My new Luzon sword
 

I won recently this Luzon sword by ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bangkung-Phi...vip=true&rt=nc

It reminds me to this one Robert have shown us some time ago: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3357

All comments are very welcome, special about the exact origin (Batangas?) and the possible age would be from great interest for me.

Detlef,
nice piece!Some may say simple but those are the good old and authentic pieces. I couldnt tell you from where exactly (I would also say Luzon, Ilocano piece) but I would estimate it from 1880's/1890's. Nice kamagong (?) scabbard with brass rings.
Will be a joy to clean up the blade, wont it?!

Best greets, Wouter

Hi Wouter,

thank you for comment. Yes, may be simple but I think when the wood have received a little oil polish, the blade will be cleaned up (with very dirty fingers :D ), the missing brass inlays at the scabbard are replaced and the brass is just a little bit (not shiny) polished it will look much better.
I am not sure if the scabbard is the original one since the one from Robert have this beautiful leather one. But think like you that it could be from kamagong.

Best,

Detlef

Hello Detlef,
I cannot believe that I completely missed this thread. As usually you have come up with another great find. As for age I would agree that this is from the late 19th to early 20th century and more than likely from Batangas. I cannot wait to see the scabbard with the missing pieces replaced and a good coat of wax to bring out the color of the wood. I have seen this style of sword with both wooden and leather scabbards and would guess that both would be correct and that the choice would have been made at the owners discretion. This is just my own opinion though and I could be completely wrong in my assumption. Never the less you have again added a very nice piece to your collection.

Best,
Robert

Thank you very much Robert! ;) Any guess how this sword would be called?

Best regards,

Detlef

Here some first pictures after I have received it and after some maintain. The two pieces of the scabbard was hold together by a silver band in up and by tape in down. Could it be that the silver band in up is original and four others are missing? The front piece of the scabbard is indeed from beautiful grained kamagong wood. The blade is cleaned, now I have to work at the scabbard.

I love the way you brought out the beauty of the scabbard.
Good job on the blade.

Thank you! :) The wood was cleaned, polished and waxed. The cleaning of the blade was a hard job since the blade was heavily corroded but only superficial.

Best,

Detlef

Hello Detlef, Could you possibly show a photo of the end of the hilt so it can be seen if the tang on this sword goes completely through the hilt and is then peened over or not? It would help in trying to put a name and location of manufacture to this piece.

Best,
Robert

My mistake that I don't show or mentioned it before! :rolleyes: The tang don't go through the hilt.

Regards,

Detlef

Only want to give a update of the restore work. I have replaceded most of the missing brass inlays at the scabbard. The one in up is still missing. Next step will be to replace the two missing silver bands and the silver end cap.

Today I have received this picture from Jose. I have send him the scabbard to replace the missing silver bands. Will show the complete sword when I have the scabbard back in my hands.

What a super attractive piece after some maintenance and clean up! Great job, and great pick-up! Congrats!

Thank you Charles and a special thank to Jose for the final job! :)

well done................jimmy

A real diamond in the rough! Beautiful!

I couldn't help but notice the similarity between the handle on this one and the so-called " berber" swords.

Thank's to Jimmy and the Pepperskull (with a thank to Jose ! ;) ) :)

Yes Ariel, very similar but I think this depends on physical circumstances! ;)

Regards,

Detlef

Great looking sword before and especially now (thanks to Jose) that the missing bands have been replaced. The more that I look at this the more I think if I were to put a name to it I would say that it could be a "sansibar". Lets see what everyone else thinks on this. Maybe Nonoy Tan or Bangkaya can shed more light on its origin and name. Again my congratulations.

Best,
Robert

Hello Robert,

thank you. In the Macau exhibition from 2006 this swords are called matulis. Here the shown swords from the exhibition and some more I have found in old threads. But would be nice to get a clarification. And frankly said I have read the term sansibar by similar swords also.
One more observation: All this swords have scabbards from leather. And all three shown examples from the Macau exh. are described as swords from the Katipunan area.
And I really like this swords, only by the first view the look simple. :)

I think there are more swords of this type out there, please feel free to add them to this thread for comparison. Would be nice to see a other one with wooden sheath.

Regards,

Detlef

Today I have received the restored scabbard from Jose, he have done a very good job and I am very pleased with the result.
In the meanwhile the blade has received a polish and etching and show now a beautiful pattern. Proudly I can show you now the restored sword! :) A big thank to Jose and my friend who has worked at the blade.

And here some close ups from the blade.