Identification please

imas560 · 5th August 2012, 04:44 AM

Hello all,
bought this at auction and was wondering what it is?
any help is much appreciated
thanks

Indianajones · 5th August 2012, 04:56 PM

Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros. The blade has still this particular shape for that region, though they were also traded so they were used in a more wider region.
The handle n sheath may be bit simplish but the blade has a nice shape and seen the dark greyish color its made of good quality steel!
Age is dificult to say; certainly old anyway n I would reckon between 1920's to 1950's as the shape of the handle is already not very "sharp" as are the older ones. Authentic n not made for tourists. Just my view on ur item.

Myself I do/would use these items as they are so handy in the garden and stay so sharp after years (if that is really d good qlty steel).
Greets

Lew · 5th August 2012, 05:25 PM

[QUOTE=Indianajones]Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros.

Actually this reminds me of an Indonesian golok or bolo. The scabbard construction is not Philippine the wire wrap around the hilt is seen on pieces from Indonesia. Philippine bolos either have solid brass ferrules or non at all. See the bottom piece below.

Sajen · 5th August 2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imas560

Hello all,
bought this at auction and was wondering what it is?
any help is much appreciated
thanks

How long is it? Knife size or bolo size? Shape of the blade reminds to a badik.

Regards,

Detlef

Lew · 6th August 2012, 01:46 AM

From what I can see the blade is about 9.5 inches long.

Gavin Nugent · 6th August 2012, 02:50 AM

Visayan in my opinion.

There are several I've seen of this type that have a subtle Visayan "monster" facial and jaw features.

Gav

Sajen · 6th August 2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

From what I can see the blade is about 9.5 inches long.

Oh my god, if you believe or not, I havent noticed the tape!

imas560 · 6th August 2012, 09:51 PM

Hello all,
thanks for the info. I bought this at an auction based on a little photo and the following description

"Moro Bolo Knife in its Wooden Scabbard with
Rattan Bindings. 9¾" blade. Wooden hilt with
pistol grip design with ribbon wire binding. Overall
length $13¼". GC. "

When it turned up I was scratching my head a little as I wasn't sure what it was.
thanks again

Ferguson · 7th August 2012, 12:43 AM

The pommel has that Visayan look, but the scabbard (especially the top), and wrapped pommel looks Indonesian to me.

Steve

Indianajones · 7th August 2012, 04:37 PM

Hi all, I happen to stil have a pic of 'd big brother' (Visayan) of what I thought it resembles. Although I can already here the comments; 'the scabbard is totally different' , 'this bolo has a metal ferrule on the handle' etc, it is especially the very diminutive angle the blade gets after a certain point which is so characteristic of the knifes from this region; real nasty stabbingpoints.
Though the 'reckognitionpoints' (forms) are not so clear indeed; he shape of the handle is not carved so precisely like the bolo from the pic as is also the simple sheath, hence the confusion.
But the discussion is still open . . . . . .

BTW that wire does look like silver to me . .??? Is it?

kai · 8th August 2012, 01:20 AM

What is the profile of the blade in the original post? (Doesn't look like a chisel grind, does it?)

Regards,
Kai

imas560 · 10th August 2012, 10:16 AM

Hello Kai and IndianaJones,
the edge "feels" almost like a convex grind but I'm not very good at identifying stuff like this. And just to prove how much of an amateur I am, what is the best way to identify if the wire is silver?
thanks for all the help everyone

NovelsRus · 1st September 2012, 04:21 PM

Hi, Room,
In a feeble attempt to stay on topic, I present another mystery sword/dagger from (I believe) Indonesia. I've seen others like it on here, but despite my feverish attempts, have been unable to locate the posts and photos. See if you can I.D. this vintage Somethingorother:

I don't think it's a Kampilan or Barong, though it shares similarities with both. Moro or Philippine, perhaps?

Please let me know what sort of weapon this is, so I may know what it is I can't afford to bid on.

As always, thanks very much for your time and attention on this. You gentlemen (and -women) always seem to I.D. even the most obscure knives.

Cioa for now,
JRF

Dave1104 · 2nd September 2012, 05:25 AM

JRF,
Probably should start a new thread on your unknown blade, but to me that looks like a talibon blade from Christian tribes in northern Philippines.
Dave

Sajen · 2nd September 2012, 10:49 AM

Agree, seems to be a talibon.

Search with this keyword and you will find similar blades.

NovelsRus · 28th February 2013, 11:34 AM

I appreciate your help on this. I do believe it is a talibon, and probably out of my budget. But one can try.

5th August 2012, 04:44 AM	#1
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Identification please Hello all, bought this at auction and was wondering what it is? any help is much appreciated thanks Attached Images

5th August 2012, 05:25 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	[QUOTE=Indianajones]Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros. Actually this reminds me of an Indonesian golok or bolo. The scabbard construction is not Philippine the wire wrap around the hilt is seen on pieces from Indonesia. Philippine bolos either have solid brass ferrules or non at all. See the bottom piece below. Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 5th August 2012 at 05:42 PM.

7th August 2012, 04:37 PM	#10
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi all, I happen to stil have a pic of 'd big brother' (Visayan) of what I thought it resembles. Although I can already here the comments; 'the scabbard is totally different' , 'this bolo has a metal ferrule on the handle' etc, it is especially the very diminutive angle the blade gets after a certain point which is so characteristic of the knifes from this region; real nasty stabbingpoints. Though the 'reckognitionpoints' (forms) are not so clear indeed; he shape of the handle is not carved so precisely like the bolo from the pic as is also the simple sheath, hence the confusion. But the discussion is still open . . . . . . BTW that wire does look like silver to me . .??? Is it? Attached Images

1st September 2012, 04:21 PM	#13
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	A Similar Mystery Blade From Indonesia (I think) Hi, Room, In a feeble attempt to stay on topic, I present another mystery sword/dagger from (I believe) Indonesia. I've seen others like it on here, but despite my feverish attempts, have been unable to locate the posts and photos. See if you can I.D. this vintage Somethingorother: I don't think it's a Kampilan or Barong, though it shares similarities with both. Moro or Philippine, perhaps? Please let me know what sort of weapon this is, so I may know what it is I can't afford to bid on. As always, thanks very much for your time and attention on this. You gentlemen (and -women) always seem to I.D. even the most obscure knives. Cioa for now, JRF Attached Images

28th February 2013, 11:34 AM	#16
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Talibon it is. Thanks, Guys I appreciate your help on this. I do believe it is a talibon, and probably out of my budget. But one can try.

5th August 2012, 04:56 PM	#2
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi Imas, your knife is from the Philippines, Visayan for sure. Could be from the Panay island or Negros. The blade has still this particular shape for that region, though they were also traded so they were used in a more wider region. The handle n sheath may be bit simplish but the blade has a nice shape and seen the dark greyish color its made of good quality steel! Age is dificult to say; certainly old anyway n I would reckon between 1920's to 1950's as the shape of the handle is already not very "sharp" as are the older ones. Authentic n not made for tourists. Just my view on ur item. Myself I do/would use these items as they are so handy in the garden and stay so sharp after years (if that is really d good qlty steel). Greets

6th August 2012, 01:46 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	From what I can see the blade is about 9.5 inches long.

6th August 2012, 02:50 AM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Visayan in my opinion. There are several I've seen of this type that have a subtle Visayan "monster" facial and jaw features. Gav

6th August 2012, 09:51 PM	#8
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Hello all, thanks for the info. I bought this at an auction based on a little photo and the following description "Moro Bolo Knife in its Wooden Scabbard with Rattan Bindings. 9¾" blade. Wooden hilt with pistol grip design with ribbon wire binding. Overall length $13¼". GC. " When it turned up I was scratching my head a little as I wasn't sure what it was. thanks again

7th August 2012, 12:43 AM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	The pommel has that Visayan look, but the scabbard (especially the top), and wrapped pommel looks Indonesian to me. Steve

8th August 2012, 01:20 AM	#11
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	What is the profile of the blade in the original post? (Doesn't look like a chisel grind, does it?) Regards, Kai

10th August 2012, 10:16 AM	#12
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Hello Kai and IndianaJones, the edge "feels" almost like a convex grind but I'm not very good at identifying stuff like this. And just to prove how much of an amateur I am, what is the best way to identify if the wire is silver? thanks for all the help everyone

2nd September 2012, 05:25 AM	#14
Dave1104 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 23	JRF, Probably should start a new thread on your unknown blade, but to me that looks like a talibon blade from Christian tribes in northern Philippines. Dave

2nd September 2012, 10:49 AM	#15
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Agree, seems to be a talibon. Search with this keyword and you will find similar blades.