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Post by thejordan1 on Jan 30, 2023 19:28:26 GMT
Hey y'all, question for you... I think I'm in the right area for this sword I am researching, but I don't think I've hit the nail on the head yet... I'm stuck trying to figure out which style and where this sword originates from. I've seen a lot on the Luzon area of the Philippines and surrounding areas but I can't seem to pin point the exact style or location. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks! - Jordan
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Post by Jayhawk on Feb 1, 2023 15:32:05 GMT
Cool little sword! Joining in because I want to hear what someone who knows something about these swords has to say.
Eric
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Post by thejordan1 on Feb 1, 2023 16:24:05 GMT
Cool little sword! Joining in because I want to hear what someone who knows something about these swords has to say. Eric Hey Eric! Found that it is a 19th Century (Katipunan Era) Filipino Luzon Bolo sword from the Luzon, Philippines and surrounding areas. Some times referred to as "Luzon Matulis" i.e. pointed (blade) of Luzon. Super unique sword, and some thought the handle is southern China influenced with the snake d-guard or some referred to it as "nagá".
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Post by Jayhawk on Feb 1, 2023 16:30:58 GMT
Thanks! Great find...nice piece for any collection!
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Post by treeslicer on Apr 3, 2023 21:07:03 GMT
Hey y'all, question for you... I think I'm in the right area for this sword I am researching, but I don't think I've hit the nail on the head yet... I'm stuck trying to figure out which style and where this sword originates from. I've seen a lot on the Luzon area of the Philippines and surrounding areas but I can't seem to pin point the exact style or location. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks! - Jordan I just stumbled on this, or I would have responded earlier. Are you sure that it's Philippine in origin? It looks to me like a late 19th. Century (late 1800's) espada ancha from Mexico.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Apr 3, 2023 22:43:20 GMT
Nice find. I find only a little information from that region.
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Post by larason2 on Apr 4, 2023 15:18:14 GMT
Interesting. I'd still lean towards Philipino bolo because of the shape of the handle and the blade.
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Post by treeslicer on Apr 4, 2023 17:31:23 GMT
Interesting. I'd still lean towards Philipino bolo because of the shape of the handle and the blade. There was diffusion of styles around the Spanish realm so it's hard to be certain. A good example is how the Luzon bolo styles that resemble giant Bowie knives evolved from the various Spanish Modelo 1843 "machetes", via the "machete Tagalo" issued only in the Philippines.
To my eye the guard on the OP weapon is a late espada ancha type.
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Post by larason2 on Apr 4, 2023 17:53:16 GMT
You could be right. My thought is that there aren't many espada anchas with that downward sweeping hilt, whereas that's pretty characteristic of many Asian types. Most of the espadas anchas on both these pages also have rectangular blades.
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Post by treeslicer on Apr 4, 2023 18:35:55 GMT
You could be right. My thought is that there aren't many espada anchas with that downward sweeping hilt, whereas that's pretty characteristic of many Asian types. Most of the espadas anchas on both these pages also have rectangular blades. If it's some sort of cross-pollinated style, it might be hard to pigeonhole. Here's an example.
I've got some sort of a large bolo that combines a (usually Moro) kakatua pommel in banuti wood with a (usually Visayan) chisel-ground edge, an angled grip and finger-notch ricasso like a talibong, as well as a blade that's distally thin and wide, shaped like a parang, only with a pointed clip-tip (Bicolano? Who knows??). It looks like smiths from 3 different islands got drunk together and made it to confuse collectors. I've never found another like it 1, suspect it's from northern Mindanao 2 circa WW II, but have given up on typing it. Maybe it was made custom for some G.I. It handles nice and cuts well, glad it's mine, but only God would know what to call it
1. The closest thing that I've seen was an antique Iloico-area binangon from Panay, but that had a much thicker blade, a spear point, and featureless smooth curves on the hilt.
2. Or some other place in the Philippines where settlers from different areas would be swapping ideas.
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Post by Jayhawk on Apr 18, 2023 15:39:43 GMT
I'm a little late responding, but owning both a bolo and an 18th century espada ancha (and a big time interests in that style of sword)...I think Philippines are much, much more likely for this sword.
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