Identification please
 

Hello all,
bought this at auction and was wondering what it is?
any help is much appreciated
thanks

Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros. The blade has still this particular shape for that region, though they were also traded so they were used in a more wider region.
The handle n sheath may be bit simplish but the blade has a nice shape and seen the dark greyish color its made of good quality steel!
Age is dificult to say; certainly old anyway n I would reckon between 1920's to 1950's as the shape of the handle is already not very "sharp" as are the older ones. Authentic n not made for tourists. Just my view on ur item.

Myself I do/would use these items as they are so handy in the garden and stay so sharp after years (if that is really d good qlty steel).
Greets

[QUOTE=Indianajones]Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros.

Actually this reminds me of an Indonesian golok or bolo. The scabbard construction is not Philippine the wire wrap around the hilt is seen on pieces from Indonesia. Philippine bolos either have solid brass ferrules or non at all. See the bottom piece below.

How long is it? Knife size or bolo size? Shape of the blade reminds to a badik.

Regards,

Detlef

From what I can see the blade is about 9.5 inches long.

Visayan in my opinion.

There are several I've seen of this type that have a subtle Visayan "monster" facial and jaw features.

Gav

Oh my god, if you believe or not, I havent noticed the tape! :D

Hello all,
thanks for the info. I bought this at an auction based on a little photo and the following description

"Moro Bolo Knife in its Wooden Scabbard with
Rattan Bindings. 9¾" blade. Wooden hilt with
pistol grip design with ribbon wire binding. Overall
length $13¼". GC. "

When it turned up I was scratching my head a little as I wasn't sure what it was.
thanks again

The pommel has that Visayan look, but the scabbard (especially the top), and wrapped pommel looks Indonesian to me. :shrug:

Steve

Hi all, I happen to stil have a pic of 'd big brother' (Visayan) of what I thought it resembles. Although I can already here the comments; 'the scabbard is totally different' , 'this bolo has a metal ferrule on the handle' etc, it is especially the very diminutive angle the blade gets after a certain point which is so characteristic of the knifes from this region; real nasty stabbingpoints.
Though the 'reckognitionpoints' (forms) are not so clear indeed; he shape of the handle is not carved so precisely like the bolo from the pic as is also the simple sheath, hence the confusion.
But the discussion is still open . . . . . . :D

BTW that wire does look like silver to me . .??? Is it?

What is the profile of the blade in the original post? (Doesn't look like a chisel grind, does it?)

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai and IndianaJones,
the edge "feels" almost like a convex grind but I'm not very good at identifying stuff like this. And just to prove how much of an amateur I am, what is the best way to identify if the wire is silver?
thanks for all the help everyone

A Similar Mystery Blade From Indonesia (I think)
 

Hi, Room,
In a feeble attempt to stay on topic, I present another mystery sword/dagger from (I believe) Indonesia. I've seen others like it on here, but despite my feverish attempts, have been unable to locate the posts and photos. See if you can I.D. this vintage Somethingorother:


I don't think it's a Kampilan or Barong, though it shares similarities with both. Moro or Philippine, perhaps?

Please let me know what sort of weapon this is, so I may know what it is I can't afford to bid on. :rolleyes:

As always, thanks very much for your time and attention on this. You gentlemen (and -women) always seem to I.D. even the most obscure knives.

Cioa for now,
JRF

JRF,
Probably should start a new thread on your unknown blade, but to me that looks like a talibon blade from Christian tribes in northern Philippines.
Dave

Agree, seems to be a talibon. :) Search with this keyword and you will find similar blades.

Talibon it is. Thanks, Guys
 

I appreciate your help on this. I do believe it is a talibon, and probably out of my budget. But one can try. :)