Philippino(?) knife for ID

[GrozaB]

Found this knife and can't ID it... Philippine? Europe?

[Sajen]

Hello GrozaB,

it's from Luzon, Philippines. Niece knife! :) Went the tang through the hilt? It look unusual to my eyes.

Regards,
Detlef

[GrozaB]

yes, it is full tang with horn grip. Unfortunately grip is damaged..

[Sajen]

Bummer! :( Still a nice piece. Would guess first half of 20th century.

[Ian]

Hi GroxaB.

Yes, Philippines is the origin of this one, and it is most likely from central Luzon. The shape of the blade is very similar to the Negrito hundang which also has the tang arising at the spine of the blade. You can find discussion and see an example of a hundang here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpost.php?p=211297&postcount=18

The grip is a typical Tagalog style, with full length tang, and the wooden core would once have had twisted wire (iron or brass) in the grooves.

Like Sajen, first half of 20th C. would be my guess.

Nice knife.

Ian.

[GrozaB]

Thank you, Ian! I saw many Philippine knifes in my life, but this one was new to me.