Visayan Kukri?

[VVV]

Does any forumite recognise what kind of blade this is?
It looks like an oversized sickle but holding it in the reverse grip the balance is wrong.
If I however hold it in a hammer grip, like a Kukri, the balance is perfect.
The edge is on the inside and it's quite heavy.
To heavy IMO to be an agricultural tool.
The blade is 38 cm, almost 15".

Michael

[ariel]

Might function as a Katar, too.

[Spunjer]

michael,

looks like a garab (ilonggo for 'scythe') to me.


pronounced grr'rub...

[Spunjer]

here's a picture of nonoy, a tuba collector. checkout his side arms..

http://www.gotouring.com/razzledazzle/images/tuba1-600.jpg

[VVV]

Thanks Spunjer,

Did you see with what kind of grip Nonoy used it?
And why do you think it has a monster/Bakunawa hilt?

Michael

[Spunjer]

michael,
i'm guessing you have an old, old type, ergo the 'diety' hilt. nowadays, the batikulun (gizzard) type is more common, as what nonoy have on his. here's a close up on a modern binangon handle.

[VVV]

Thanks!

Michael

[VANDOO]

A VERY IMPORTANT KNIFE INDEED IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY TUBA IS THE NAME OF THE LOCAL ALCHOLIC BEVERAGE, NO COCK FIGHT COULD BE HELD WITHOUT IT :D PERHAPS THE KNIFE IS MADE AS IT IS TO FACILITATE ITS USE WHILE HANGING IN A PALM TREE HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND WHERE A SPECILIZED CUTTING TOOL WOULD BE VERY HANDY.

[tom hyle]

Yes; it's for draining palm juice from the trunk, I think? I think the man with the sword climbed?

[zelbone]

Another term I think for this type of tool is called sangot...I forgot which dialect uses it. It's used to also harvest coconuts.

[RobT]

Wow VVV,
You have the best tuba knife I've ever seen. It's listed in Stone's on pg 641 (both the diety and chicken gizzard styles). Many thanks to Vandoo for the info that tuba is an alcoholic beverage from the palm tree. I'd sure like to try some.
Sincerely,
RobT

[drdavid]

Hey RobT
from someone who has tried the local palm beverages in a couple of countries they give nasty nasty hangovers (particularly if you are committed to bouncing around in a jeep at 6am the next morning).
cheers
DrD

[mmontoro]

Here are the image and description from Stone's Glossary

http://home.swbell.net/mmontoro/tuba_knife_001.jpg

http://home.swbell.net/mmontoro/tuba_knife_002.jpg

Spunjer, that's a great picture of Nonoy.

M.