Another Bonifacio bolo

[Robert]

Hello everyone,
Here is another Bonifacio bolo I won on ebay that just arrived today. I've been looking for one with a hilt carved like this for quite a while but this is the first one that I have found with what looks to be the original scabbard. This is a very hefty piece with a thick heavy and very sharp blade. The nicely tooled leather scabbard is still in decent shape except for the very tip which is missing. Carved water buffalo horn hilt with brass fittings. I believe that the eyes could have originally had small pieces of bone in their center? The brass band on the hilt is formed and soldered with some filed in decoration, it is not cast. I hope that you all enjoy these pieces as much as I do. Any comments on this are very welcome.

Here are the measurements.

Hilt Length = 5-3/4 inches
Blade length = 16-1/16 inches
Blade at widest point = 2 inch
Blade thickness at hilt = 3/8 inch

Robert

[Rick]

Those eyes are metal; brass most likely .
They are on this example from the same era . :)

[Robert]

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the pictures! I see that yours has a small guard on it. Both of the one that I have don't have guards and don't look like they ever did. I just noticed that on mine the hat also has a brass band around it, it is so dirty that it just looked like it was part of the horn carving. :D Thanks again.

Robert

[Rick]

Polish up that hat and them eyes . ;)

[Robert]

Will do. I was just getting ready to look in my junk box for some small brass rod to replace the missing eyes with. :eek: Now if I can just find one of these with a Spanish style grip with twisted brass wire. :D

[Rick]

Will do. I was just getting ready to look in my junk box for some small brass rod to replace the missing eyes with. :eek: Now if I can just find one of these with a Spanish style grip with twisted brass wire. :D

Aim high . :D

[Dimasalang]

NICE!
Wish I could find one like this. :(
One of these days I'll have a Bonifacio bolo. He is one of my heroes. :D

[Robert]

Hello Dimasalang,
If I ever find another one of these in this style I promise that I will contact you with the information. Believe me, I know what it is like to want something and not be able to find it. Now back to this one. After a very light cleaning I have found that the entire top section of the hat is made of brass and the decorative band on the end of the ferrule next to the blade is made of copper. This gives a whole new look to the bolos grip and helps to show the detailed workmanship put into its making. I have seen other hilts with this bust like carving with the inserts made of a small pieces of bone with horn centers to make them look more like an actual eyes. Do you think that this would be appropriate for this bolo? If not I will just replace the missing pieces with brass. Here is a very poor picture of the hilt after the light cleaning.


Robert

[Sajen]

Nice, the eyes look very good, you are sure that there have been inlays?

[Robert]

Hello Sagen,
Actually after a little more cleaning I have found out that the eye sockets are lined with pieces of rolled copper. After cleaning them up a little they make a great difference in how the face looks. :cool: I now believe that there is nothing missing from the eyes and this bolo is complete. It is amazing what can be found under years of dirt and grime at times.


Robert

[Sajen]

It is amazing what can be found under years of dirt and grime at times.
Robert

This surprise effect I know very good! ;)

Here mine again for comparison.

[carlos]

Congratulations Robert!! is a beautiful bolo, well carved! Fortunatelly to you and unfortunatelly to me :) when I was bidding to this bolo my computer crash!! :shrug:
By the way when I have seen you have won this article I have feel that the new owner is good!! always I prefer that when I lost some bid the winner was in this forum.
congrtulations
carlos

[Battara]

Nice puppy. I too was wondering if the eyes needed the extra eye pins.