piece. The hilt and scabbard give me this feel. Would like to see what the others think.

[Rick]

It reminds of a Zira Bouk in blade form; quite interesting !
Barry, I think you have a winner there . :)

[migueldiaz]

the hilt and scabbard looks visayan all right. but the blade, isn't.

my theory is that it's a luzon blade, fitted with a hilt and scabbard by a visayan. my circumstantial evidence is this northern luzon knife i bought from a cebu city antique collector, which blade profile is similar to the one of barry's here.

[nacho]

I think it is a Panay sword. Attached is a picture of sandukos with different types of blades -- look at the one in the extreme right.

I have always wondered about the blade of this sanduko in my collection. A rare variant? Or a case of a blade from elsewhere in the Philippines just fitted into a sanduko?

Our informant from the Panay Bukidnon tribe told us that they made the handles of their swords but the blade were acquired from the lowlanders. Could they also have obtained a Luzon sword and re-used its blade?

[migueldiaz]

thanks for the pic :) even the rattan binding on the scabbard (of the leftmost taribong) looks similar to the one of barry's!

[Battara]

Could they also have obtained a Luzon sword and re-used its blade?
I think not only is that a good question, but a likely scenario, especially since trade was common all over the region.

Thanks for the picture Nacho. I agree with Migueldiaz - looks like Vandoo's piece on the blade and the scabbard.

[VANDOO]

HERE IS A KNIFE FROM SAMAR WITH SIMULAR WORK ON THE SCABBARD TO MY FIRST EXAMPLE. THE FIBER LINKING THE FIBER BANDS ON THE SCABBARD MAY BE IN WIDE USE OR MAY BE RESTRICTED TO CERTIAN LOCATIONS. THIS EXAMPLE IS DATED SAMAR IS. 1945 .

[migueldiaz]

Vandoo, thanks! Looks like we are closing in on Samar in the Visayas as the likely origin of your new talibong.

Earlier, there's this eBay WW2 talibong which clearly came from Samar (pics below). And we can see that the pommel design is very similar to yours.

Now if we add to the body of knowledge the style of the rattan lashings on the scabbard (which point to Samar also), then ... voila! :)