New Sword

Freddy · 29th August 2005, 09:28 PM

This is the one I used to have :

The origin was also the Philippines. There was a thread quite some time ago, perhaps someone could help in finding it ?

Robert · 29th August 2005, 10:04 PM

Freddy,
What did the blade on the one you had look like, did it look like the one on mine or was it of a different style alltogether?

Robert

Rick · 29th August 2005, 10:08 PM

Robert , when you get it better pictures and measurements will tell us more .
The blade profile seems not quite right for a garab or talibon ; too much belly too far forward .

http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/ifugao/index.html

Robert · 29th August 2005, 11:00 PM

Rick,
Thanks for your help. The two links you posted are the first places I look when I get something new. I will be posting more and better pictures as soon as the sword arrives. I was just hoping that with just the one lousy picture that I had of it with the very distinctive shape of the sheath and blade that someone might have an idea of who made it.

Robert

Freddy · 31st August 2005, 06:41 PM

Hi Robert. I can't find a pic of the whole blade, but here's one of the tip of the sword. It's very different of yours. If you look carefully at the first picture I put on this thread, you can see the shape of the blade. The sword has an open scabbard.

Ian · 31st August 2005, 09:40 PM

Freddy:

The example that you show is a late 20th C. version of a pinahig from one of the Igorot groups, perhaps Ifugao or Bontoc.

Robert's sword looks more like a parang nabor from Borneo, although I want to reserve judgment until we have much better pictures. The hilt appears atypical for a parang nabor but the blade looks right.

Monkey skulls on sheaths seem to have become increasingly popular in the second half of the 20th C. Although there are older examples, I think this feature is largely an attempt to "dress up" recent offerings and make them more appealing to collectors.

Ian.

Federico · 31st August 2005, 11:02 PM

Im gonna guess its probably an old demon head bolo (tenegre) from Panay (well that area Zel can probably give a very in depth history of the piece). At least Im guessing from the bad pics, that there is a round guard, and a leather throat on the scabbard. The upturn scabbard end is typical on really old Sanduko pieces, but then I seem to remember a Lumad tribe with a similar sword style, but cant quite remember the name (4 hours of sleep will do that to ya) of the group to even check up on it, so til more information comes out Im guessing Panay. I also think the monkey skull is an add on, patina looks funky compared to the rest of the sword. Also, have the suspicion that it is creeping up on the tang given the pic. Now of course, these are probably just my tired eyes playing tricks on me, but guessing is fun

Robert · 1st September 2005, 08:26 PM

My thanks to everyone so far for their input. When I enlarge the hilt in Photo Studio it seems that it is carved in the shape of a demons head as Federico suggested. There seems to be a small round guard but I am not sure and I cannot tell if there is a leather throat on the scabbard. I will be posting more and better detailed pictures as soon as the sword arrives. Until then if anyone else has any more ideas on its age and origin please feel free to post them. Thanks again.

Robert

P.S.

This is the information supplied by the seller. "I believe this is a very rare IBAN traditional head hunting sword. The carving and decorations are very detailed. This is a piece brought home by my grandfather after WWII that layed in storage for decades. The skull attached is from a monkey. The IBAN headhunters are of the Sarawak population in Borneo."

Ian · 1st September 2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federico

The upturn scabbard end is typical on really old Sanduko pieces, but then I seem to remember a Lumad tribe with a similar sword style, but cant quite remember the name ...

Federico:

That would probably be a Mandayan scabbard you are recalling. I think some Borneo scabbards also have the "upturned toe" feature.

Here is a picture of a Manobo man wearing the typical Mandayan bolo:

And another Mandayan bolo:

You can read more about these swords here: More information on Mandaya sword and knife

Ian.

1st September 2005, 08:26 PM	#8
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	My thanks to everyone so far for their input. When I enlarge the hilt in Photo Studio it seems that it is carved in the shape of a demons head as Federico suggested. There seems to be a small round guard but I am not sure and I cannot tell if there is a leather throat on the scabbard. I will be posting more and better detailed pictures as soon as the sword arrives. Until then if anyone else has any more ideas on its age and origin please feel free to post them. Thanks again. Robert P.S. This is the information supplied by the seller. "I believe this is a very rare IBAN traditional head hunting sword. The carving and decorations are very detailed. This is a piece brought home by my grandfather after WWII that layed in storage for decades. The skull attached is from a monkey. The IBAN headhunters are of the Sarawak population in Borneo." Last edited by Robert Coleman; 2nd September 2005 at 01:49 AM.

29th August 2005, 09:28 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	This is the one I used to have : The origin was also the Philippines. There was a thread quite some time ago, perhaps someone could help in finding it ?

29th August 2005, 10:04 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Freddy, What did the blade on the one you had look like, did it look like the one on mine or was it of a different style alltogether? Robert

29th August 2005, 10:08 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,371	Robert , when you get it better pictures and measurements will tell us more . The blade profile seems not quite right for a garab or talibon ; too much belly too far forward . http://www.vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/ifugao/index.html

29th August 2005, 11:00 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Rick, Thanks for your help. The two links you posted are the first places I look when I get something new. I will be posting more and better pictures as soon as the sword arrives. I was just hoping that with just the one lousy picture that I had of it with the very distinctive shape of the sheath and blade that someone might have an idea of who made it. Robert

31st August 2005, 06:41 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Hi Robert. I can't find a pic of the whole blade, but here's one of the tip of the sword. It's very different of yours. If you look carefully at the first picture I put on this thread, you can see the shape of the blade. The sword has an open scabbard.

31st August 2005, 09:40 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,485	Freddy: The example that you show is a late 20th C. version of a pinahig from one of the Igorot groups, perhaps Ifugao or Bontoc. Robert's sword looks more like a parang nabor from Borneo, although I want to reserve judgment until we have much better pictures. The hilt appears atypical for a parang nabor but the blade looks right. Monkey skulls on sheaths seem to have become increasingly popular in the second half of the 20th C. Although there are older examples, I think this feature is largely an attempt to "dress up" recent offerings and make them more appealing to collectors. Ian.

31st August 2005, 11:02 PM	#7
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Im gonna guess its probably an old demon head bolo (tenegre) from Panay (well that area Zel can probably give a very in depth history of the piece). At least Im guessing from the bad pics, that there is a round guard, and a leather throat on the scabbard. The upturn scabbard end is typical on really old Sanduko pieces, but then I seem to remember a Lumad tribe with a similar sword style, but cant quite remember the name (4 hours of sleep will do that to ya) of the group to even check up on it, so til more information comes out Im guessing Panay. I also think the monkey skull is an add on, patina looks funky compared to the rest of the sword. Also, have the suspicion that it is creeping up on the tang given the pic. Now of course, these are probably just my tired eyes playing tricks on me, but guessing is fun