A Visayan... something?
 

Hello all,

Postapoluza 2016 continues.

This time a (I think) fairly recent one from the Visayans. It has the characteristic chisel ground blade. In particular I love the nearly complete ratan work on the scabbard. The carvings on the front side of the scabbard are fun, and what looks look it could be short bit of baybayin on the scabbard is also.

Now I know the name game is of questionable value at best, but this one seems really weird. Maybe this is a project of it's recentness? Anyway, the blade shape, and the ratan looks a bit like a talibon, but not quite. The circular wooden Guard seems like it could have come from a tenegre. The wooden belt clip(?) looks unlike anything I've seen, but almost like someone tried to copy the look of a visayan leather throat chape, but in wood. The hilt is... eccentric?

I'm hoping some of the more knowledgeable forum members might have some more thoughts on this.

Thanks in advance,
Leif

Just a few more pics
 

A few more.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT TALIBON / GARAB THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF VARIATION. THE BLADES HAVE TO STAY WITHIN A CERTAIN FORM WITH THE NARROW FORTE WIDE BELLY AND SHARP TIP AND SINGLE EDGED CHISEL EDGE AND FLAT SIDES. THE HANDLE AND DESIGNS ON SCABBARDS CAN RANGE MORE WIDELY AND IT WILL STILL FALL INTO THE TALIBON OR GARAB TYPE. THE BLADE IS WHAT DETERMINES THE TYPE WITH THESE. A VERY INTERESTING EXAMPLE AS YOU SAY BORROWING FROM OTHER TYPES AND DESIGNS BUT IN MY OPINION STILL A TALIBON / GARAB.

I agree with you, Barry, although the blade also resembles those from the Bicol region (which is next to the Visayas).

I like the Bicol suggestion, Jose, especially the scabbard with its wooden hanger to hold the knife in place when suspended from a belt or stuck through a waist band.

Ian

Hello Leif,

agree with Jose and Ian that this could be a Bicol knife, see the picture of a minasbad scabbard, very similar rattan binding in the back.
And here a link to a Philippine knife from my collection with a similar handle style. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18326

Regards,
Detlef