Mystery knife

[Ian]

Hi Detlef:

Could be, although aluminum ornamentation would date it to WWII or later. The aluminum came from downed aircraft.

Ian

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Ian,

I personally would place this one a little bit more early, the good workmanship, the small aluminium(?) nails at the handle, the used wood (looks like a very nice grain) and the patination let me guess a birth around the 1930s but like always I could be wrong.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Detlef:

Could be, although aluminum ornamentation would date it to WWII or later. The aluminum came from downed aircraft.

Ian

Hi Ian,

I think that aluminium was used a little more early by recycled drinking bottles from US soldiers, just a guess!? Otherwise you are correct, the 1940s is also a very good guess.

Regards,
Detlef

[Royston]

Came across this recently. It would appear to be the same.
O/A length is 14"
Blade is 8 1/4"
Not full tang.
collar is aluminium.
The letters on the blade look like ADG but they are very unclear.
Regards
Roy

[Ian]

Hi royston:

Yes, definitely in the same group.

I am attaching a picture from the web of a chief of the Pinatubo Negrito who lived near the US Clark Air Force Base. He was reportedly the last surviving member of a group of Pinatubos who fought the Japanese during WWII--he was 19 at that time. The picture was taken in the 1970s by a US serviceman.

Ian.

[Sajen]

Great picture Ian!

[Royston]

Can't argue with that
( unless he swapped it for the spear from the boy )

[Ian]

Hi Detlef:

Aluminum cans are also a possibility, but use of aluminum to make cans was only introduced in 1957, and I don't know when that invention found its way to the Philippines. In any case, I think the knife is probably older than the late 1950s/1960s.

Ian.

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

I think that aluminium was used a little more early by recycled drinking bottles from US soldiers, just a guess!? Otherwise you are correct, the 1940s is also a very good guess.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

In the original post in this thread I mentioned that I owned a second of these knives, but at that time it had been misplaced in moving house twice in the last ten years. That knife has now been rediscovered, and I post this picture of the two of them. The smaller one on the bottom of the picture is the one added to this thread for the first time. The shape of the scabbard is different, and more closely resembles the traditional Pinatubo Negrito form as described by Fox and shown in the picture above of the Negrito man and young boy.

I post this other example because these knives and their scabbards are seldom seen and appear not to have been made for the tourist trade.

Ian.


Pair of Negrito hundang
.

[Sajen]

Thank you for showing this two rare examples Ian!

Regards,
Detlef

[Robert]

Yes, thank you for posting these Ian. As for age I think that because of the overall quality and workmanship displayed and the way that the scabbards are pinned together instead of using bands would date these to the 1930's/40's. I would also agree that these were made to be used and not for the tourist trade. If I remember correctly the process for the mass production of aluminum was discovered in the 1890's so it could have easily been introduced to the Philippines in the late 19th or early 20th century by American servicemen. One of the first uses of aluminum was making kitchen utensils (plates, cups pots and pans) so it could also have arrived in the Philippines any time from the late 1890's on through normal trade. Would it be possible for you to post one additional photo of these items showing the blades to go with the one showing them in their scabbards ? Congratulations for being able to find not only one, but two of these seemingly rare bolos and in such great condition as well. Of course you do realize now that you have shown these I will have to keep searching until I can find a nice example to add to my own collection.

Best,
Robert

[Ian]

Hi Robert. Picture of the two blades are attached. Difficult to get a good pic because the blades have been cleaned and polished. Will try to get a better shot when my usual light table is set up.

Ian