Unknown knife (not a khukuri)

O

Outdoors

Joined
May 24, 2001
Messages
609
In the other knives thread, I posted a description of an old knife I have. I found a similar one at:
http://www.liongate-armsandarmour.com/pk2.htm

Anyway, mine looks similar, but with a slightly greater bend. The link refers to several similar (to my eye) knives alternately as Bolo, parang, talibon and golok. Anyone know what this is really called?

Thanks,
Patrick
 
:
Patrick there's a guy who posts under the name Golok from somewhere in that part of the world, Malayasia maybe?, that posts here fairly often and he would know for sure if it's a Golok.:D

Perhaps not much help, but the ones I've seen pix of look pretty much like the pic you posted.
 
Patrick,
The subject of Filipino edged weapons and their nomenclature is a complicated field of collecting. BladeForum member Federico has developed a very nice web page on Moro swords that you might find interesting. You will also find many knowledgeable collectors at the Ethnographic Edged Weapons Forum
Berk
 
I'd like to second Berkley's recommendation of Federico's web page. It is an astounding collection of text and photos giving the rest of us the benefit of his research. Anyone interested in blades of other cultures will be fascinated by his study.
Federico, do you have any info on Moro bladesmithing, other than Cato's book and Kris Cutlery's video? The only other info I've seen is a short clip in the racist 1930's film "Brides of Sulu"
 
Thanks, guys. I'll check out Federico's web page.
Patrick

Oops. Sorry for mis-spelling your name Federico!
Pat
 
Hello all

Thank you for recomending my website. Ive been trying to research it and hoping that Im not too far off. As for sources for Moro bladesmithing besides Cato's book and Sailing the Sulu Seas, Wiley's Filipino Martial culture has a small section on Filipino bladesmithing as well as Krieger's Bulletin, also Vic Hurley's Swish of the Kris may have a section on it(I havent yet read the complete work so Im not 100% sure). Another way to find more information if you happen to have alot of money is to simply fly to the Philippines and observe local smiths doing their stuff. Real interesting stuff.

Im heading to the local library to check out about 30 out of print books that have been recommended to me from other collectors and scholars in this area so hopefully there will be updates on recommended books as well as general information.

As for outdoor's knife I would have to nominate Talibon as its name. Bolo is just a generic term for knives. If its similar to the knife in liongates- armor then I believe that rules out parang and goloks. I believe the reason why the knife their has an uncertain description is due to a couple factors such as the point. All in all there certainly isnt any hard rules to many especially Christian Filipino Knives. There often are many that are combinations of various different cultures and types that just plain defy normal categoriztion. Ive seen a number of bolo/katana/bowie/kabar hybrids that just cause headaches when trying to classify. Like the Kamis often Filipino smiths will try and make a certain kind of knife, and then make "improvements" to the design resulting in something new and interesting.
 
Originally posted by Federico

As for outdoor's knife I would have to nominate Talibon as its name. Bolo is just a generic term for knives. If its similar to the knife in liongates- armor then I believe that rules out parang and goloks. I believe the reason why the knife their has an uncertain description is due to a couple factors such as the point. All in all there certainly isnt any hard rules to many especially Christian Filipino Knives. There often are many that are combinations of various different cultures and types that just plain defy normal categoriztion. Ive seen a number of bolo/katana/bowie/kabar hybrids that just cause headaches when trying to classify. Like the Kamis often Filipino smiths will try and make a certain kind of knife, and then make "improvements" to the design resulting in something new and interesting.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Federico. The knife I have has a blade very similar in shape to the one at Lionsgate. It's good to finaly know a bit more about it! If I get the chance, I'll post a picture, or forward a photo to Uncle Bill.

Patrick
 
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