Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Battara · 29th November 2017, 12:40 AM

I agree with you. This is a repurposed Maguindanao blade with a T'boli hilt.

There was often a lot of trade between these areas, and there are several examples like this. This particular example also seems to have a large forging flaw or crack opening, making this unusable for Maguindanao fighting. Perhaps it was deemed usable enough for a T'boli or it is more a status piece for a T'boli. The blade looks to be from the last quarter of the 1800s.

I also noticed that the silver covering at the base of the blade has a crude repousse "magic square" and other talismanic symbols, placed at a later date.

Is there a scabbard with it?

29th November 2017, 12:40 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I agree with you. This is a repurposed Maguindanao blade with a T'boli hilt. There was often a lot of trade between these areas, and there are several examples like this. This particular example also seems to have a large forging flaw or crack opening, making this unusable for Maguindanao fighting. Perhaps it was deemed usable enough for a T'boli or it is more a status piece for a T'boli. The blade looks to be from the last quarter of the 1800s. I also noticed that the silver covering at the base of the blade has a crude repousse "magic square" and other talismanic symbols, placed at a later date. Is there a scabbard with it?