Modern day Visayan Swords

Spunjer · 6th April 2011, 03:14 AM

man, that's pretty cool, bro! love the scabbard on that!!! how's the edge?

Battara · 6th April 2011, 03:52 AM

Looks wonderful, and like Ron, I love the scabbard.

Dimasalang · 6th April 2011, 07:37 AM

Thanks yall.

Nathaniel, I know what you mean. I typically will stay far away from anything modern day Philippine sword. But this is I would say is as good as they get as of now. Most blacksmiths of the Philippines can not even come close to the quality of the early 1900s swords. The chiseled edge isn't all too sharp Ron. So I'll be using this one.

Atlantia · 6th April 2011, 10:55 AM

I think it looks fantastic!
Also, it looks completely at home when being used by the two Marines!
They look like VERY serious customers!!!
I had one thought. I wondered if even a limited military application has necessitated using a more practical scabbard (webbing or leather)?
Then I noticed that they seem to have them slung across their backs?
Very interesting!

kai · 8th April 2011, 08:07 AM

Hello Gene,

Quote:

They look like VERY serious customers!!!

Yes, indeed. Very few military units worldwide receive similarly dedicated blade training, if any.

Quote:

I wondered if even a limited military application has necessitated using a more practical scabbard (webbing or leather)?

Kydex as shown in the link. I guess this is what most folks would choose for limited operations including airborne and waterborne (is that a word?) deployment.

However, wooden scabbards are definitely jungle-proven for long-term use. Not sure wether the jury is still out what is superior in wet-tropical climates nowadays?

Regards,
Kai

kai · 8th April 2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

The chiseled edge isn't all too sharp Ron.

Any clues on steel hardness when sharpening the edge? What is the original angle of the chisel grind? Any secondary bevel at the edge? Thanks a lot in advance!

ThePepperSkull · 8th April 2011, 10:42 AM

I've got a Ginunting on the way from the same middleman as you, Dimasalang. I'm still not sure whether or not I regret paying as much for it though.

I bought three blades from Nene Tortal's smiths for the same price as Top Prado's one ginunting so I guess I'll have to wait till it gets here to see whether or not it was worth it.

For me, the prospect of getting the same model of ginunting that the Marines use (wooden sheath, non parkerized blade, just like the marines have) is very enticing to me from an ethnographic and historical standpoint, which makes this purchase stand out in particular when compared to other modern blade purchases. (As I was told, the only difference between these blades and actual military issued ginunting are that the ones offered to us in this particular run are not numerically stamped. Also from what I have gathered, most Marines apparently prefer the 15-inch blade length for jungle carry. I opted for a longer 19 inch blade)

A very exciting prospect to own something like this, especially since I exclusively collect pieces that are modern made now ('modern made' being from the 90's onward in terms of my collection).

Also, on a slightly related note...

Speaking with the middleman as well, there was (only in passing, mind you) mention of possibly more runs of these blades available to the public. I hope this includes blades with the long s-guard that Sgt Prado in particular seems so fond of using (as I gather from the many pictures of him using one during lessons/seminars):

Also, RE: Typhoon Gear, they actually did have a new website up and running under the new company name of Typhoon Blades, but as of this post the website is down yet again.

VVV · 8th April 2011, 06:05 PM

Nice to see how the new models have developed. The first ginunting I got of the Force Recon-version had a more plain pommel and a plain wooden scabbard. That was when we were training with Tuhon in Philippines in 2005 and I think it was the numbered edition. At the moment I am traveling so I can't check at the studio where I keep my stick bag and unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it on my computer.
Like you I always preferred the full size version. The main reason to have it as short as the military version is that it is easier to carry with the rest of the equipment. A secondary reason might be that it was developed to counter the, also short, barong blades.
Here is a couple of pictures of the late 90's official PTK-version of the ginunting and the talibong. Both of them full length and with a high S-guard.

Michael

ThePepperSkull · 9th April 2011, 05:29 AM

Very interesting!

These look like the blades currently made by panday associated with Nene Tortal's Dekiti Tirsia Siradas group. From what I gather, those are made in Bacolod.

Dimasalang · 9th April 2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

I've got a Ginunting on the way from the same middleman as you, Dimasalang. I'm still not sure whether or not I regret paying as much for it though.

I bought three blades from Nene Tortal's smiths for the same price as Top Prado's one ginunting so I guess I'll have to wait till it gets here to see whether or not it was worth it.

Thanks for sharing pepperskull. I was actually looking forward to your post. Funny cause I actually thought you might have ordered one as well. haha I knew you also collected more recent blades. Please let me know what you think between the Top Prado's ginunting and the ones from Nene Tortal's smiths.

I am also looking forward to seeing more offered by Top Prado and the S-guard.

Just to add these images here for reference. I ran across an old post from 2009, and it looks like the s-guard and the scabbard was also offered at one time.

ThePepperSkull · 9th August 2011, 07:19 AM

I opted out of the original blade purchase to wait for the ginunting run with an s-guard. Down payment has been made and my Ginunting from Top Prado's shop should be ready within a month.

My Dekiti Tirsia ginunting is already made, but is having some issues getting to me though. A lot of red tape and permits on Tuhon Nene's end is apparently needed to send it from Bacolod. The middle man I'm working with is helping Tuhon Nene because they are sending more blades to more people as well.

kai · 8th April 2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

love the scabbard on that!!!

Possible minority vote: I don't see any advantages over a more traditional design; and I'd love to see a revival of 19th c. carving art.

I'm not sure, I'd want to have finger grooves along the "business side" of any scabbard...

Regards,
Kai

8th April 2011, 10:42 AM	#7
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	I've got a Ginunting on the way from the same middleman as you, Dimasalang. I'm still not sure whether or not I regret paying as much for it though. I bought three blades from Nene Tortal's smiths for the same price as Top Prado's one ginunting so I guess I'll have to wait till it gets here to see whether or not it was worth it. For me, the prospect of getting the same model of ginunting that the Marines use (wooden sheath, non parkerized blade, just like the marines have) is very enticing to me from an ethnographic and historical standpoint, which makes this purchase stand out in particular when compared to other modern blade purchases. (As I was told, the only difference between these blades and actual military issued ginunting are that the ones offered to us in this particular run are not numerically stamped. Also from what I have gathered, most Marines apparently prefer the 15-inch blade length for jungle carry. I opted for a longer 19 inch blade) A very exciting prospect to own something like this, especially since I exclusively collect pieces that are modern made now ('modern made' being from the 90's onward in terms of my collection). Also, on a slightly related note... Speaking with the middleman as well, there was (only in passing, mind you) mention of possibly more runs of these blades available to the public. I hope this includes blades with the long s-guard that Sgt Prado in particular seems so fond of using (as I gather from the many pictures of him using one during lessons/seminars): Also, RE: Typhoon Gear, they actually did have a new website up and running under the new company name of Typhoon Blades, but as of this post the website is down yet again. Last edited by ThePepperSkull; 8th April 2011 at 11:09 AM.

8th April 2011, 06:05 PM	#8
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice to see how the new models have developed. The first ginunting I got of the Force Recon-version had a more plain pommel and a plain wooden scabbard. That was when we were training with Tuhon in Philippines in 2005 and I think it was the numbered edition. At the moment I am traveling so I can't check at the studio where I keep my stick bag and unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it on my computer. Like you I always preferred the full size version. The main reason to have it as short as the military version is that it is easier to carry with the rest of the equipment. A secondary reason might be that it was developed to counter the, also short, barong blades. Here is a couple of pictures of the late 90's official PTK-version of the ginunting and the talibong. Both of them full length and with a high S-guard. Michael Attached Images

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6th April 2011, 03:14 AM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	man, that's pretty cool, bro! love the scabbard on that!!! how's the edge?

6th April 2011, 03:52 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Looks wonderful, and like Ron, I love the scabbard.

6th April 2011, 07:37 AM	#3
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Thanks yall. Nathaniel, I know what you mean. I typically will stay far away from anything modern day Philippine sword. But this is I would say is as good as they get as of now. Most blacksmiths of the Philippines can not even come close to the quality of the early 1900s swords. The chiseled edge isn't all too sharp Ron. So I'll be using this one.

6th April 2011, 10:55 AM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	I think it looks fantastic! Also, it looks completely at home when being used by the two Marines! They look like VERY serious customers!!! I had one thought. I wondered if even a limited military application has necessitated using a more practical scabbard (webbing or leather)? Then I noticed that they seem to have them slung across their backs? Very interesting!

9th April 2011, 05:29 AM	#9
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	Very interesting! These look like the blades currently made by panday associated with Nene Tortal's Dekiti Tirsia Siradas group. From what I gather, those are made in Bacolod.

9th August 2011, 07:19 AM	#11
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	I opted out of the original blade purchase to wait for the ginunting run with an s-guard. Down payment has been made and my Ginunting from Top Prado's shop should be ready within a month. My Dekiti Tirsia ginunting is already made, but is having some issues getting to me though. A lot of red tape and permits on Tuhon Nene's end is apparently needed to send it from Bacolod. The middle man I'm working with is helping Tuhon Nene because they are sending more blades to more people as well.