ID of Filipino? knife

blindside · 30th November 2011, 07:46 AM

I picked this up as a low-ball bid on a "kukri" ebay auction. The construction looked like it hailed from the Philippines so I gave it a shot. The picture didn't show scale and mentally I was expecting something smaller than the cleaver that showed up at my door today.

So what have I got? Is it a Filipino blade or something else? What is it called? Does the unusual blade shape indicative of a particular use? Thank you in advance for whatever assistance you could supply.

Indianajones · 30th November 2011, 12:07 PM

Hello, yes your blade is surely philippine and from Luzon or may also be Northern Visayas. I believe they are manufactured in the Northern Visayas but traded to a wide area (including Luzon). The bit awkward shape is more prefered by 'moro-related cultures' than Luzon tribes, to my opinion. Although the making of these blades staid consistend from spanish times til 1950's I believe this is an example of around 1930/40's; to compare see the filipinosword offered now in the swapsection, that is one from Spanish times (different kind of sword; typical Luzon)

Hope this helps n perhaps others can add (more specific?)

Still a quite nice specimen though to my opinion!

blindside · 1st December 2011, 03:12 AM

Thank you for the information, is there a term for this type of knife?

Battara · 1st December 2011, 03:55 AM

I also keep thinking it is Luzono and called something like a "pakian"?

30th November 2011, 07:46 AM	#1
blindside Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 33	ID of Filipino? knife I picked this up as a low-ball bid on a "kukri" ebay auction. The construction looked like it hailed from the Philippines so I gave it a shot. The picture didn't show scale and mentally I was expecting something smaller than the cleaver that showed up at my door today. So what have I got? Is it a Filipino blade or something else? What is it called? Does the unusual blade shape indicative of a particular use? Thank you in advance for whatever assistance you could supply. Attached Images

30th November 2011, 12:07 PM	#2
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hello, yes your blade is surely philippine and from Luzon or may also be Northern Visayas. I believe they are manufactured in the Northern Visayas but traded to a wide area (including Luzon). The bit awkward shape is more prefered by 'moro-related cultures' than Luzon tribes, to my opinion. Although the making of these blades staid consistend from spanish times til 1950's I believe this is an example of around 1930/40's; to compare see the filipinosword offered now in the swapsection, that is one from Spanish times (different kind of sword; typical Luzon) Hope this helps n perhaps others can add (more specific?) Still a quite nice specimen though to my opinion!

1st December 2011, 03:12 AM	#3
blindside Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 33	Thank you for the information, is there a term for this type of knife?

1st December 2011, 03:55 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I also keep thinking it is Luzono and called something like a "pakian"?