[Spunjer]

here's one that was given to me by my wife as a b-day present. doesn't know much
about it except that it's visayan (cebu, perhaps?). starting with the blade:
beveled side is completely covered with engravings, save for the edge. close to
the tip, it has the rosicurian crucifix, and right below it, the initial "JHS"
which, after searching the net, found this latin description, "Jesu Hominem
Salvator" (Jesus, Savior of man). another peculiar thing are groups of three
hash marks scattered thru out the blade. now, with the cross, initials and three
hash marks combine, it represent the jesuit order. a friar's sundang? the handle
is carabao horn in a naga (man-og) form, with silver beads for eyes. also the
ferrule is silver. one thing i didn't notice right away was how the guard's end
is in the form of a snake. pretty slick, IMO... seems like whoever designed this
was in some serious snake cult.
the scabbard is kamagong, with three wide silver bands covered in some pretty
intricate okir-like designs. at the toe of the scabbard are again, silver,
discs. on the band closest to the throat, there's a metal loop, about quarter of
an inch in diameter, welded almost at the center of it. the purpose of this is
unknown.
as a sword, its weight is distributed proportionally.
anyone care to shed some more light on this sundang? i'm really interested in
knowing what part of the visayan region this one originated from. maybe from one
of the christian cults in bohol/samar/leyte area? anyhow, here are some detailed pics. enjoy.

here's the handle: