Bagobo ilap/sangi knife for reference

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi WW,


Need to have a better view of the hilt and blade. From what I can see, this could be from Mindanao. The blade shape is a bit unusual--perhaps a reshaped broken blade--although I have seen a similar profile on Lumad knives around Davao City.


Ian.

Hi Ian!

Here are some photos of the item. It’s quite small. The blade is rusted and needs cleaning but it’s still sharp. The projection at the hilt is wood.

[RobT]

Wildwolberine,

Your recently purchased, unidentified knife may be a surot. Check out the first blade described in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7i19CDrPmU). Your blade is much shorter and your hilt differs but I thought I’d mention it.

Sincerely,
RobT

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by RobT

Wildwolberine,

Your recently purchased, unidentified knife may be a surot. Check out the first blade described in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7i19CDrPmU). Your blade is much shorter and your hilt differs but I thought I’d mention it.

Sincerely,
RobT

Thanks Rob! Looks like some interesting videos. I have one of those “Sinuwak” bolos.

NW

[Ian]

WW,

Your knife is a bit of a mystery although it fits with the work knives shown above by Detlef from the book. I've extracted images from his pictures that illustrate similar blades and one hilt that has a projection similar to yours.

Regards,

Ian.

[JeffS]

Not sure if helpful, but here is knife that was a generous gift from a forum member that has a projection on the hilt. I was informed that this one is called kebahu, more of a basic utility knife than a sangi. His thoughts were the rather phallic projection was used as a scraper.

[Battara]

Here is an example of a Bagobo sangi with bells not made in Marawi City. This is from Bagobo hands and the bells are different. Comes from National Geographic 1944, vol 86, p567. The hilt looks wood to me in this picture.