Moro Pira

[imas560]

Hello all,
thought I would share photos of a Pira that I received today.

"Hilt is complete and made of horn. The blade is forged and shows signs of lamenations. The scabbard is intact and in good condition. The sword and hilt is 26.25" long. Sword and scabbard is 30" long. "

Any insights you could provide (i.e. age) etc would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

[VANDOO]

IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE OLDER ONE AND IS UNUSUAL IN HAVING A SCABBARD AND THE BLADE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN USUAL IN SHAPE. THE HORN HANDLE IS LESS COMMON ON OLDER ONES, MOST I HAVE SEEN HAD WOOD HANDLES. A GOOD ONE IN THE OLDER FORM COMPLEAT WITH SCABBARD CONGRADULATIONS. :)

[Spunjer]

Excellent gasah, imas! definitely an older piece! rare to have scabbard with these pieces. does the scabbard fit perfectly? possible that it might not be original to the blade itself, but that don't matter, really. just the scabbards alone are even rarer...
what i find interesting is the floral pattern engraved on the handle. it looks strikingly similar to the ones found on ilonggo blades. nice catch on this!

[Sajen]

what i find interesting is the floral pattern engraved on the handle. it looks strikingly similar to the ones found on ilonggo blades. nice catch on this!

Yes, it's the catmoon flower found on scabbards from the Visayas.

Nice pira and great to have the scabbard!

Regards,

Detlef

[imas560]

thanks all for posting

[Spunjer]

Not too be picky, Detlef, but it's spelled Katmon . I'm well aware it's a common motif among Visayan blades, but to see something strikingly similar on a sundang indigenous to Basilan is what intrigues me...
Imas, is it possible to get a close up of that decoration?

[Robert]

Great pira Imas569, I hope you don't mind my posting this blow-up of the design on the hilt. I had already done this to get a better look at it (because of my aging vision) before Spunjer requested one.

Best,
Robert

[CharlesS]

Very nice find, and always so nice to find something complete! Congrats!

[Sajen]

Not too be picky, Detlef, but it's spelled Katmon . I'm well aware it's a common motif among Visayan blades, but to see something strikingly similar on a sundang indigenous to Basilan is what intrigues me...
Imas, is it possible to get a close up of that decoration?

You are correct, my mistake! :rolleyes: :D Yesterday we have had day of the cat, maybe this have been the reason of my misspelling. ;)

[imas560]

Hello all,
photos of the design. There is a small hole between the design and the end of the hilt.
An indication of age would be greatly appreciated.
thanks