Can anyone Identify this dagger's origin possible age?

[chixter]

Father in law found this at an estate sale it was on a table along with a few Case jack knives, and such. The bands on the sheath are sterling silver, I believe the wood sheath is either Rosewood or teak, the 8" blade is tapered and has a decent edge on both sides. The handle is Ivory, aged pretty well. I'm thinking middle eastern or India obviously no markings are visible. It seems very well made.

 

[not2sharp]

A nice example of a Philippines Punal or Gunong dagger.

n2s

 

[helobite]

A nice example of a Philippines Punal or Gunong dagger.

n2s

Great identification! What do you think is most probable, WW2 era, or after? We had hundreds of thousands of American's in the Philippines, during WW2, and then military bases up to 1992. So, probably millions of service men cumulatively were roaming around over the decades, a surge during Vietnam. And if it was brought back to the US, in a duffel bag, I think it would most probably be in that period.

 

[not2sharp]

This is the kind of piece that collectors wished could talk. It could easily date from the 19th century and could have been brought out by the Spanish, the Americans who occupied the nation since the Spanish American War, the Japanese ”tourist“ who “visited“ there during WWII, or simply by the original family that owned it. Some things are simply unknowable.

n2s

 

[helobite]

This is the kind of piece that collectors wished could talk. It could easily date from the 19th century and could have been brought out by the Spanish, the Americans who occupied the nation since the Spanish American War, the Japanese ”tourist“ who “visited“ there during WWII, or simply by the original family that owned it. Some things are simply unknowable.

n2s

I totally agree. But people love a good story, and hate ambiguity.

 

[chixter]

Thank you n2s and others. Was I ever off on origin! Thats why I come to forums like these where there is so much more knowledge than I have. After your collective guidance I researched Punyal and Guonung knives. Right on the money. I'll relay this info to my 87 year old father in law, a tireless antiquer and junker who has a good eye for the strange and interesting pieces. You made his day I'm sure.