Share your Pulahanes Talibong

[xasterix]

This sword is hotly debated among my blade expert friends. Did it come from Central Cebu, or Eastern Visayas? Is there still a living traditional smith who can resurrect this blade from obscurity? How many variations are there?

These questions hound this blade, yet for me it's an awesome weapon, one that can dispose of even the thickest of water bottles very cleanly (I can just imagine what it can do one's limbs or head).

In the spirit of other past threads I've read here (Show us your Barung! Show us your Bangkung!, etc) I've thought of starting this thread to give some love to this particular talibong- which I've simply labeled as 'Pulahanes' in memory of those that wielded this particular weapon in my country during the 1900s.

To start it off, here's mine. I found it ignored and rusty in an antique shop without a scabbard (I had one built to accommodate it). Estimated by a blade expert-friend to be pre-WW2. 25-inch blade with heat treatment still intact, 7-inch hilt. Forward-weighted, gathers momentum pretty fast. Got three microcracks near the tip, and heavy patina at the 'action' portion of the blade. Once sharpened, cut like a beast.

Share your talibong/s as well!

[Sajen]

Hello Xasterix,

there should be a lot in the collections of our members, hope they will post their examples.
Here my ones, the first two pictures show the examples I have here in Germany, a Garab and two Talibon, I guess that the big Talibon is a very rare variant, worked for a left-hander. I am a left-hander so it's my personal weapon! ;) :D
The next two pictures show another Talibon, one with a horn handle, the handle binding need to get restored.
Next pictures show a rather recent addition to the collection so only seller pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

My example is deep in one of my storage chests; but here is a picture from the History of Steel exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art some years back... until I can dig it out and re-photograph it.

[Rafngard]

Talibong/Garab?

I might have a few.

...and also a very curious cat.

Have fun,
Leif

[Spunjer]

Just a couple

[xasterix]

Hello Xasterix,

there should be a lot in the collections of our members, hope they will post their examples.
Here my ones, the first two pictures show the examples I have here in Germany, a Garab and two Talibon, I guess that the big Talibon is a very rare variant, worked for a left-hander. I am a left-hander so it's my personal weapon! ;) :D
The next two pictures show another Talibon, one with a horn handle, the handle binding need to get restored.
Next pictures show a rather recent addition to the collection so only seller pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

Great weapons, and I'm surprised at the belly-width of some of those talibongs! How many inches is the thickest among them?

My example is deep in one of my storage chests; but here is a picture from the History of Steel exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art some years back... until I can dig it out and re-photograph it.

I've adored your talibong for a long time. Glad it's sleeping well!

Talibong/Garab?

I might have a few.

...and also a very curious cat.

Have fun,
Leif

You have an amazing Talibong family- really nice hilts especially!

Just a couple

The aesthetic value of your pieces rock!

[xasterix]

If I may add a rejoinder- any thoughts regarding the varying belly width of talibongs? Which do you think are the older variants- thin ones or the thick ones? Or they coexisted at the same time period?

[kronckew]

I have a couple of 'villager' garabs and a talibong. all right hand chisel edged. All razor sharp. All from Jun Silva, from the Cebu area, latter half 20thc.

[xasterix]

I have a couple of 'villager' garabs and a talibong. all right hand chisel edged. All razor sharp. All from Jun Silva, from the Cebu area, latter half 20thc.

Thanks for buying from a Filipino artisan sir. The Silvas are still smithing blades nowadays :)

[Sajen]

[QUOTE=xasterix]Great weapons, and I'm surprised at the belly-width of some of those talibongs! How many inches is the thickest among them?/QUOTE]

Thank you! :) The left-hander one with the big belly is 2 1/4" broad at the widest point.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

If I may add a rejoinder- any thoughts regarding the varying belly width of talibongs? Which do you think are the older variants- thin ones or the thick ones? Or they coexisted at the same time period?

Personally I think they coexisted at the same time period! :shrug:

[kronckew]

Thanks for buying from a Filipino artisan sir. The Silvas are still smithing blades nowadays :)

Topic off
(I have a ginunting he made too)
Topic on

[kino]

Here are mine.

[kino]

I found it ignored and rusty in an antique shop without a scabbard (I had one built to accommodate it).

That’s a fine replacement scabbard. Did you make it or had it commissioned from someone?

[Spunjer]

Here are mine.
Ayos!

[xasterix]

That’s a fine replacement scabbard. Did you make it or had it commissioned from someone?

Hi sir, I had it made by Jun Deuna, a traditional smith from Southern Palawan. He mostly does Palawan blades (Badung, Bangkung, etc). You can look him up on Facebook, Blade Jun Traditional Philippine bolo is his Facebook page.

[xasterix]

Here are mine.

Delectable swords sir, I an most curious about the straight variant. What is its blade length? It reminds me a bit of the Lawihan blade from Cebu.

Also, how is it with regard to handling? Is it forward-tipping as well like the angled hilt variants, or does it just glide along smoothly?

Btw, credits to Filipino Traditional Blades Facebook page for the photos I'm attaching.

[kino]

Ayos!
Lolz

[Battara]

Here is mine. It was captured/turned in on the island of Bohol, July 1901.

[xasterix]

Here is mine. It was captured/turned in on the island of Bohol, July 1901.

It seems frozen in time. Great work preserving this one!

[Battara]

Thank you. This was I believe use by the "Bolo Men" on Bohol who fought against the Americans during the Philippine-American War. They were formidable in the bush and only after the end of the war did they surrender. Some of the Bolo Men (what the American forces called them) were from Cebu and moved there to fight under Pedro Samson. This was probably a captured piece from fighting in or near the town of Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Some of this information is actually written in fading ink on the scabbard.

[xasterix]

Thank you. This was I believe use by the "Bolo Men" on Bohol who fought against the Americans during the Philippine-American War. They were formidable in the bush and only after the end of the war did they surrender. Some of the Bolo Men (what the American forces called them) were from Cebu and moved there to fight under Pedro Samson. This was probably a captured piece from fighting in or near the town of Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Some of this information is actually written in fading ink on the scabbard.

Very interesting. The info written on the scabbard is precious, and may help in locating the true region-of-origin of this elusive blade. It seems long- I'm guessing 23-25 inches blade length- and also a combat-based blade, with little to no utility purpose.

[Battara]

Actual blade length is 23 1/2 inches. Good guess range.

[xasterix]

Hello everyone. Just poking this old thread to ask for assistance from generous forum members. I've been scouring through all available references within reach for more than a month, and I'm thinking I'm finally closer to pinpointing the local name of this weapon (it's not 'garab'; it goes by another name). I would be most grateful if any of you who own a talibong that has any engraving, whether symbolic or in words, can either post a pic or type the contents. This might help me accumulate more clues towards thorough identification of this particular blade.

Maraming salamat in advance!

[Sajen]

No one which is in my posession show an engraving of any sort on the blade, sorry.

[xasterix]

No one which is in my posession show an engraving of any sort on the blade, sorry.

ah sorry I was unclear - engraving on the blade, carving on the scabbard, piece of paper as providence, etc. any indicator of the blade's providence

[Sajen]

ah sorry I was unclear - engraving on the blade, carving on the scabbard, piece of paper as providence, etc. any indicator of the blade's providence

Only one show on the backside three letters which are initials IMVHO.

[xasterix]

Only one show on the backside three letters which are initials IMVHO.

Yup looks like it. Although I'll also run it through the common names of places in the Visayas. Thanks for this!

[xasterix]

Hi, just reviving this thread in the hope that more people will contribute samples. This was passed on to me by a fellow forum member recently; it's a fine specimen and I'm honored to be entrusted with it.

[SanibelSwassa]

Only have two... but here they are. Always hunting more... but so hard to come by.

Thank you all for sharing your collections and knowledge.

[Indio_Ira]

Here's my Tailbong with engraving and red guard from the Pulahan movement.

From the provenance of this blade, it was captured from a dead native man in 1906 in Samar Leyte.

There was a lot of Pulahan movement in Leyte during that time.

Xasterix - hopefully the engravings can help your research, I also would like to know if anyone has any knowledge on my blade besides what the information that was given to me.

[xasterix]

Been a while since I've checked this thread, bumping it up with additional pieces...I feel lucky to now have three garabs...thanks to Rick and Kino for these!

[SanibelSwassa]

Here is where the collection stands. Always looking for others to join the little family.

Thank you to all who have shared their collections and their knowledge!

[kai]

Wow, great collection and the one with the long blade really tops it: Usually, the longer blades tend to be more slender (possibly to make up for the additional material needed during blade-smithing). Despite it's length, this blade is really beefy and must be a real beast! I guess it's still nicely balanced as pretty much all long-time survivors are?

Laminations also seem to be the rule rather than the exception for these old-timers...

Regards,
Kai

[SanibelSwassa]

Kai,

The balance is really remarkable and the blades belly and thick spine lend themselves to force to force blocking and super agile counter thrust movements along with the traditional massive chop, which is easy to see in the blade shape. Very effective for moving from largo to medio range where the blade has its most lethal potential.

No wonder the Pulahan used these weapons to great effect! In looking at the examples in my collection it is also clear that edge retention during combat was not always an important consideration, maybe another reason for the thick spine and characteristic thumb grove just above the hilt on the spine. This may have supported the thrusting and limb cleaving chops from these incredible blades.

I am very grateful to be the caretaker of these blades and the tradition they represent.

Make it a great day!

SS

[AHite]

I acquired these two Talabongs at the same shop. I believe they were brought to the USA by a US sailor or Marine after their service in the Philippines. One is marked "Subiner", possibly the maker's spelling for "Souvenir" with the date 1945. The other is unmarked but I believe from the same era. The Subiner talabong has wire binding the scabbard, while the other uses rattan. The handle (hilt?) of the Subiner talabong is damaged with part of the guard broken off. Both are razor sharp.

[xasterix]

I acquired these two Talabongs at the same shop. I believe they were brought to the USA by a US sailor or Marine after their service in the Philippines. One is marked "Subiner", possibly the maker's spelling for "Souvenir" with the date 1945. The other is unmarked but I believe from the same era. The Subiner talabong has wire binding the scabbard, while the other uses rattan. The handle (hilt?) of the Subiner talabong is damaged with part of the guard broken off. Both are razor sharp.

Nice bringbacks! These were the blades that many guerillas used in the war, then later on became souvenirs to US soldiers.