A large pira

CharlesS · 13th December 2013, 08:11 PM

Dave,

Thanks for posting. These are always so nice to see because not only are they rare but it is becoming clearer that there are variations in size, hilt form, and scabbard type.

Could you please post a pic of the complete blade, perhaps with the scabbard beside it.

Do you think the pommel may have been cut down from something much longer originally, perhaps to make it a more practical utilitarian piece??

Thanks again for posting. Lovely example!

imas560 · 13th December 2013, 08:36 PM

Nice,
how thick is that spine?

Jim McDougall · 13th December 2013, 09:45 PM

A beautiful piece Dave! For those of us here not familiar with this sector of arms, can you say more on the regions and tribes who might have used these? I know you have specified the age as around 1930s up to WWII, but could the blade be older and remounted as with most ethnographic forms?

DaveS · 13th December 2013, 10:14 PM

Charles: I don't think that the pommel has been cut down. I can't see any
evidence of that, and the patina on the wood looks the same. If
it was cut down it must have been shortly after it was originally
carved. You are right. I have seen so many variations in different
swords and knives in almost 29 years of collecting that i'm not
surprised at any kind of variation seen. I think today many col-
lectors think that if something dosn't follow a set pattern that it
must be either recent or a tourist piece.
Imas560: The thickness at the base of the blade is not quite 3/8ths
of an inch. The blade is a little bit more heavier in the hand than
some other moro pieces i have held.
Jim: I'm not sure which group originally used the pira, but i seem
to have a recollection that it was the Yakans. Not positive
though............Dave.

imas560 · 14th December 2013, 12:18 AM

Apologies Dave,
you did mention thickness in originating post, I just got excited and looked at the pictures

Rick · 14th December 2013, 01:04 AM

Did I miss a full picture of this piece unsheathed somewhere ?

C'mon, take that pretty dress off .

Spunjer · 14th December 2013, 01:44 AM

Beautiful pira! To answer your question, Jim, pira are exclusively Yakan, an indigenous tribe from Basilan. Yeah, Dave, would love to see the shape of the blade. Question tho: do you think the scabbard is original to the blade?

13th December 2013, 10:14 PM	#4
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	A large pira Charles: I don't think that the pommel has been cut down. I can't see any evidence of that, and the patina on the wood looks the same. If it was cut down it must have been shortly after it was originally carved. You are right. I have seen so many variations in different swords and knives in almost 29 years of collecting that i'm not surprised at any kind of variation seen. I think today many col- lectors think that if something dosn't follow a set pattern that it must be either recent or a tourist piece. Imas560: The thickness at the base of the blade is not quite 3/8ths of an inch. The blade is a little bit more heavier in the hand than some other moro pieces i have held. Jim: I'm not sure which group originally used the pira, but i seem to have a recollection that it was the Yakans. Not positive though............Dave.

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13th December 2013, 08:11 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Dave, Thanks for posting. These are always so nice to see because not only are they rare but it is becoming clearer that there are variations in size, hilt form, and scabbard type. Could you please post a pic of the complete blade, perhaps with the scabbard beside it. Do you think the pommel may have been cut down from something much longer originally, perhaps to make it a more practical utilitarian piece?? Thanks again for posting. Lovely example!

13th December 2013, 08:36 PM	#2
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Nice, how thick is that spine?

13th December 2013, 09:45 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,857	A beautiful piece Dave! For those of us here not familiar with this sector of arms, can you say more on the regions and tribes who might have used these? I know you have specified the age as around 1930s up to WWII, but could the blade be older and remounted as with most ethnographic forms?

14th December 2013, 12:18 AM	#5
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Apologies Dave, you did mention thickness in originating post, I just got excited and looked at the pictures

14th December 2013, 01:04 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,429	Did I miss a full picture of this piece unsheathed somewhere ? C'mon, take that pretty dress off .

14th December 2013, 01:44 AM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Beautiful pira! To answer your question, Jim, pira are exclusively Yakan, an indigenous tribe from Basilan. Yeah, Dave, would love to see the shape of the blade. Question tho: do you think the scabbard is original to the blade?