Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1127 - Philippine Ilocano Dagger with Wavy Blade and Horn and Silver Mounts

The wavy (9 luk) double-edged blade is 5.4 inches (14.3 cm) in length and has a thickness of 0.11 inch (0.28 cm). The surface shows numerous relatively parallel scratches running lengthwise and there are patches of very superficial pitting and discoloration. The guard and octagonal hilt ferrules are made of white metal that appears to be silver alloy with the octagonal cross-section grip being made of dark water buffalo horn with a small defect (insect damage versus a chip) next to the cap. The dagger alone measures 8½ inches (21.6 cm) in length and weighs 1.7 ounces (48 grams). The body of the sheath is of variegated water buffalo horn and has mounts of suspected silver alloy just as on the hilt, with a mouth locket and chape cut out in a V form on the middle of the faces and with a ventral ferrule with protruding points opposite those cut outs. There is a loop on either side of the mouth locket and a short length of delicate chain attached to one loop. The guard has engraved decoration facing the blade. The horn has been damaged approaching the chape with a crack on one face and what appears to be insect damage on both faces. Within the sheath, the length is 9½ inches (24.2 cm) and the weight is 2.7 ounces (76 grams). Lew dated this dagger as circa 1898. The wavy blade very strongly points to an origin in Ilocano in the northeastern Philippines.


Philippine Islands Dagger with Wavy Blade

Philippine Islands Dagger with Wavy Blade

Philippine Islands Dagger with Wavy Blade

Philippine Islands Dagger with Wavy Blade

Philippine Islands Dagger with Wavy Blade



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