New Ebay Find

Lew · 9th October 2012, 12:55 PM

Rob

Very nice find

. Probably Visayan circa 1935-45?

Robert · 9th October 2012, 04:34 PM

Hello Lew. and thank you for your thoughts on this. I was thinking 1920/!940 so at least I was close on my estimate of age. Is it normal for these to have this style of blade profile? Most Visayan items that I have seen seem to have chisel ground blades. There is another almost identical to this one that was posted by Zelbone located in this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=plamingko that he states to be "a really old old bolo of the "plamenko" form" that looks to be about 16 inches in length while the one I have posted is only 11 inches in length. I only have two of these and the other has a completely different hilt style and no scabbard banding. It though has the more traditional chisel ground blade with a very plain horn hilt. I have added a picture of the knife itself below for comparison. I will add another picture later that will show the scabbard as I do not have one at the moment that has the tape that was wrapped around it removed. Thanks again.

Robert

Sajen · 9th October 2012, 05:41 PM

Nice little knife!

I every time have thought that I am good by find ebay sleepers but you are better!

Haven't seen this one.

Best,

Detlef

Robert · 9th October 2012, 11:46 PM

Thank you for your kind words Detlef. If it were not for sleepers I'm afraid that I would not be able to add very many new items to my collection. This little gem went for for less than a trip to McDonald's for just myself and the wife would have been.

Best,
Robert

Bangkaya · 10th October 2012, 03:57 AM

Hello,
The Ilonggo plamenko is almost always double-beveled or V-ground. It is rare to find one that is chisel ground. This is due to the nature of the plamenko and its original intended use as a large general purpose knife with a broad blade. The Ilonggo plamenko and its cousin the Akeanon sanduko (not to be confused with the sanduko sword of Capiz) are highly regarded as general purpose knives/weapons throughout Panay. You will see more of these in markets used to cut vegetables, butcher meat, and slice fish. As a weapon, it is used mainly for thrusting.

The other knife you pictured is not a plamenko, but rather a left-handed kutsilyo since the blade is chisel-ground and also not broad enough to be classified as a plamenko. The hilt also lacks the typical knob pommel of the larger plamenko.

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Bangkaya

Robert · 10th October 2012, 06:55 PM

Bangkaya, Thank you very much for the correct name of the second knife that I have posted above. It is always been a difficult task for me to decide what exactly to call most Philippine edged weapons.

So when someone can place a name on any of the new ones that I acquire "and cannot find an example exactly like it to help in itsidentificationn" it is always of great help and sincerely appreciated. I would then assume that the kutsilyo would be another form of general utility knife like the plamingko ? Again thank you for your help and I would also like to add, welcome to the forum.

Regards,
Robert

Bangkaya · 10th October 2012, 07:59 PM

Hello Robert,
Kutsilyo is the Filipino-bastardized term for the Spanish cuchillo....or knife. So you are correct that it's just a plain utility knife. Your example is fine typical example of an Ilonggo "kutsilyo." A few years ago while strolling through a palenke (market) in Iloilo, I ran across a vendor selling bladed tools and weapons. Out of curiosity, I pointed to a knife similar to yours and asked him what he called it. His reply was "kutsilyo" as well as several onlookers. He also pointed out a plamenko, a binangon, and a ginunting to me as well. Later on when I was in Makato, Aklan I also asked a vendor in a palanke the same question to his wares. Pointing to a similar knife I was expecting a different name, but he too said it was a "kutsilyo." I now make a habit of this when I visit different palenkes throughout the Philippines to see any regional and linguistic differences. But it seems "kutsilyo" is the most poplular term for a knife throughout the islands. Sorry I couldn't be more specific.

Regards,
Bangkaya

9th October 2012, 04:34 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Lew. and thank you for your thoughts on this. I was thinking 1920/!940 so at least I was close on my estimate of age. Is it normal for these to have this style of blade profile? Most Visayan items that I have seen seem to have chisel ground blades. There is another almost identical to this one that was posted by Zelbone located in this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=plamingko that he states to be "a really old old bolo of the "plamenko" form" that looks to be about 16 inches in length while the one I have posted is only 11 inches in length. I only have two of these and the other has a completely different hilt style and no scabbard banding. It though has the more traditional chisel ground blade with a very plain horn hilt. I have added a picture of the knife itself below for comparison. I will add another picture later that will show the scabbard as I do not have one at the moment that has the tape that was wrapped around it removed. Thanks again. Robert Attached Images

10th October 2012, 06:55 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Bangkaya, Thank you very much for the correct name of the second knife that I have posted above. It is always been a difficult task for me to decide what exactly to call most Philippine edged weapons. So when someone can place a name on any of the new ones that I acquire "and cannot find an example exactly like it to help in itsidentificationn" it is always of great help and sincerely appreciated. I would then assume that the kutsilyo would be another form of general utility knife like the plamingko ? Again thank you for your help and I would also like to add, welcome to the forum. Regards, Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 11th October 2012 at 12:03 AM.

9th October 2012, 12:55 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Rob Very nice find . Probably Visayan circa 1935-45?

9th October 2012, 05:41 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Nice little knife! I every time have thought that I am good by find ebay sleepers but you are better! Haven't seen this one. Best, Detlef

9th October 2012, 11:46 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank you for your kind words Detlef. If it were not for sleepers I'm afraid that I would not be able to add very many new items to my collection. This little gem went for for less than a trip to McDonald's for just myself and the wife would have been. Best, Robert

10th October 2012, 03:57 AM	#5
Bangkaya Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 38	Hello, The Ilonggo plamenko is almost always double-beveled or V-ground. It is rare to find one that is chisel ground. This is due to the nature of the plamenko and its original intended use as a large general purpose knife with a broad blade. The Ilonggo plamenko and its cousin the Akeanon sanduko (not to be confused with the sanduko sword of Capiz) are highly regarded as general purpose knives/weapons throughout Panay. You will see more of these in markets used to cut vegetables, butcher meat, and slice fish. As a weapon, it is used mainly for thrusting. The other knife you pictured is not a plamenko, but rather a left-handed kutsilyo since the blade is chisel-ground and also not broad enough to be classified as a plamenko. The hilt also lacks the typical knob pommel of the larger plamenko. Hope this helps. Regards, Bangkaya

10th October 2012, 07:59 PM	#7
Bangkaya Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 38	Hello Robert, Kutsilyo is the Filipino-bastardized term for the Spanish cuchillo....or knife. So you are correct that it's just a plain utility knife. Your example is fine typical example of an Ilonggo "kutsilyo." A few years ago while strolling through a palenke (market) in Iloilo, I ran across a vendor selling bladed tools and weapons. Out of curiosity, I pointed to a knife similar to yours and asked him what he called it. His reply was "kutsilyo" as well as several onlookers. He also pointed out a plamenko, a binangon, and a ginunting to me as well. Later on when I was in Makato, Aklan I also asked a vendor in a palanke the same question to his wares. Pointing to a similar knife I was expecting a different name, but he too said it was a "kutsilyo." I now make a habit of this when I visit different palenkes throughout the Philippines to see any regional and linguistic differences. But it seems "kutsilyo" is the most poplular term for a knife throughout the islands. Sorry I couldn't be more specific. Regards, Bangkaya