A VERY NICE COLLECTION OF PHILIPPINE EDGED WEAPONS WHICH HAVE NOT RECCEIVED MUCH ATTENTION FROM COLLECTORS OVER THE YEARS.
I DODGED THE SWORD OR KNIFE
WELL DIDN'T I
TO ME AT 5 FOOT 11 IN. I WOULD CLASSIFY THESE AS SHORT SWORDS DUE TO THEIR SIZE IN RELATION TO MY SIZE. OR AS MACHETE OR BUSH KNIVES DUE TO THE USE THEY ARE PUT TO IN THEIR ORIGINAL SOCIETY. IF A MAN IS 7 FOOT TALL THESE WOULD LIKELY BE SEEN AS KNIVES IF 5 FOOT TALL IS BIG IN THE GROUP THAT MADE THEM ITS A SWORD. SEEMS SIZE IS RELATIVE.
IN COLDER OR OPEN CLIMATES A SMALL KNIFE WILL SERVE WELL FOR EVERDAY USE AS YOU DON'T NEED TO CHOP YOUR WAY THRU JUNGLE OR HEAVY BRUSH SO A LARGE WORK KNIFE/ MACHETE IS NOT NEEDED. SO I WOULD ASSUME IN SUCH AREAS THE LONG SWORD WOULD ONLY BE A WEAPON. THE VIKINGS SEEMED TO USE THE AX AS A WEAPON QUITE A LOT PERHAPS THAT HAD TO DO WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THE TOOLS THAT WERE USEFUL THERE. A MAN WHO USED AN AX EVERY DAY MIGHT PREFER TO USE SOMETHING HE WAS VERY SKILLED WITH AS A WEAPON AS A RESULT. IRON WAS ALWAYS EXPENSIVE SO A SMALL KNIFE, AX HEAD OR SPEAR HEAD WAS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN A LARGE KNIFE OR SWORD. " JUST CONJECTURE MY SPECIALTY"
THE CARVED SCABBARD ON ONE OF THE LAST EXAMPLES IS VERY WELL CARVED AND INTERESTING IT APPEARS TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE EITHER DANCING OR FIGHTING. PERHAPS A CLOSEUP HINT HINT
