Show us your "other" Visayan swords

[xasterix]

For this forum, I've noticed that the Visayan blades that tend to be focused are the garab, tenegre, and talibong.

I'm wondering if forum members would have other Visayan swords such as sansibar and pinuti.

Just like other PH tradblades, sansibar and pinuti have their own sub-species (or variants). I'm uploading mine as a reference-point for those who want to share theirs as well (or to help others ID theirs).

In the black-background pic, the upper one is pinuti (Cebu), while the lower one is a sansibar (this sword is Leyte-exclusive).

The white-background pic features a sansibar, a vintage and different variant than the first one.

Looking forward to other members posting their "other" Visayan swords too!

[chmorshuutz]

Nothing spectacular, these are recent samples. In the first image, from the top to bottom:

1. Binuwang from Agusan. Technically it's from Mindanao, but people there are closely related with people in Central Visayas.
2. Ginunting from Iloilo
3. Ginunting from Antique
4. Binalhag from Samar
5. Pinaray from Samar
6. "Media luna" from Leyte

On the second image, that's one of my first acquisitions, a sansibar from Leyte. Probably one of the easiest to acquire among trad blades.

[xasterix]

Nothing spectacular, these are recent samples. In the first image, from the top to bottom:

1. Binuwang from Agusan. Technically it's from Mindanao, but people there are closely related with people in Central Visayas.
2. Ginunting from Iloilo
3. Ginunting from Antique
4. Binalhag from Samar
5. Pinaray from Samar
6. "Media luna" from Leyte

On the second image, that's one of my first acquisitions, a sansibar from Leyte. Probably one of the easiest to acquire among trad blades.

Great collection sir! There really is a great scope of Visayan blades out there just waiting to be discovered and ID'd.

[kai]

I'm fine with roughly forged or finished blades if they retain traditional functionality (distal taper, balance, etc.). It seems much tougher to keep functional hilts though - how do the modern fantasy hilts feel like during use in comparison? TIA!

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Thanks for posting!

Ok, adding some antique examples and starting out with a pinuti for comparison: Blade length 48 cm (19")

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Ray,

Here's an interesting type: Blade a bit over 31 cm (12.5"); nicely laminated, chisel edge.

Another example from an auction (blade 35 cm, 13.8"), chisel edge.

I'd place both well into the 19th century.

Regards,
Kai

[xasterix]

I'm fine with roughly forged or finished blades if they retain traditional functionality (distal taper, balance, etc.). It seems much tougher to keep functional hilts though - how do the modern fantasy hilts feel like during use in comparison? TIA!

Regards,
Kai

Great point Kai. I personally feel the same- I don't hesitate to acquire a modern blade that's ergonomic and has sound construction. Modern blades are mostly functional; hardened but very rarely tempered. I don't expect them to perform as well as modern custom stuff with supersteel, but I try to run them through some abuse.

Currently the main problem plaguing PH traditional blades has to do with hilt dimensions. This is what I've been working on refining with pandays I'm close with. Sometime during the 70s up to present time, hilts have ballooned out of proportion. I'm still trying to find a practical, non-intrusive, and inexpensive way to help modern pandays understand the advantages of having an ergonomic hilt.

[xasterix]

Thanks for posting!

Ok, adding some antique examples and starting out with a pinuti for comparison: Blade length 48 cm (19")

Regards,
Kai

This is a sweet one, I've seen at least 4 iterations of this type so far. A talibong definitely, although some old-timers might even call it a pinuti.

[xasterix]

Hello Ray,

Here's an interesting type: Blade a bit over 31 cm (12.5"); nicely laminated, chisel edge.

Another example from an auction (blade 35 cm, 13.8"), chisel edge.

I'd place both well into the 19th century.

Regards,
Kai

Yup really interesting! I've only seen a handful of those, haven't really pinpointed where it originated from, highly likely Visayas area thereabouts.

[Sajen]

I can add these both swords to the thread.

[xasterix]

I can add these both swords to the thread.

Looking really nice, especially the kris!

[Sajen]

Looking really nice, especially the kris!

Thanks! :)

[kino]

This one is massive, just a hair over 36 inches in length.

[xasterix]

This one is massive, just a hair over 36 inches in length.

That really is a gem of a find, sir! I don't know much about Panay... I'm guessing it's either a talibong or tenegre, probably late 1800s as it still has a European-style guard. It's a supersized one!

[Battara]

Here is my only talibon. It was captured by American forces. Inscribed on the scabbard is "Captured Tubigan, Bohol, July 1901" in fading ink. I did some restoration to the hilt.

[Battara]

Here is the other Visayan sword I have. It is from the highlands of Panay Island. I restored one missing ear, part of the missing nose, and made the scabbard.

[kai]

Great high-end pieces and nice restorations, Jose! (I especially like the limited restoration of the garab hilt.)

Just a reminder so that we're not getting sidetracked: Ray asked for Visayan pieces other than garab/talibon, tenegre, and talibong. ;)

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

Thank you Kai.

I missed that - my apologies Xasterix.

[xasterix]

Thank you Kai.

I missed that - my apologies Xasterix.

Totally no problem sir =) hoping others will contribute more samples!

[chmorshuutz]

Another recent samples. A sansibar tinamban with an albino carabao horn hilt and a sansibar binatanggas with wooden hilt, both from Leyte province.

Not sure how many types of sansibar profiles are out there, but there's another one called "oyon", which is straight unlike the binatanggas and tinamban profiles.

[xasterix]

Another recent samples. A sansibar tinamban with an albino carabao horn hilt and a sansibar binatanggas with wooden hilt, both from Leyte province.

Not sure how many types of sansibar profiles are out there, but there's another one called "oyon", which is straight unlike the binatanggas and tinamban profiles.

Nice sansibars! There are a lot of sansibar profiles... sometimes it even varies per town :)

[kino]

Referring to MUSKKAT’s Bautista’s collection, the closest blade profile that I found is a Ginunting. Is it an Ginunting? Unlike a chisel, the blade is sharpened on both sides.

Blade length 16.75 in. False edge 9.5 in.

[kai]

Wow, that's really special, Albert!

What's the blade thickness?

Regards,
Kai

[kino]

Hello Kai, nearest the habaki, for lack of a better term, is 0.25 in.

[Battara]

Albert I saw one like this but in dagger size with a hilt of ivory on eBay years ago. Couldn't get it. Your example is very helpful.

[xasterix]

Referring to MUSKKAT’s Bautista’s collection, the closest blade profile that I found is a Ginunting. Is it an Ginunting? Unlike a chisel, the blade is sharpened on both sides.

Blade length 16.75 in. False edge 9.5 in.

That's a really interesting blade sir.

I'm wondering if it's possible that this is a hybrid...blade from somewhere else (probably South PH or even beyond) then combined with a Panay or Negros hilt. The habaki might have helped connect the hilt to the blade.

Or it may just be an odd-edged Panay or Negros ensemble.