Any ideas on the origin?

[Ian]

Kino:

We need to see this sword out of the sheath.

The scabbard looks Visayan to me, similar to the style of scabbard found on the deity hilted swords from Panay -- an older style with the wooden block suspension system (I believe Zel has said this style dates to pre-1900). The carving on the scabbard, with its repeated four leaf flower design, is similar to that seen on scabbards of knives and swords coming from the Eastern Visayas (Samar, Leyte) but I'm not sure if it is a common motif in the Western Visayas. The carved hilt is a form that I have not seen previously (appears to be a flower form, or perhaps a variant of naga). The octagonal ferrule and handle are consistent with a Panay/Negros (Western Visayas) origin. The irregularly shaped disk guard (is it horn or wood?) also suggests Western Visayas.

When we see the blade I would expect it to have the usual chisel-ground edge seen on most Visayan swords and knives.

Ian.

[zelbone]

Yes, Kino, you do see similar scabbards in that photo

No need to see your blade.

[themorningstar]

and.... survey says.... "it's a sundang!!!"

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by themorningstar

and.... survey says.... "it's a sundang!!!"

This one's getting a bit old, don't you think themorningstar?

[Spunjer]

This one's getting a bit old, don't you think themorningstar?

i don't understand, andrew. i believe the morningstar is right. what kino has is indeed a sundang. tho, i must admit, i never seen one like it before

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

i don't understand, andrew. i believe the morningstar is right. what kino has is indeed a sundang. tho, i must admit, i never seen one like it before

Hi Ron. To me, it's getting a bit old because it states the obvious, and we've seen this response time and again recently. Of course it's a sundang. I suspect Kino, and anyone who reads this forum, already knows that.

I also suspect Kino was looking for more specific information, if available.

[VVV]

Great sword and a very interesting hilt.
Unfortunately all the Filipinos I meet favours the new Ginuntings and Talibongs to the older ones so I don't know much about Visayan swords.
But maybe these two swords can be of some help?
One of them has a floral hilt and the other one has a resembling ferrule as well as similarities on the scabbard.
I assume, as Ian stated, that those kind of scabbards are the older version.
Is your "Sundang" also smaller in size than the more common versions?
Your hilt reminds me slightly of a Makara.
The reason for Makara is that I think it looks like it has an elephant's trunk?

Michael

PS In case you ever get tired of it, please send me a mail...

[nechesh]

Originally Posted by themorningstar

and.... survey says.... "it's a sundang!!!"

Well T, it's not even a matter of whether or not it's getting old as Andrew suggests (must admit it made me chuckle a bit ), but it just doesn't address the question at hand.... ORIGIN.