Luzon bolo (itak?) for comment

[Battara]

I will hesitantly say yes, so far. However, I would need to look at some WWII examples to be sure.

[Sajen]

Thank you Jose. This one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=itak Spunjer sold some time ago (nice one, see it to late and was sold already) is a later one, still have this form of ricasso but not distinct anymore.
I think that Robert have seen and handled much more Tagalog itak, would be interested what he think about this theory.

Regards,
Detlef

[Robert]

Hello Detlef, I was just getting ready to make a comment on your very nice new addition to your collection when I read your last remarks about the file work on the ricasso. I have to admit that I am a little hesitant to agree that this is only seen on older examples of these bolos as I have seen some that were purportedly of WWII manufacture with these markings as well as others supposedly brought back from the Spanish American and Moro wars that did not. What you suggest might very well prove to be true, but more examples that have verifiable provenance would be very helpful in proving your theory. I do however think that these marking were more prevalent on the older examples than on the later ones but as to why I cannot give you a definate answer. It could have been the extra cost to the owner, or that (like many other things) they just went out of style and slowly started to disappear altogether. Anyway, my congratulations to you on your new addition.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Robert,

thank you for comment! Now, when you mentioned it, there are also older blades without this ricasso and file work. So you are correct that this can't be a sign of age. BTW, there are also Visayan blades with similar worked ricasso.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Sajen:

This is my first post in several years--illness and work have kept me sidelined and away from this board, but I hope to be back here more frequently.

Nice knife. I think a more precise term for this knife might be Luzon matulis (matulis = "pointed") rather than the more general term of itak which simply means bolo or knife. I'm not a Tagalog native speaker, but that's what I've gleaned over the years from people who are.

As to the age of this knife, that's hard to say. Certainly it was a style of knife used by the katipuneros during the uprising against Spain in the late 19th C, and is still being made today. Where it was made on Luzon is even harder to say--could be within the area from Ilocos norte down to Batangas.

As for the vertical marks at the forte, I'm afraid they are not helpful in determining age.

Ian.

[Battara]

WELCOME BACK IAN!

Glad you are back with us. Been too long.

I'm curious, what indicates this may be Ilokano?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Battara

WELCOME BACK IAN!

Glad you are back with us. Been too long.

I'm curious, what indicates this may be Ilokano?

Thanks Jose. It's good to be back and to have the time to think of swords again.

Ilocano knives and swords are not particularly distinctive, but I have a few well provenanced ones that show the rather graceful contours to the full tang hilt that is exhibited by the original subject of this thread as wella s the small "notch" to the cutting edge just at the ricasso. Not saying these are definitive signs of Ilocano work, but they are consistent with the identified pieces I have had in the past.

Ian.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Sajen:

This is my first post in several years--illness and work have kept me sidelined and away from this board, but I hope to be back here more frequently.

Nice knife. I think a more precise term for this knife might be Luzon matulis (matulis = "pointed") rather than the more general term of itak which simply means bolo or knife. I'm not a Tagalog native speaker, but that's what I've gleaned over the years from people who are.

As to the age of this knife, that's hard to say. Certainly it was a style of knife used by the katipuneros during the uprising against Spain in the late 19th C, and is still being made today. Where it was made on Luzon is even harder to say--could be within the area from Ilocos norte down to Batangas.

As for the vertical marks at the forte, I'm afraid they are not helpful in determining age.

Ian.

Welcome back on board Ian! Hope that your health is good again.

Thank you for your thoughts about this blade; I would call it sword instead of knife, the length is 24 inch, the blade is nearly 1/2 inch thick near the handle.
When I understand you correct it would be called matulis when it is a Tagalog blade. But wouldn't it be called different when it is a Ilocano or a Batangas sword?

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Welcome back on board Ian! Hope that your health is good again.

Thank you for your thoughts about this blade; I would call it sword instead of knife, the length is 24 inch, the blade is nearly 1/2 inch thick near the handle.
When I understand you correct it would be called matulis when it is a Tagalog blade. But wouldn't it be called different when it is a Ilocano or a Batangas sword?

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detleff:

Batangas is a predominantly Tagalog province, so Tagalog is the dominant local dialect. Ilocano is a different language and I do not know the equivalent term there.

Ian.

[David]

Originally Posted by Ian

This is my first post in several years--

Great to see you are back Ian!

[Robert]

Yes, Welcome back Ian. It is great to see you posting again.

Best,
Robert

[Ian]

Originally Posted by David

Great to see you are back Ian!

Thank you David. It's good to be thinking about edged weapons again.

Ian.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by David

Great to see you are back Ian!

Thank you David. It's good to be thinking about edged weapons again.

Ian.