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					Originally Posted by Ian
					
				 
				Thanks Detlef for summarizing the features of these swords. As Xas noted, they appear to be a distinct category that we have not recognized well before. I would simply add that it has no guard (unlike a minisbad which does). 
    
   A quick question for Xas. What is the animal/deity depicted on these? I have heard it described variusly as an aso (dog) or bat motif? 
			
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 Hi Ian,
Yes, I agree with you.  

 But the sword from Robert has a small guard. His sword seems to have some exceptions, handle is simplified, it has a small guard and the clipped point is very short.
The deity hilt was once described from Bankaya as: 
"As for the figural carving, he described this type seen on this thread as inaso or aso (dog) faced carving. The other figural style is called sawa which I believe is more of a crocodile or naga form."  in this thread: 
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=bicol
Regards,
Detlef