Small Moro Knife For Comment

[Lew]

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Where's it sharp? It looks like a rattan-splitting knife.

Outside curved edge is sharp (The edge facing the scabbard).

[Ferguson]

That's a neat knife. Beautiful wood. I've seen a few on Ebay. Is it worn around the neck?

Steve

[Battara]

Like Ian said, it is a utility knife. Don't know why some say "woman's knife", I have seen pictures of Bagobo men wearing these too.

[Flavio]

Originally Posted by Battara

Don't know why some say "woman's knife", I have seen pictures of Bagobo men wearing these too.

Also small african knives are usually attributed to women. I don't know, but maybe because there is the belief that the smaller knives are "more appropriated" for women more than for men, but probably it's wrong

[Tim Simmons]

Macho collector say so. Especially when they do not have one.

[Ian]

I think the "woman's knife" attribution may be more a Western perception for knives that are for utility purposes and used by both men and women, as distinct from knives that would be considered mainly as weapons and used mainly by men.

In the southern areas of the Philippines, and perhaps elsewhere as well, women also carried weapons and knew how to use them in defence of their homes and people. So in that regard, a "woman's knife" is not necessarily a derogatory or dismissive term within the original culture.

Ian.

[kai]

I've also seen the spelling variant "Sangi" for this knife - seems also to be in use by the Bilaan tribe.

Regards,
Kai