Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

wilked aka Khun Deng · 23rd January 2005, 10:15 AM

Frederico, completely understand your outlook. I had many of the same questions, which is why I put the ? after Datu to hopefully bring out this type of information. Ian has been dealing with this particular dealer for 10 years. He was blatantly honest about all the pieces he showed us pointing out flaws and newly made stuff. This sword was produced from the back room sometime into the visit and wasn't out for show. What he did tell us is that he must keep cash on hand as sellers come through intermittenly from down south and he has only one shot at the buy (cash only) and then they move on. This is how he acquired this one, someone came up from down south with several pieces and this was one of them. He said he usually keeps these in the back for his banker trade as they and doctors are apparently his best clientele. That's all I know.

I had also heard that rising to Datu class could only be achieved through marrage for you needed to trace your bloodlines back to the first Sultan who was believed to be a direct descent of (Suileman or was it Mohammed), however I thought there were some who also got it from amassing wealth?

As to could it have been stolen, honestly a question I'd rather not know, as I am to this day already somewhat conflicted about the posssibility of being accused of stealing someone else's national heritage.

Zamboanga brings up an excellent point (and he should know he's in the middle of it). The Colt and the M4 (M16 carbine version) are now the "status" pieces that the swords used to be. This is one of the ways to quickly identify which one in the troop is the Commander and with a raise in rank it is not unusual for an individual to seek any means to exhibit his new status. As for there not being many Datu class in the MNLF (reorganized as the MILF several years ago when they set up the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) Everyone is related to each other in some shape or form and it is all too commonplace for the Governors, Mayors, and political elite to be espousing the government position verbally and then helping out their relations in those organizations in anyway they can that can't be traced. It really is all about relationships in this country - which is NOT a bad thing just something to be aware of
.
Spunjer and BluErf, your comments also are both right on as I understand the current situation.

Thanks for all the input guys.

23rd January 2005, 10:15 AM	#2
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Authenticity Frederico, completely understand your outlook. I had many of the same questions, which is why I put the ? after Datu to hopefully bring out this type of information. Ian has been dealing with this particular dealer for 10 years. He was blatantly honest about all the pieces he showed us pointing out flaws and newly made stuff. This sword was produced from the back room sometime into the visit and wasn't out for show. What he did tell us is that he must keep cash on hand as sellers come through intermittenly from down south and he has only one shot at the buy (cash only) and then they move on. This is how he acquired this one, someone came up from down south with several pieces and this was one of them. He said he usually keeps these in the back for his banker trade as they and doctors are apparently his best clientele. That's all I know. I had also heard that rising to Datu class could only be achieved through marrage for you needed to trace your bloodlines back to the first Sultan who was believed to be a direct descent of (Suileman or was it Mohammed), however I thought there were some who also got it from amassing wealth? As to could it have been stolen, honestly a question I'd rather not know, as I am to this day already somewhat conflicted about the posssibility of being accused of stealing someone else's national heritage. Zamboanga brings up an excellent point (and he should know he's in the middle of it). The Colt and the M4 (M16 carbine version) are now the "status" pieces that the swords used to be. This is one of the ways to quickly identify which one in the troop is the Commander and with a raise in rank it is not unusual for an individual to seek any means to exhibit his new status. As for there not being many Datu class in the MNLF (reorganized as the MILF several years ago when they set up the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) Everyone is related to each other in some shape or form and it is all too commonplace for the Governors, Mayors, and political elite to be espousing the government position verbally and then helping out their relations in those organizations in anyway they can that can't be traced. It really is all about relationships in this country - which is NOT a bad thing just something to be aware of . Spunjer and BluErf, your comments also are both right on as I understand the current situation. Thanks for all the input guys.