Garab Pattern

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

thanks for the link, Detlef! wow, yours look so natural! i've seen those "eye" before and i thought it was just half spheres. didn't realize it has a base. i like how yours looks like it's been there all along.
here's a closeup the scabbard toe. from the way it looks, it never had that eye before, and if it did, it must have disappeared in the early years.

My one have looked without very similar, like lost already very early, maybe some weren't attached very strong or attached with resin which become dry and cant hold the pin anymore? I have done some research how it may have looked before do the restauration. I think when there is a hole it have had an eye. But it is your choise to add one or not.

Regards,

Detlef

[kino]

My previous photos didn't turn out well. That's what I get shooting indoors, under incandescent light and flash.
This photo shows the color contrast between hilt and scabbard color, better I hope.

[jwkiernan]

Wow Ron, beautiful piece! Also a very nice piece Kino! I have attached a picture of mine...a wee bit shorter in the blade department at 17 1/2", but the spine by the handle is 1/2 ".

After seeing yours I am curious if this one is laminated...please pardon my photography skills (or lack there of)! Merry Christmas to you all!

All my best,

John

[Montino Bourbon]

Here's a few shots of mine; I think it's more a “country” style. 22 inches long, very beefy blade, handle with some kind of animal design, blade is beveled on one side and is very sharp. It stays one quarter-inch thick until the last quarter of the blade; it's a very heavy blade. Certainly adequate to cut through heavy brush and branches, I'm sure that it would work fine as a weapon.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by jwkiernan

Wow Ron, beautiful piece! Also a very nice piece Kino! I have attached a picture of mine...a wee bit shorter in the blade department at 17 1/2", but the spine by the handle is 1/2 ".

After seeing yours I am curious if this one is laminated...please pardon my photography skills (or lack there of)! Merry Christmas to you all!

All my best,

John

Nice example John. It seems that it has just the style of "eye" I have given mine example. Maybe you can post a close up from it?

Regards,

Detlef

[Spunjer]

thanks for everyone's excellent example!
kino, your second picture turned out great! seems to be the contrasting handle/scabbard is more common. it does look good tho. even John's example seems to be contrasting as well..
John, you should try etching yours, you never know! like i said, i never expected mine to be laminated. easiest way to find out would be the "hot water test" (strip oil then run the blade under hot water. if it's laminated, you'll see the lamination appear before your eyes). also, thanks for the scabbard shot. the "eye" is very similar to Detlef's talibon.
Montino, the pommel on yours is an enigma. i had a similar pommel before, but it didn't have the eyes and mouth. looking at the overall picture, it could be a snake type creature (naga or bakunawa?)
Detlef, what i'm concern about is the purpose of these so-called eyes. perhaps, it's just that, a decoration, but with all the symbolism and mysticism of that time period, especially with the Pulahanes cult, it could be something that the original owner have to earn, like his rank within the group. or perhaps an anting-anting (magical amulet) granted by the leader? it's a fact that the Pulahanes were given some type of oraciones (a mystical incantation) written in a piece of paper given to them by the leader before going to a battle to render them invincible, so perhaps these eyes would be a variation? a pre-drilled hole on the scabbard's toe would be logical just in case they get awarded with an anting-anting

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

Detlef, what i'm concern about is the purpose of these so-called eyes. perhaps, it's just that, a decoration, but with all the symbolism and mysticism of that time period, especially with the Pulahanes cult, it could be something that the original owner have to earn, like his rank within the group. or perhaps an anting-anting (magical amulet) granted by the leader? it's a fact that the Pulahanes were given some type of oraciones (a mystical incantation) written in a piece of paper given to them by the leader before going to a battle to render them invincible, so perhaps these eyes would be a variation? a pre-drilled hole on the scabbard's toe would be logical just in case they get awarded with an anting-anting

Yes Ron, good possible since I have seen some without this "eye". Even my one seems never has had one when I get it.

Regards,

Detlef

[VVV]

Thanks for an interesting thread about my favorite Visayan sword.
I can only add that several of my garab do have contrasting wood and color on their handles and scabbards.
Here is the most extreme one.

Michael