A Batangas Brass Bladed Dagger

[Robert]

Detlef, Thank you for tour thoughts on this piece. I am very happy that seeing as you were also watching it as well that the seller accepted my offer, lowered the price and let me snag it on a Buy It Now without someone else grabbing it up first. I think that the mismatched scabbard threw others off as well.

Rick, Thank you for posting the measurements of your dagger here for comparison. Mine might have more dots, but yours has dots and those neat plates on the sides. I just noticed that yours and the one in the photos posted below both have the dots and plates on the hilt. Now I feel cheated.

Ian, What makes me think that these pieces are from Batangas are the hilts themselves, some of the discussions we have had on them here on the forum as well as ones that I have had with Migueldiaz AKA Lorenz from Filhistory. Here are a couple of photos of a sword with a very similar hilt style. I have another that is marked in a similar fashion somewhere and have been trying to locate it to post as well, but no luck so far.

Best,
Robert

[Ian]

Robert:

Thank you for the additional pics which show Taal and Bats on the hilt of a most unusual looking sword.I interpret TAAL to mean Lake Taal and BATS to mean Batangas. Lake Taal is a popular tourist vista in Batangas, and a most picturesque spot to visit--young couples find it a romantic place and not too far from Manila for a day trip. There are many legends about this place.

Lake Taal is a freshwater lake in an old volcanic caldera. Within the lake is a second order volcano that also has a lake, and within that lake is another small, third order volcano with a third order lake. Since it references a somewhat "magical" spot, I wonder if the most recent, fanciful sword you posted may have been made more for display than for use.

Ian.

[Robert]

Hello Ian, The strange kris sword was sold on epray a year or two ago. As for its original use I could only guess. It does not look all that fanciful to me after looking at some of the other odd kris that have adorned these pages over the years. I do wonder though if the present guard is original to it or not as it looks a little out of place with the rest of the sword. I would love to someday be able to visit the Philippines and visit that area. Here are a couple of photos of Lake Taal gleaned form the internet.

Best,
Robert

[mdp10003]

Hi! I don't think it is Lake Taal - it refers to the town of Taal, Batangas. It is a small town with the biggest Basilica in Asia, and was also home to several revolutionary families, including the Apacible and Agoncillo and Diokno families. So who knows, that dagger may have revolutionary roots!

[Sajen]

Here some stuff to read regarding Taal: http://www.philippine-islands.ph/en/...ilippines.html

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

I wonder if the most recent, fanciful sword you posted may have been made more for display than for use.

Hello Ian,

sorry, but I think that this heavy kris sword was meant for real use and I would guess that it is from the late 19th century or early 20th century. When I remember correct was the seller of the same opinion. The nicks in the edges shows that it was used IMVHO. This sword, when it is the same one, wasn't from ebay but was sold from a well known site in the States. I still keep the original pictures, maybe they are more meaningful.
Just get the information that the sword was indeed listed at ebay before it was sold from the mentioned site.

Regards,
Detlef

[Robert]

Detlef, Thank you very much for posting the photos of the odd kris and I am in total agreement with you on the age of the kris sword.
The brass dagger has arrived and I have had a chance to clean the dirt and filth from the hilt, but have not yet had time to remove the varnish from the blade so the color of the brass is a little off in the below photos.

Total length 17-1/8 inches
Blade length 12-1.8 inches
Blade width 1-3/4 inches

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Robert,

great addition to your collection of brass and copper blade Luzon daggers. Fine that it is in such a good condition.
Maybe when you find the time can show them all together in one picture.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Robert]

Hello Detlef,
Thank you for your kind words on this as well as the other daggers in my collection. I will try to find time in the next few days (if the wife will just let me rest long enough from rearranging the furniture and putting up the Holiday decorations) to get a group photo of my small collection of Luzon copper and brass bladed daggers.

Best,
Robert

[Robert]

Here is a photo of my small brass and copper Luzon dagger collection. I have one more copper dagger, but at this time it is packed away due to the Holiday rearrangement and decoration on the home. I just happened to know exactly where these were located.