3 Talibons (or Garabs?)

Rafngard · 25th July 2015, 02:01 AM

Here's a couple of pics (from the seller) where I've edited (and in some cases drawn on) them to show the face on the longer blade. It's ridiculously cute.

No idea if this is original. Given the Eagle on the scabbard, I do wonder if this an older blade refitted to sell to GIs

Ian · 25th July 2015, 04:15 AM

Leif:

These are fun knives indeed and they come in many sizes and varieties of hilt. Talibon or talibong is a common name applied to these knives that may be quite small up to sword length, but garab is probably an older term to describe a similar style of knife but that has an angle between the tang and the blade such that the hilt is tilted down. In addition, the garab has a depression just in front of the hilt on the back of the tang/blade which could serve as a thumb rest, and the garab usually has a tripartite butt that resembles the bud of a flower flanked by two leaves. I think the term garab is Eastern Visayan (possibly Warai), while talibon/talibong may be Western Visayan--but don't hold me to that. Attached below are pictures of two traditional garab from the late 19th/early 20th C which shows the features mentioned above.

Of the three knives you show in your post, the shortest one is the most traditional in style (although not showing all the features of the garab in the pictures) and may be a little older than the others. I think all of them come from the Western Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and are probably from the mid-20th C, dating from the end of WWII or a little later. Incidentally, the eagle and plaque shown on the longest one is the Philippine eagle insignia and is commonly found on these knives that date from the end of WWII or later. Knives with this insignia were common bring back items by GIs returning from the Pacific theater in the 1940s.

Ian.

Ian · 25th July 2015, 04:29 AM

A couple more dog headed ones from the same period.

Ian

Rafngard · 25th July 2015, 06:48 PM

Hello Ian,

Your answer was both complete and succinct. And such a lovely example. Thank you very much!

I think you're right about western Vasayans, and in fact the smaller one has "Vectori: La Pas: Leyte P.I." carved on it. So I think Leyte is a pretty strong possibility for that one. It's visible in one of the pictures, but upside down.

As for the Dog headed ones, those are excellent! I'm happy to know that my big one is not unprecedented.

Thanks,
Leif

Marcus · 4th March 2016, 07:52 PM

I have been calling this a Talibon but I guess it is more correctly a garab.

kronckew · 4th March 2016, 09:02 PM

nice, especially the last. i've only got three, a sword talibong and 2 shorter garab knives from jun silva. all right hand chisel ground

Rafngard · 5th March 2016, 09:35 PM

While I'm still looking for a early 20th/late 19th century Garab, I might have gotten a few more talibongs since I first made this post

25th July 2015, 02:01 AM	#1
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 350	Close ups on the face Here's a couple of pics (from the seller) where I've edited (and in some cases drawn on) them to show the face on the longer blade. It's ridiculously cute. No idea if this is original. Given the Eagle on the scabbard, I do wonder if this an older blade refitted to sell to GIs Attached Images

25th July 2015, 04:15 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Leif: These are fun knives indeed and they come in many sizes and varieties of hilt. Talibon or talibong is a common name applied to these knives that may be quite small up to sword length, but garab is probably an older term to describe a similar style of knife but that has an angle between the tang and the blade such that the hilt is tilted down. In addition, the garab has a depression just in front of the hilt on the back of the tang/blade which could serve as a thumb rest, and the garab usually has a tripartite butt that resembles the bud of a flower flanked by two leaves. I think the term garab is Eastern Visayan (possibly Warai), while talibon/talibong may be Western Visayan--but don't hold me to that. Attached below are pictures of two traditional garab from the late 19th/early 20th C which shows the features mentioned above. Of the three knives you show in your post, the shortest one is the most traditional in style (although not showing all the features of the garab in the pictures) and may be a little older than the others. I think all of them come from the Western Visayas (Leyte or Samar) and are probably from the mid-20th C, dating from the end of WWII or a little later. Incidentally, the eagle and plaque shown on the longest one is the Philippine eagle insignia and is commonly found on these knives that date from the end of WWII or later. Knives with this insignia were common bring back items by GIs returning from the Pacific theater in the 1940s. Ian. Attached Images

25th July 2015, 04:29 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	A couple more dog headed ones from the same period. Ian Attached Images

4th March 2016, 07:52 PM	#5
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Grab I have been calling this a Talibon but I guess it is more correctly a garab. Attached Images

4th March 2016, 09:02 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,227	nice, especially the last. i've only got three, a sword talibong and 2 shorter garab knives from jun silva. all right hand chisel ground Attached Images

25th July 2015, 06:48 PM	#4
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 350	Hello Ian, Your answer was both complete and succinct. And such a lovely example. Thank you very much! I think you're right about western Vasayans, and in fact the smaller one has "Vectori: La Pas: Leyte P.I." carved on it. So I think Leyte is a pretty strong possibility for that one. It's visible in one of the pictures, but upside down. As for the Dog headed ones, those are excellent! I'm happy to know that my big one is not unprecedented. Thanks, Leif

5th March 2016, 09:35 PM	#7
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 350	Family photos While I'm still looking for a early 20th/late 19th century Garab, I might have gotten a few more talibongs since I first made this post Attached Images