Philippine knife with pistol grip

[carlos]

Yesterday I won this knife...I hope you enjoy pictures...the description and pictures are from seller.
Thanks in advance
Carlos

Description: Unusual Philippines knife with curvy, vaguely bowie shaped blade and plastic hilt in the form of a pistol. Carbon blade has faint engraving. Plastic guard. Wood scabbard covered with woven plastic bands. I would file this in the punal family of short stabbing knives/daggers, but it could almost be more of a malaysian golok type knife. (Note: I purchased these knives secondhand and any statements about origin or age are based on my own research and judgment.)

Origin: Probably Philippines

Materials: Carbon steel

Scabbard/sheath: Includes original wood sheath bound in woven plastic.

Condition notes: Blade is dirty and could use a goodncleaning. There are some spots on the blade that are likely from the forging process, they don't appear to be pitting.

OAL: About 16”

Blade length: About 10”

Blade width: About 1 1/2”

[Ian]

Hi carlos,

Your pics were dark, so I lightened a couple in order to get a better view of the knife and scabbard. I know that I have seen the same rattan weave on other Philippine knives and will look through my records. Thanks for showing this unusual piece.
.

[carlos]

Thanks Ian!!! Pictures are from seller, now the knife is coming to Spain.
When I have the the knife in my hands I take new pictures.
Best regards
Carlos

[Ian]

Hello again Carlos,

I have consulted several references, my picture files, and talked with several Filipinos about your knife.

Here is why it is almost certainly from the Philippines:

• The three five-pointed stars carved on the hilt reflect the three five-pointed stars that appear on the national flag of the Philippines, in the corners of the equilateral white triangle flown adjacent to the flag pole. These represent the three main areas of the Philippines: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
• The shape of the blade is a familiar style, and is called sinungot hipon in central Luzon and south of Manila.
• The scabbard is covered with a woven basketry style found in the Cordillera Administrative Region, a mountainous area of northern Luzon that is home to various Igorot tribal groups.

After some discussion, it was thought that your knife may be a hybrid, possibly made in Ilocos Norte or Pangasinan. As to age, it is hard to say, but most likely a commemorative piece made in the late 1940s to celebrate the end of WWII and national independence.

Hope this helps.

[carlos]

Thank you very much Ian!!! I,m very happy with this information!
Best regards
Carlos

[chmorshuutz]

Hi,

The profile reminds me of sinungot hipon (also called sinungot ulang), which is a blade profile from Calabarzon, but the hilt and scabbard doesn't match any of the traditional Tagalog features.

I attached a sample image for comparison, it's from Rizal province

[wildwolberine]

Ha! First time I came across one of my sold items on the forum! Pleased to see my attribution was mostly correct!