Visayan Sword, need help in ID’ing.

[kino]

Overall length is 25”, blade length 19.25”.
Blade is laminated, not peeled at the top the hilt. Hilt is carved out of Carabao horn. I’m guessing the teeth and fangs are bone. Handle and ferrule are octagonal, ferrule and s-guard are brass. No scabbard.

Thanks for your help.

[kino]

Hey Mods, can you move this to the other forum. Thanks.

[David]

Yep, i'll move it now.

[kai]

Hello Albert,

This is an odd one!

Based mainly on the blade profile, I'm not convinced this really is Visayan.

The depicted "demon/spirit" of unusual style, the wings (eagle or angle?), and also the human face do seem to be very unusual for the Visayas, too.

I'd be inclined to guess at a more northern origin. Possibly one of the somewhat intermediate regions like Bicol?!?

Regards,
Kai

[Ian]

Hi Albert,

Very unusual sword/knife. I'm inclined to think this is Visayan from the style of hilt and the S-guard. Does the blade have a chisel-grind? As far as figural hilts, there are a few examples of heads on swords from Panay, including mustachioed Spanish men--uncommon but not rare. Perhaps this is a custom-made piece. The blade seems non-traditional for Panay.

Have you run this one by Zel?

Regards,

Ian

[kino]

Thanks you for moving it David.

Kai, I thought Visayas because the blade profile was somewhat like a
Garab, but....not quite.

Ian, the blade does have a chisel grind.


Does the octagonal ferrule have a bearing towards Luzon?

[Ian]

The chisel grind brings me back to Visayan and the octagonal ferrule is also consistent with Visayan. I did receive an email from a Filipino friend who identified this knife as coming from Negros Oriental. The "extravagant" figural hilt is apparently common to modern swords from that area.

[kino]

Thanks Ian.
I was adviced with the same information. We probably share the same source.

[Ian]

Thanks Ian.
I was adviced with the same information. We probably share the same source.Yes, I think so.