Any sources on non-moro Philippine forging?

[ShazamsLaw]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi SL,

As others have noted, the premise of your question is not true. If you look on this site, you will find excellent examples of recently made as well as antique/vintage examples of non-Moro weapons that show great skill in their manufacture and decoration. Not only Visayan and Luzon examples, but also pieces from the Lumad (non-Christian/non-Muslim) tribes of Mindanao. I've not seen the comments you mention about non-Moro weapons. Where have you found them?

Ian.

Ian,

I think this stigma comes from how Filipino blades aren't seen on the same level as other asian blades with only the moro weapons being the exception. From sources that I have seen from books such as William Henrys Scotts Barangay, he describes the cast iron used by Visayan smiths as easy to break as glass which is something the Visayans were not able to get around to as their technology in blacksmith didn't allow swords to be anything outside the short heavy agriculture tool that would mainly be designed as a weapon.