Question On Age

Battara · 20th October 2007, 07:47 PM

Well (being a deep subject and all

) this is from Pampangas and called a tabak. I think it is perhaps from the turn of the century and not WWII. Many of these were picked up as souvenirs off of dead Filipino "insurgents" by Americans in the Philippine-American War. Not easy to have the scabbard with it, much less in good condition. The pommel is horn and the ferrule seems brass? Nice piece. I like these.

Robert · 20th October 2007, 10:53 PM

Hi Jose,
I guess it would have been better if I had put a name with it when I first posted it. Seems my last two working brain cells have gone south for the winter.

Just wish they had taken me with them. I'm glad to here turn of the century and not WWII. The ferrule is steel instead of brass. Would the end of the scabbard been covered with a metal fitting of just leather? As always thank you very much for all your help. Here is a picture of the top of the blade at the hilt.

Robert

fernando · 20th October 2007, 11:51 PM

Amazing.
Aren't those the maker's marks?
A similar system was used by the blade makers of Canary Islands knives.
But maybe this has nothing to do with that

fernando

Battara · 21st October 2007, 06:24 PM

Robert, in most cases there was not a metal chape at the bottom of the scabbard.

Fernando, this is a good question. In this case, the "x" is a talismanic mark in the Philippines.

Robert · 21st October 2007, 07:39 PM

Hi Jose,
The reason I am thinking that this might have had a metal chape at one time is at the end of the scabbard where the tooling ends there are three sets of punch marks that are very similar to ones on another scabbard I have. On this other scabbard the indentations made by the punch are what holds the chape in place.
As to the X being a talismanic mark. Do you know what the exact meaning of this symbol is? When Fernando ask this question I started looking to see if I could find anything about it but had no luck. I would be very interested in finding out as quite a few of the items I have are decorated in this manor.

Robert

kai · 21st October 2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

In this case, the "x" is a talismanic mark in the Philippines.

The "X" as well as "|" are found all over the Southeast Asian archipelago and seems to be associated with protective meaning regardless of origin. However, I haven't been able to obtain info on details either.

Regards,
Kai

Mark · 22nd October 2007, 02:24 PM

It's also found on Burmese & Shan dha, usually repeated two or more times, and often with a small brass inset along with it.

asomotif · 22nd October 2007, 05:22 PM

Amazing to see how the X on the back of blades turns up everywhere.

I have them on a Ladieng or Klewang from sumatra and seen them on mandaus.

20th October 2007, 10:53 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Jose, I guess it would have been better if I had put a name with it when I first posted it. Seems my last two working brain cells have gone south for the winter. Just wish they had taken me with them. I'm glad to here turn of the century and not WWII. The ferrule is steel instead of brass. Would the end of the scabbard been covered with a metal fitting of just leather? As always thank you very much for all your help. Here is a picture of the top of the blade at the hilt. Robert Attached Images

20th October 2007, 11:51 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Amazing. Aren't those the maker's marks? A similar system was used by the blade makers of Canary Islands knives. But maybe this has nothing to do with that fernando Last edited by fernando; 21st October 2007 at 12:04 AM. Reason: spelling

22nd October 2007, 05:22 PM	#8
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	X pattern on blades Amazing to see how the X on the back of blades turns up everywhere. I have them on a Ladieng or Klewang from sumatra and seen them on mandaus. Attached Images

20th October 2007, 07:47 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Well (being a deep subject and all ) this is from Pampangas and called a tabak. I think it is perhaps from the turn of the century and not WWII. Many of these were picked up as souvenirs off of dead Filipino "insurgents" by Americans in the Philippine-American War. Not easy to have the scabbard with it, much less in good condition. The pommel is horn and the ferrule seems brass? Nice piece. I like these.

21st October 2007, 06:24 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Robert, in most cases there was not a metal chape at the bottom of the scabbard. Fernando, this is a good question. In this case, the "x" is a talismanic mark in the Philippines.

21st October 2007, 07:39 PM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Jose, The reason I am thinking that this might have had a metal chape at one time is at the end of the scabbard where the tooling ends there are three sets of punch marks that are very similar to ones on another scabbard I have. On this other scabbard the indentations made by the punch are what holds the chape in place. As to the X being a talismanic mark. Do you know what the exact meaning of this symbol is? When Fernando ask this question I started looking to see if I could find anything about it but had no luck. I would be very interested in finding out as quite a few of the items I have are decorated in this manor. Robert

22nd October 2007, 02:24 PM	#7
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	It's also found on Burmese & Shan dha, usually repeated two or more times, and often with a small brass inset along with it.