[Kim Petersen]

My Dad’s swords and knives
I’m trying to collect information on history and perhaps worth of my fathers swords.
One looks like it was from a past war and maybe a Samurai sword and a Moro Datu

https://imgur.com/user/kimMoonDriver

[Sam Barris]

Hi, Kim.

I would not consider my opinion definitive on any of these, but here goes.

The first one definitely looks like a Moro weapon, and also looks much nicer than what I typically saw on the tourist market back when I was wandering around over there with the Navy. I'd guess it was someone's personal weapon, and might have a decent number of years behind it.The second seems far more touristy, and was probably meant as a decoration or souvenir, though I couldn't see all of it. I believe the 1834 saber is Prussian cavalry, and in pretty decent condition, too. That one and the Moro are keepers IMHO, or there are people whose interests are focused on those areas, if you wanted to sell. In a few minutes online, I saw three or four auction listings for the same styles of sword, so you should be able to get a pretty good sense of value. Again, if you were looking to part with them. All three of the Japanese looking pieces are pretty cheap. You probably didn't need me to tell you that. Stamps that read CHINA and STAINLESS are a dead giveaway.

Of course, all of this is totally separate from any sentimental value they may have. I hope that was at least marginally helpful.

[Paul Hansen]

Hi Kim,

I second what Sam said. The Filipino blade and the Sabre are "real" and valuable (a wild estimate: a couple of hundred USD each, but I'm not an expert of the US antiquities market).

Not an expert on Filipino weapons, but it's definately real and a nice piece.
I believe this type of sword is from the Bagobo tribe (which is different from Moro but from the same island of Mindanao) and is a form of Kampilan (but of a different variety than the "common" Moro Kampilan).
http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/philippines.swords.htm
http://vikingsword.com/rila/krieger.html (go to plate 12)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumad#/media/File:Krieger_1926_Philippine_ethnic_weapons_Plate_21.png
The blade reminds me of a Sumatran klewang, but the hilt is definately Filipino.
You can also ask or search here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/forumdisplay.ph...87&f=2
On that forum there are a lot of experts on Filipino (and Indonesian) weapons.

The sabre seems to be a so-called "Blücher sabre" or a British "Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_1796_light_cavalry_sabre
https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/54497/bluchersabel-1811-1939

Very popular among many European nations during the 19th Century.

The sabre has "matching numbers" on the hilt and the scabbard (meaning they belong together from the time they were issued and were not put together by some collector at some point) which is somewhat rare and increases it's value. I have no idea what the stamping means though. It could be a regimental/unit indication, which could give a hint about it's origins.

The other blades are not particularly valuable outside any sentimental value.