Philippino Bowie/Navaja

ArmsAndAntiques · 1st January 2014, 06:26 PM

Hello all,

Longtime watcher, first time poster. I have quite an interesting Philippine dagger, appears to have a silver plate blade, with a carved horn handle. Any ideas on it would be appreciated.

Best
LL

Robert · 1st January 2014, 10:07 PM

LL, What an absolute beautiful knife. You have been very fortunate indeed to be able to acquire such a piece. I would say it is a Luzon piece from the late 19th to early 20th century. I have not seen this particular blade shape before but there were many different styles that were made and new ones seem to pop up all the time. All that silver and the craftsmanship that went into the making of this knife is amazing. My congratulations to you on the most wonderful find. If you don't mind, could you post the dimensions of this to go along with the photos?

Robert

David · 1st January 2014, 10:34 PM

Are we sure this is from the Philippines. The carving on the hilt looks more Indonesian to me, maybe Sumatra…

Beautiful knife either way.

Robert · 1st January 2014, 10:51 PM

Hi David, I am looking for other examples of hilt carving like this now. If memoir serves me correctly both Jose and Carlos have items with this same carving on the hilts. I was hoping one or both of the two mentioned would see this and either dispute or verify my thoughts on this piece. In the mean time I will keep searching.

Robert

Here is a link to a thread that shows quite a few different items with carved horn hilts. In one of the photos posted by VANDOO there is a knife similar to the one shown above. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12686

David · 1st January 2014, 11:17 PM

Thanks Robert. I see the similarities.

Battara · 2nd January 2014, 04:08 AM

I agree it is Luzono, late 19th century. When I get the chance I will post some pictures. These well carved horn hilts are on pieces from both Luzon and the Visayas.

ArmsAndAntiques · 3rd January 2014, 03:09 AM

Hi all

Thanks for all the comments. I had an idea that it was Visayan but Filipino and Southeast Asian items are out of my full range of knowledge. The dimensions are as follows:

11" overall 6" blade 2.5" width of blade.

Looks very much like a Filipino insipired navaja to me...which would make sense considering the historical record.

Spunjer · 3rd January 2014, 05:17 PM

hello LL,
welcome! now that's one cool dagger you got there!!! yes, it's 1st revolutionary era piece. the blade profile does looks like a navaja, but it also reminds me of a stubby version of a visayan blade colloquially known as plamingko. the handles on these pieces have somewhat similar motif to the rank insignias of the 1st Revolutionary soldiers. it has been postulated then, that the carvings on the handle signified the rank of the original owner.
what's interesting is your description of the blade; it's silver???
i have posted mine for comparison. the handle is similar, but with a more common design blade.

ArmsAndAntiques · 3rd January 2014, 05:36 PM

The blade is not silver but appears to have been silver plated. I purchased it as a "fish serving knife" as the owner thought the silver plate made it part of a serving set. I knew better, that it was likely Filipino, but not much more than that. That's particularly interesting that this would have been of the revolutionary era and that the carving would reflect the rank of the officer. It's just loads better quality than much of the other Filipino items that have passed through my hands.

best
LL

Battara · 4th January 2014, 12:52 AM

Was it silver plated or nickel plated? Many Americans and British loved to nickel plate blades (and throw away the scabbards

).

carlos · 4th January 2014, 01:47 PM

Very beautiful piece, I love this combination.
I had seen one similar in a spanish museum, in the national Museum of Antrophologhy , in Madrid.

My piece have a similar engraved hilt

carlos · 4th January 2014, 01:53 PM

This is a picture from the piece of the museum.
best regards
carlos

ArmsAndAntiques · 5th January 2014, 12:12 AM

Hi Carlos

That is really a fantastic reference. I also believe that it is silver plated as it appears that some of it is tarnished dark where the plating remains. The blade itself is really quite well made with a fine taper and sharp as well.

Robert · 13th February 2014, 02:14 AM

This item is currently being offered for sale on a commercial website.

1st January 2014, 06:26 PM	#1
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Philippino Bowie/Navaja Hello all, Longtime watcher, first time poster. I have quite an interesting Philippine dagger, appears to have a silver plate blade, with a carved horn handle. Any ideas on it would be appreciated. Best LL Attached Images

1st January 2014, 10:51 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi David, I am looking for other examples of hilt carving like this now. If memoir serves me correctly both Jose and Carlos have items with this same carving on the hilts. I was hoping one or both of the two mentioned would see this and either dispute or verify my thoughts on this piece. In the mean time I will keep searching. Robert Here is a link to a thread that shows quite a few different items with carved horn hilts. In one of the photos posted by VANDOO there is a knife similar to the one shown above. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12686 Last edited by Robert; 1st January 2014 at 11:08 PM.

3rd January 2014, 05:17 PM	#8
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	hello LL, welcome! now that's one cool dagger you got there!!! yes, it's 1st revolutionary era piece. the blade profile does looks like a navaja, but it also reminds me of a stubby version of a visayan blade colloquially known as plamingko. the handles on these pieces have somewhat similar motif to the rank insignias of the 1st Revolutionary soldiers. it has been postulated then, that the carvings on the handle signified the rank of the original owner. what's interesting is your description of the blade; it's silver??? i have posted mine for comparison. the handle is similar, but with a more common design blade. Attached Images

4th January 2014, 01:47 PM	#11
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 731	Very beautiful piece, I love this combination. I had seen one similar in a spanish museum, in the national Museum of Antrophologhy , in Madrid. My piece have a similar engraved hilt Attached Images

4th January 2014, 01:53 PM	#12
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 731	This is a picture from the piece of the museum. best regards carlos Attached Images

1st January 2014, 10:07 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	LL, What an absolute beautiful knife. You have been very fortunate indeed to be able to acquire such a piece. I would say it is a Luzon piece from the late 19th to early 20th century. I have not seen this particular blade shape before but there were many different styles that were made and new ones seem to pop up all the time. All that silver and the craftsmanship that went into the making of this knife is amazing. My congratulations to you on the most wonderful find. If you don't mind, could you post the dimensions of this to go along with the photos? Robert

1st January 2014, 10:34 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,025	Are we sure this is from the Philippines. The carving on the hilt looks more Indonesian to me, maybe Sumatra… Beautiful knife either way.

1st January 2014, 11:17 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,025	Thanks Robert. I see the similarities.

2nd January 2014, 04:08 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I agree it is Luzono, late 19th century. When I get the chance I will post some pictures. These well carved horn hilts are on pieces from both Luzon and the Visayas.

3rd January 2014, 03:09 AM	#7
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Hi all Thanks for all the comments. I had an idea that it was Visayan but Filipino and Southeast Asian items are out of my full range of knowledge. The dimensions are as follows: 11" overall 6" blade 2.5" width of blade. Looks very much like a Filipino insipired navaja to me...which would make sense considering the historical record.

3rd January 2014, 05:36 PM	#9
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	The blade is not silver but appears to have been silver plated. I purchased it as a "fish serving knife" as the owner thought the silver plate made it part of a serving set. I knew better, that it was likely Filipino, but not much more than that. That's particularly interesting that this would have been of the revolutionary era and that the carving would reflect the rank of the officer. It's just loads better quality than much of the other Filipino items that have passed through my hands. best LL

4th January 2014, 12:52 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Was it silver plated or nickel plated? Many Americans and British loved to nickel plate blades (and throw away the scabbards ).

5th January 2014, 12:12 AM	#13
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Hi Carlos That is really a fantastic reference. I also believe that it is silver plated as it appears that some of it is tarnished dark where the plating remains. The blade itself is really quite well made with a fine taper and sharp as well.

13th February 2014, 02:14 AM	#14
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	This item is currently being offered for sale on a commercial website.