BAGOBO BETEL NUT KNIFE

[tanaruz]

Hi friends,

Sharing from my father's collection, a Bagobo betel nut knife. Bought from a seller in the US years ago.

Regards

Yves

[Ian]

Hi Yves:

Interesting item. Looks as though it has some age. The brass chains and bells resemble T'boli work.

Ian.

[Battara]

I've noticed that on these. That is why I wonder if it is in fact T'boli........... :confused:

[Marbel]

This small woman’s blade is Tboli. Aside from the bells and chains noted, the small ‘half-moon’ markings on the blade are very Tboli.

[Battara]

Good point Marbel. I have seen these marks on T'boli blades.

[Battara]

Here is one of my T'boli pieces and a close up of the blade with those "crescents" in the top of the blade.

[tanaruz]

Hello friends,

I appreciate the feedbacks/information on this blade.

In my opinion, though it may seem that it points more to it being a t'boli blade (bells, half-crescent design on the blade)- I did a little research and it more points out to be Bogobo.

I've read a previous thread in this forum from Mr. Nonoy Tan's post (23 April 2011)- which state that, if I may quote: ' it is one of the various Bagobo knives although the Bagobo are known to "export" such knives to other peoples of Mindanao.'

'The T'boli and Bagobo are known to make these small bells attached to the knife. Moreover, the simplicity of the technology used to make these bells allows almost anybody in Mindanao to make these bells nowadays. I think the knife is Bagobo in its entirety.'

My father also added (in his travels to Lake Sebu (t'boli place) and other lumad places in Mindanao since the 1980s- the bells are casted (wax method) by the T'boli (he has not seen Bagobos cast bells like this) and we also have a t'boli kampilan with the half-crescent design on the blade. But, there's always the possibility, he says, that Bagobo betel knives can be attached with these bells- for a different, aesthetic look perhaps.


'