Philippine Knife?

[Lew]

OK I know it's from the north but what is it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dagger-Oriental-Indonesian-Antique-Dagger-Sword_W0QQitemZ260140846552QQihZ016QQcategoryZ8890 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Bargain land..

[Lew]

Here are some better pics.

[Mark]

You know, that "X" and bar design on the spine is really starting to fascinate me. You see it on No. African weapons, SEA weapons, and here on a weapon from the Philippines (and I am sure on weapons from other regions). I guess it is a pretty basic geometric design that is easy to put into steel, but the commonality of it, in particular the consistent location, still strikes me.

[Lew]

What I find unique about this bolo is it has some habaki like thing on the blade which looks as if it is made of one piece of brass. I have never seen anything like this before on a Luzon bolo. The blade is regular steel and I can see in good light a nice temper line. Seems to be WW2 or earlier. We will need the Philippine weapons guys to chime in on this strange beast.


Lew

[Battara]

For starters, the "X" mark in the Moro lands is a talismanic mark, so I would not be surprised if it were the same here as well.

On the brass bolster, I have usually seen these as made from one piece of brass, or more accuratly, pieces soldered together.

It looks like the blade is in a sandwich lamination.

A nice and interesting piece. :)