THESE WERE NOT MORO TOOLS OR WEAPONS BUT NO DOUBT SOME WERE CAPTURED AND USED BY THE MORO IF NEEDED. THEY ARE FOUND MOSTLY AMONG THE TRIBES THAT ARE NOW CHRISTIAN AND EVERYONE USED TO CARRY THEM AS A TOOL FOR CHOPPING BRUSH OR GATHERING FOOD FOR ANIMALS ECT. THE LARGER ONES WERE PROBABLY CARRIED BY WARRIORS AND WERE USED FOR THE USUAL JOBS AS WELL AS USED FOR WAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THEM IS OFTEN THE OWNER PERSONALIZES THEM WITH CARVED DECORATION.
THE FORM OF THE BLADE DOSEN'T VARY MUCH BUT YOU SOMETIMES SEE A VARIATION BUT NOT OFTEN. THE FORMS OF HANDLES DO VARY BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL TRADITIONAL FORMS ENCOUNTERED MOST OFTEN, YOURS HAVE WHAT I REFER TO AS A TRI LOBED POMMEL FORM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE TRADITIONAL FORM MOST OFTEN ENCOUNTERED, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS?. MANY OF THE SMALL WORK KNIVES HAVE A PLAIN HANDLE WITH NO CARVEING AND ARE USUALLY SHAPED WITH A KNOBED POMMEL TO HELP THE GRIP WHEN USING THE KNIFE. A CLENCHED FIST IS ANOTHER FORM OFTEN ENCOUNTERED. THE SCABBARDS ARE MADE OF TWO PIECES OF WOOD BOUND TOGETHER WITH FIBER BANDS OR SOMETIMES METAL BANDS. THE CARVING ON THE SCABBARDS RANGES FROM NONE TO SOME ENTIRELY COVERED WITH VERY BEAUTIFUL CARVING WITH A UP-TURNED TIP.
UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE REFRENCES OR KNOWLEGE TO IDENTIFY THE CARVINGS TO INTREPRET WHAT THEY REPRESENT OR WHERE THEY ORIGINATED. I WOULD SAY YOUR EXAMPLES LOOK TO BE ONES MADE FOR ACTUAL USE BY THE LOCALS RATHER THAN MADE FOR TOURISTS, MOST LIKELY MADE AROUND THE TIME OF WW2. THE BLADES COULD BE OLDER AS THE WOODEN PARTS WEAR OUT BEFORE BLADES DUE TO USE AND CLIMATE IN THE TROPICS. TWO NICE EXAMPLES AND BEST OF ALL FREE
