Philippine knife with pistol grip

[Ian]

Hello again Carlos,

I have consulted several references, my picture files, and talked with several Filipinos about your knife.

Here is why it is almost certainly from the Philippines:

• The three five-pointed stars carved on the hilt reflect the three five-pointed stars that appear on the national flag of the Philippines, in the corners of the equilateral white triangle flown adjacent to the flag pole. These represent the three main areas of the Philippines: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
• The shape of the blade is a familiar style, and is called sinungot hipon in central Luzon and south of Manila.
• The scabbard is covered with a woven basketry style found in the Cordillera Administrative Region, a mountainous area of northern Luzon that is home to various Igorot tribal groups.

After some discussion, it was thought that your knife may be a hybrid, possibly made in Ilocos Norte or Pangasinan. As to age, it is hard to say, but most likely a commemorative piece made in the late 1940s to celebrate the end of WWII and national independence.

Hope this helps.