opinions of nice talibon puppy

[Battara]

What do you think of this?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/19TH-CENTURY-PHILIPPINES-VERY-ORNATE-TALIBON-SWORD-NR_W0QQitemZ6594591784QQcategoryZ20272QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I tried to get it but as usual, got my brains beaten out again. :o (That's why now I wear a helmet :D ).

Nice pierced scabbard work, nice engraving and inlay, and nice Christian display (I think representing "Jesus Christu" in Latin). Notice the elaborate horn hilt carvings - not seen a talibon like this before. Impressive puppy (woof! :D ).

[Spunjer]

...wondering if it's chiseled ground as well?

[Ian]

Interesting that this one has a full length tang and butt screw. Not typical for Visayan knives and swords which usually have a blind tang construction. Also the angle between the hilt and blade looks odd (not as prominent as usually sen on old talibon); there is no "thumb pad" at the end of the blade; and the handle has a small ferrule. Looks more like a Luzon hilt than Visayan.

I suspect this may have been a custom order piece.

Ian

[VANDOO]

I HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF WORKMANSHIP ON A FEW BOLOS FROM LUZON BUT NEVER ON A TALIBON. THE EXPERTLY CARVED HORN HANDLE WITH SILVER AND THE TANG PASSING THRU THE POMMEL ARE COMMON ON THE BOLOS. THE INLAYED BLADES ARE MORE SCARCE BUT I DO HAVE ONE EXAMPLE IT WAS EITHER MADE AS A PRESENTATION PIECE OR CUSTOM ORDER I SUSPECT. I ALSO SUSPECT IT WAS NEWLY MADE AT THE TIME THIS MAN MAY HAVE VISITED THE PHILIPPINES SO IF WE KNEW THAT DATE APPROXIMATELY IT WOULD GIVE US A GENERAL IDEA OF WHEN THIS TYPE OF WORK WAS BEING DONE AND PERHAPS WHERE AS WELL. I THINK WHOEVER MADE THESE WAS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE AREA AND THAT FEW COULD MAKE EDGED WEAPONS OF THIS QUALITY AT THE TIME SO IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO TRACK DOWN WHO MADE IT ALSO.

WISH I HAD THE SWORD INSTEAD OF A LOT OF GUESSES :D

[Tim Simmons]

Beautiful piece, it is fascinating how the 19th century love of the Gothic revival has crept on to the blade and yet the handle has less European influence. Tim

[Rick]

Very nice work !

BTW ; that guy getting out of Mr. Maff's plane is none other than Jack Dempsey .
http://www.genetunney.com/general4a.jpg
(see middle figure)

[Spunjer]

jack dempsey the boxer, or jack dempsey the stamp collector? j/k :p

another little tidbit: his great grandson is now a mixed martial arts fighter (cage fighter)

i'm with vandoo's theory... i'm kinda wondering about the scabbard; carabao horn perhaps?


Interesting that this one has a full length tang and butt screw. Not typical for Visayan knives and swords which usually have a blind tang construction.

ian, yeah, visayan sword with full length tang and a butt screw is not that typical. that said, here's one i've had. notice the chisel side is not too pronounced. another unusual part of this binangon is the disc guard, which i think, is a coin or a medallion, due to the ridges on the edge.