Hello everyone!

[SendicAntiques]

Hello everyone,

It's a pleasure to introduce myself. My name is Gus, and some of you may already know me. I've been collecting and studying for several years, with a particular focus on traditional edged weapons and ethnographic art from Asia, Africa, Spain, and the Middle East.

I've been following this forum for a long time and I want to thank the moderators for accepting me.

For my first post, I'd like to share a piece from our private collection that I think is quite interesting, and I hope it will spark a fruitful discussion.

We think it's a Talunasan...

Measurements:

Overall length: 91 cm.
Blade length: 71 cm with an asymmetrical rhomboidal cross-section.
Width near the handle: 1.6 cm; maximum width: 4 cm.
Thickness near the handle: 0.8 cm.
Balance point: 25 cm from the guard.
Weight: 0.906 kg.
The handle with a so beautiful patina, is made by horn, with a brass guard-ferrule.

From an old Spanish collection.
It was sold alongside Kampilans, Barongs, Krisses, negrito, high-status axes, and bolos… All from the Philippine archipelago and dating from the 18th- 19th centuries.

Please enjoy the photos.

Thank you.

[Ian]

Hello Gus!

Welcome to the Ethno Forum. What an interesting sword you have posted! There has been increased interest in recent years with the long-bladed, square-ended, Ilocano/Kapangan sword called talunasan. Your sword certainly bears a resemblance to those uncommon long swords described with this name.

However, the hilt on yours is not associated with northern/central Luzon weapons. I would describe the pommel on your example as being in the genre of an "aso motif," resembling a dog or bat. Such hilts are usually associated with Bicol or Batangas, or even into the Visayas.

I notice that one half of the guard on your sword seems to be missing/broken off. Is that the case? It leaves me wondering if this sword may have had a D-guard at one time, and the knuckle bow was broken or removed for some reason. The presence of a knuckle bow could again suggest a Bicolano origin (such as seen on minisbad).

I look forward to Raymundo's (xasterix) comments on your sword.


Regards, Ian

[SendicAntiques]

Originally Posted by Ian

Welcome to the Ethno Forum.

Many thanks Ian!!
Looking forward Ray´s comments.
Please, find kindly attached a photo of the area where the lower part of the guard is missing. Is full of patina so I guess has been missing for long time.
Adding some photos of the blade.
Thanks,
Gus

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by SendicAntiques

Hello everyone,

It's a pleasure to introduce myself. My name is Gus, and some of you may already know me. I've been collecting and studying for several years, with a particular focus on traditional edged weapons and ethnographic art from Asia, Africa, Spain, and the Middle East.

I've been following this forum for a long time and I want to thank the moderators for accepting me.

For my first post, I'd like to share a piece from our private collection that I think is quite interesting, and I hope it will spark a fruitful discussion.

We think it's a Talunasan...

Measurements:

Overall length: 91 cm.
Blade length: 71 cm with an asymmetrical rhomboidal cross-section.
Width near the handle: 1.6 cm; maximum width: 4 cm.
Thickness near the handle: 0.8 cm.
Balance point: 25 cm from the guard.
Weight: 0.906 kg.
The handle with a so beautiful patina, is made by horn, with a brass guard-ferrule.

From an old Spanish collection.
It was sold alongside Kampilans, Barongs, Krisses, negrito, high-status axes, and bolos… All from the Philippine archipelago and dating from the 18th- 19th centuries.

Please enjoy the photos.

Thank you.

Hello Gustavo, well met here in the forums, hope all is well in Spain =) thanks for the redirect Ian.

That's a great sample you got there- it's still classified as a Minasbad from Bicol; the Bicol people call that "Minasbad putol." "Putol" means broken, signifying the aesthetic state of the blade's tip. They still make that blade profile nowadays. The unique thing about your piece- it seems the lower handguard is also broken, which makes it twice-broken, so to speak- a really nice piece, especially for its length!

I'm also attaching a pic sample of a piece made just this year.

Hope that info helps