Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The Tinguian and Ilocano Peoples--an ethnography based on the work of Cole

Ian · 15th July 2018, 05:11 PM

Shazam,

Thanks for bringing that quote up. Indeed, the distribution of quality weapons is an important contribution of the Ilocano/Tinguian groups and emphasizes the influence of this ethnic group on others in the region.

It is my belief that Ilocano/Tinguian weapons were traded widely to the south also, including Pangasinan and the Tagalog provinces. Cole makes mention of longstanding trade with those areas, and it seems that weapons manufacture was prominent among the Ilocano/Tinguian groups. I also think that later in the 20th C, the enterprising Ilocano/Tinguian craftsmen came to see the lucrative market of American servicemen at Clark AFB and Subic Bay Naval Base as a target for their goods. Whether some of them set up shop around those bases or traded their goods to local merchants is unclear, but many of the Ilocano/Tinguian style weapons ended up in the hands of U.S. servicemen. Some local manufacture does seem to have occurred as there is evidence of custom made pieces in the Ilocano/Tinguian style.

Ian.

15th July 2018, 05:11 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,031	Shazam, Thanks for bringing that quote up. Indeed, the distribution of quality weapons is an important contribution of the Ilocano/Tinguian groups and emphasizes the influence of this ethnic group on others in the region. It is my belief that Ilocano/Tinguian weapons were traded widely to the south also, including Pangasinan and the Tagalog provinces. Cole makes mention of longstanding trade with those areas, and it seems that weapons manufacture was prominent among the Ilocano/Tinguian groups. I also think that later in the 20th C, the enterprising Ilocano/Tinguian craftsmen came to see the lucrative market of American servicemen at Clark AFB and Subic Bay Naval Base as a target for their goods. Whether some of them set up shop around those bases or traded their goods to local merchants is unclear, but many of the Ilocano/Tinguian style weapons ended up in the hands of U.S. servicemen. Some local manufacture does seem to have occurred as there is evidence of custom made pieces in the Ilocano/Tinguian style. Ian.