Luzon Camp Knife ?

[Robert]

As I have not posted anything new in quite a while now and because I have never seen another knife quite like this before I thought that it would be something interesting for discussion. Listed as being brought back from the Spanish American War Philippines the only way I could think to describe it would be as a camp knife from Luzon. It is a fairly heavily made piece measuring 12-1/2 inches in total length with a blade length of 7-1/4 inches, 5/16 of an inch think at the hilt and 2-1/4 inch at its widest point. The blade is still almost razor sharp and the knife retains its original embossed leather scabbard. The hilt which was covered in a layer of varnish when it arrived is made of sections of lighter and darker water buffalo horn separated by brass plates. The butt plate is unusual in that is made of darker horn instead of brass as one would expect and is topped with the double flattened brass beads. There is still some varnish evident on the blade that I missed until after I had taken these photos. As always any and all information or comments anyone would care to offer on this piece would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Robert,

what a beautiful and unusual knife, great score! And it's good to have the scabbard with it. Like you I never have seen something similar before and I am curious if someone will be able to tell you more as I am.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rafngard]

Wonderful knife!

I recently picked up a knife with a very similar constructed handle. No scabbard sadly. It was sold with a plain, but well made, much more typical (black horn hilt, brass fittings, initials stamped on the blade) luzon bolo. The seller thought they were WWII bring backs.

Thanks,
Leif

[Ian]

Hi Robert:

Nice knife!

There are a few of these short, fat-bellied Luzon knives around, although they are certainly uncommon. I'm fairly sure this one is of Ilokano manufacture. The brass ferrules are fairly typical Ilokano work and the leather sheath, although non-specific in origin, is a common feature for Ilokano knives. Added to this is the sharply clipped blade, another common feature on Ilokano knives. The use of horn for a butt plate is not something you see very often on any Filipino knives.

This one looks to me that it is from the mid-20th C, plus or minus. The presence of varnish on the blade suggests it was a G.I. bring back. If so, it was probably made in the general area of Pangasinan down to Pampanga, targeting U.S. servicemen stationed in that area. Might have been a custom-made piece judging from the finish on it.

Ian.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

This one looks to me that it is from the mid-20th C, plus or minus.

Hi Ian,

I kindly disagree. The bolster construction and also the horn butt plate let me think that it is indeed from the Spanish American War. But like always I could be wrong.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Hi Detlef:

The knife shown by Robert has a brass ferrule and guard that are separate from the blade, so no bolster present. Bolsters on Filipino knives are uncommon, and mostly on high end pieces IMHO.

The manner of construction of Robert's knife was certainly used during the Philippines Revolutionary War--in fact two iron ferrules around a horn grip (with or without a guard) was commonly seen then. However, the use of brass ferrules and guard, and particularly a multi-media grip, was seen more commonly later on Ilokano knives, and particularly post WWII when there was a lot of brass around from spent ammunition. Incidentally, the grip on Robert's knife has darker horn spacers surrounded by thin brass or aluminum (?) disks--if these are indeed aluminum, then that would also point to WWII or later manufacture because aluminum on Filipino knives came largely from downed airplanes until aluminum cans came along in the late 1950s. Prior to these sources, aluminum was scarce--essentially a precious metal in 1900.

Everything about Robert's knife says 1940s to 1960s to me. I like the well made hilt and the unusual blade. I do think it was a custom-made piece, especially with the horn inserts on the hilt. and the nice rounded cap to the end of the hilt. Often these were threaded and screwed over the end of the tang. Again, that feature was seen more commonly post-WWII.

Leif's knife is of similar age IMHO. The nut on the end of his hilt is the more familiar form of securing the grip to a threaded tang. It also has two brass ferrules and a multi-media grip, with a ring of red material that could be red corral but more likely plastic. Leif's seller may well be corect that his knife was a WWII bring back.

Ian.

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

I kindly disagree. The bolster construction and also the horn butt plate let me think that it is indeed from the Spanish American War. But like always I could be wrong.

Best regards,
Detlef