I thought I had shown this one before but cannot find the pictures or the post so here is what it looks like today. The scabbard was partially re wrapped with grass in Jolo, Sulu and the top of the scabbard was also shellacked. we soaked the blades we picked up there in coconut vinegar inside a hollowed out bamboo section which really made the lamination POP OUT!
And for you other two reprobates. Yes I left Cotabato in late June 2008 (funny how things blew up after my group left - maybe I should have stayed) didn't pick up a single item there
But made some great friends. After a house maintenance trip to Thailand ended up in the Federated Island Nation of Hawaii (is it REALLY part of the US- I don't think so!) May as well have not even left Okinawa cause the neighborhood I live in - all Japanese. Imagine my shock at hearing perfect English coming from an Asian face after 25 years in Asia
Bro even the houses and gardens are the same! More later on a different thread.