Rare Pilipino Swords....

Rick · 13th April 2005, 02:30 PM

The rattan bindings on this sword look pretty bright compared to this example Artzi sold me , he dated it to the late 19c.

This example http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6524280544&rd=1 could of course been re-wrapped around or during WWII to refurbish it . The carving is pretty crisp also which might point to a newer example .

Battara · 13th April 2005, 05:06 PM

I would not be too sure of "newness". Here is a picture of the hilt of my talibon and it has an old inscription on the scabbard of "Tagbilaran 1901" where the forces on Bohol surrendered to the Americans (many were from Cebu). Notice the lighter color of the rattan bindings and the crispness of the carving. Unfortunately, part of the hilt is damaged.

Ian · 13th April 2005, 07:48 PM

Spunjer:

Both the garab and the Mandayan bolo appear to be in very good condition and perhaps not all that old. I agree with Rick that the garab, in particular, looks remarkably pristine.

From their appearances, both of them could have been made in the mid- to late-20th C. but could also be earlier examples that were acquired in excellent (unused) condition and maintained well by a previous owner.

I was a participant in bidding on the Mandaya bolo, but another forumite beat me on that one. Hopefully we will see some more pictures. Oh well, win some - lose some -- the collector's motto.

Ian.

Montino Bourbon · 13th April 2005, 08:10 PM

When I click on the fgirst li9nks in this thread I get 'Invalid link'; is there any way around this?

Ian · 13th April 2005, 08:13 PM

Hi Montino:

Those links seem to be working okay for me. Maybe if you copy and paste them into the command line of your browser they may work better. eBay addresses can be picky sometimes.

Ian.

Spunjer · 14th April 2005, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Yeah, we suck like that. Visayan swords were about to get popular, anyway

well, here's a visayan knife i'm planning on selling in the near future (i'm visayan and i own the knife). you folks have first dibs...

Spunjer · 14th April 2005, 01:22 AM

on a more serious note;

ian, you said:

Quote:

Both the garab and the Mandayan bolo appear to be in very good condition and perhaps not all that old. I agree with Rick that the garab, in particular, looks remarkably pristine.

From their appearances, both of them could have been made in the mid- to late-20th C. but could also be earlier examples that were acquired in excellent (unused) condition and maintained well by a previous owner.

i'm kinda leaning on your former comment since i lost

but wouldn't it be something if it was the latter? when i was back in the in the philippines, i was hoping to find even a facsimile of these visayan swords. well, as you can see, no luck...

Federico · 14th April 2005, 05:37 AM

I gonna agree with Battara and vote that at least the Garab is an early 20th century model (circa insurrection period). I have always been told that this was the early style garab due to carving style (most notably a Pulanesque looking cross), a carving style that largely dissappears in later dates. I have plenty of old swords with pristine looks. Years in a pristine storage conditions and decent maintenance can go a long way in preserving looks. Anyways, this early style for a long time has been very difficult to find (took me 4 years to find mine), finding good examples now is only made worse now with the higher prices.

13th April 2005, 02:30 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	Garab The rattan bindings on this sword look pretty bright compared to this example Artzi sold me , he dated it to the late 19c. This example http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6524280544&rd=1 could of course been re-wrapped around or during WWII to refurbish it . The carving is pretty crisp also which might point to a newer example . Attached Images

13th April 2005, 05:06 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,334	I would not be too sure of "newness". Here is a picture of the hilt of my talibon and it has an old inscription on the scabbard of "Tagbilaran 1901" where the forces on Bohol surrendered to the Americans (many were from Cebu). Notice the lighter color of the rattan bindings and the crispness of the carving. Unfortunately, part of the hilt is damaged. Attached Images

13th April 2005, 08:10 PM	#4
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	'Invalid link' When I click on the fgirst li9nks in this thread I get 'Invalid link'; is there any way around this?

13th April 2005, 07:48 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,477	Spunjer: Both the garab and the Mandayan bolo appear to be in very good condition and perhaps not all that old. I agree with Rick that the garab, in particular, looks remarkably pristine. From their appearances, both of them could have been made in the mid- to late-20th C. but could also be earlier examples that were acquired in excellent (unused) condition and maintained well by a previous owner. I was a participant in bidding on the Mandaya bolo, but another forumite beat me on that one. Hopefully we will see some more pictures. Oh well, win some - lose some -- the collector's motto. Ian.

13th April 2005, 08:13 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,477	Hi Montino: Those links seem to be working okay for me. Maybe if you copy and paste them into the command line of your browser they may work better. eBay addresses can be picky sometimes. Ian.

14th April 2005, 05:37 AM	#8
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	I gonna agree with Battara and vote that at least the Garab is an early 20th century model (circa insurrection period). I have always been told that this was the early style garab due to carving style (most notably a Pulanesque looking cross), a carving style that largely dissappears in later dates. I have plenty of old swords with pristine looks. Years in a pristine storage conditions and decent maintenance can go a long way in preserving looks. Anyways, this early style for a long time has been very difficult to find (took me 4 years to find mine), finding good examples now is only made worse now with the higher prices.