JUDGEING FROM THE SHAPE OF THE TIP OF THE BLADE AND THE USE OF INTERLOCKING PLATES OF (SEA TURTLE SHELL?) AND THE SCABBARD SHAPE. I WOULD SUGGEST IT IS IS VISIAYAN IN ORIGIN AS FAR AS I KNOW THE TRIBES ON MINDANAO NEVER USED THE INTERLOCKING SHELL ON SCABBARDS. THE GAURD APPEARS TO BE METAL BUT IF IT WERE BAGOBO OR TIBOLI IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN BRASS WITH THEIR USUAL PATTERNS AND SHAPE. THE SIMPLE SCABBARD SHAPE IS A LOT LIKE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO SCABBARDS BUT HAS NONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES SOMETIMES USED BY THOSE TRIBES. THE TWO LARGE SIZE TIGER BELLS WERE WIDELY TRADED THRUOUT THE AREA SO WOULD NOT POINT TO THE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO. THEIR SPECIAL BELLS ARE THE SMALL BRASS HAWK BELLS WHICH ARE NOT MADE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS FAR AS I KNOW. AS TO AGE I WOULD PLACE IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WW1 AND WW2. THE ISLAND OF PANAY HAS ALWAYS BORROWED FROM THE MANY FORMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND AS A RESULT HAVE COME UP WITH QUITE A WIDE VARIETY OF FORMS AND UNUSUAL ITEMS OVER THE YEARS.
|