Philippine sword...

roshan · 26th December 2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Looks like a stylized horses hoof hilt with Spanish influences. I think that this could very well be pre WWII. Could you please post a picture of the pommel cap and what are the dots in the side of the grip made of? Are the fittings polished steel, nickel silver or something else?

Robert

I honestly dont know what the fittings are made of.... Heres a closer picture, perhaps you can tell? The actual grip looks like wood to me, but we were told that it is buffalo horn.

The dots on the side of the grip are metallic, they are on both sides, perhaps the same material as the fittings?

The pommel cap is shaped like an octagon but with rounded edges, and there are several layers of octagons on top of each other. Ill see if I can take some more pictures.

roshan · 26th December 2007, 05:20 AM

Here are some pictures taken with a lousy cellphone camera:

Battara · 26th December 2007, 06:23 PM

This is looking more and more to me like a WWII or post WWII piece from Luzon.

Robert · 27th December 2007, 02:38 PM

Hi, Jose. After seeing the close-ups of the hilt I'm starting to think the same thing. I had a knife very similar to this but no dots on grip and it had brass fittings and a sunburst on the butt plate like the one on the tabak that you have. At first I thought the fittings on this could be nickel silver but in the close-ups they look like they could be polished stainless steel. Need better pictures.

Robert

Battara · 28th December 2007, 01:10 AM

If it is Pampangan, I would think without question WWII or later.

migueldiaz · 29th August 2009, 02:48 PM

Was looking for something (tabak pics) and I stumbled upon this old thread ...

Just for the record, this bolo is dahon palay (pronounced DAH-hawn PAH-lai). I've heard relatives also call this as dahong palay or dahom palay.

The term means palay (rice plant) leaf. And the bolo is called as such because its blade shape is similar to that of a palay leaf.

The blade also supposedly derives its name from a local poisonous snake called by the same name (image below).

As for the particular style of the blade per original post above, the family of that Majayjay (mah-hai-HAI), Laguna (province) bladesmith is still around.

I have a ten-year old dahon palay which was apparently made by exactly the same bladesmith (pics below).

29th August 2009, 02:48 PM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Was looking for something (tabak pics) and I stumbled upon this old thread ... Just for the record, this bolo is dahon palay (pronounced DAH-hawn PAH-lai). I've heard relatives also call this as dahong palay or dahom palay. The term means palay (rice plant) leaf. And the bolo is called as such because its blade shape is similar to that of a palay leaf. The blade also supposedly derives its name from a local poisonous snake called by the same name (image below). As for the particular style of the blade per original post above, the family of that Majayjay (mah-hai-HAI), Laguna (province) bladesmith is still around. I have a ten-year old dahon palay which was apparently made by exactly the same bladesmith (pics below). Attached Images

26th December 2007, 05:20 AM	#2
roshan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	Here are some pictures taken with a lousy cellphone camera:

26th December 2007, 06:23 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	This is looking more and more to me like a WWII or post WWII piece from Luzon.

27th December 2007, 02:38 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi, Jose. After seeing the close-ups of the hilt I'm starting to think the same thing. I had a knife very similar to this but no dots on grip and it had brass fittings and a sunburst on the butt plate like the one on the tabak that you have. At first I thought the fittings on this could be nickel silver but in the close-ups they look like they could be polished stainless steel. Need better pictures. Robert

28th December 2007, 01:10 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	If it is Pampangan, I would think without question WWII or later.