Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 1st December 2005, 07:06 AM

So the experts on Visayan swords are stumped to name this one!

I was hoping to learn more from the questions posed by Robert. I guess I'm left even more confused by the terms that have come and gone, and come again. Is there any sensible way of describing these swords, other than calling them Visayan "swords?"

Does one have to born locally to know the code for what to call the various styles and forms? If so, is there anyone on this forum who can reasonably contribute to that discussion, or are we left with the position that talibong or sundang (or some other generic term for "sword" in one of the local dialects) is as close as we can get?

That seems unsatisfactory to me and I hope our Filipino forumites can shed some light on a rational nosology for these swords ... If not here, where else will we gain such information?

Ian.

1st December 2005, 07:06 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,033	More confused than ever ... So the experts on Visayan swords are stumped to name this one! I was hoping to learn more from the questions posed by Robert. I guess I'm left even more confused by the terms that have come and gone, and come again. Is there any sensible way of describing these swords, other than calling them Visayan "swords?" Does one have to born locally to know the code for what to call the various styles and forms? If so, is there anyone on this forum who can reasonably contribute to that discussion, or are we left with the position that talibong or sundang (or some other generic term for "sword" in one of the local dialects) is as close as we can get? That seems unsatisfactory to me and I hope our Filipino forumites can shed some light on a rational nosology for these swords ... If not here, where else will we gain such information? Ian.