Ron, the presence of the word sana (year) clearly indicates that this is a date, however I reiterate for the forum that the third digit from the left isn't well-executed and for that reason may or may not be a 3. As for dating, given the unusual (and striking) work on the gangya and the grip, it may well date to the beginning of the 18th century. But such a date can also be referential; were there any events which took place in that year that would be commemorated by Muslim groups of Mindanao... if, as we discussed, it is in fact from one of those cultures?
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