1st Republic Luzon Bolo

[Spunjer]

got back from my first ever Timonium trip, and was rewarded with this 1st Republic piece that is so hard to find. a couple things attracted me to this particular piece:
one, the intricacy on how the handle was carved out of carabao horn. there are numerous silver pins accentuating the dark background, giving it a stunning contrast. there are two or three pins missing, but it's small enough to not distract the look. also, a silver strip is missing, but from the way it looks, it must have been gone for awhile, since the patina is pretty uniform throughout.
the second reason i got attracted to this is the blade. it appears that it was a reformed budiak, making it truly unique. it does have some rough spots towards the tip, but talking to a fellow forumite, he doesn't have a problem smoothing this out. can't wait to see the final outcome. another thing is, this piece is a beast! it's about the same size as a barung...
there were some other good stuff at Timonium, something i have been missing out all these years, lol. Met some new friends as well, which is a big plus!! for sure, there will be a next time!!!

[Robert]

What a beautiful piece Spunjer. I can see why you were attracted to it. Can you tell me the actual weight of this piece? I cannot wait to see it again after you have had the restoration done to it. My congratulations to you on this rare and wonderful new addition to your collection.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Ron,

beautiful addition to your collection, like Robert I am curious to see it again after the blade polish. When you ever get tired to look at it..... ;) :D

Regards,
Detlef

[Spunjer]

thanks!
as for your inquiry, Robert, it weighs a little over 2 pounds.
yes, I'm interested as well on the outcome. I will definitely post pics once I get it back. another curiosity: there were some actions going on the blade, which made us think it's laminated.

[Battara]

So you finally did get it! Good! Better in person and heavy (I was debating on this as well and was at his table).

[mdp10003]

Beautiful!

[Spunjer]

So you finally did get it! Good! Better in person and heavy (I was debating on this as well and was at his table).

literally on the very last second! he was putting it away, and he was about to close the lid, lol. I could see it slipping away very slowly.
yeah, I've been contemplating hard about it all weekend...

[kai]

Hello Ron,

Congrats for obtaining this special piece with supersweet hilt!


the second reason i got attracted to this is the blade. it appears that it was a reformed budiak, making it truly unique.
I'm not yet convinced that the blade is a recycled budiak - that would imply removing a lot of metal!

Keeping my thumbs pressed that the pitting is not too deep and am looking forward to seeing it etched!

Regards,
Kai

[Spunjer]

Hello Kai,
yes, they would have to remove a lot of metal, but OTOH, that would be much easier than forging a whole new blade, yes?
the overall shape of the blade just throws me off. never seen a Luzon bolo in which the median ridge this pronounced. it has a diamond cross section, much like a budiak. another thing is something that I believed we have discussed before, as in during this time period, there was a strong resurgence on anything Moro (reason you will see kris-like dagger in the Ilocos region; also how some moro krises are rehilted and resheathed, aka visayan krises). a budiak would definitely fit right in...

[Battara]

One additional note, Tagalog dagger blades (as well as other Luzon blades) did have diamond cross sections during this period as well.........

[Maurice]

Congratulations Ron,

What an awesome piece.
The handle is striking and has a good old patina.
Great carving too...

Regards,
Maurice

[kino]

A beautiful hilt, the details of the carvings are amazing.
I'll have to side with Kai on the blade. It seems that the medial ridge veers off center. Like most, I'd like to see the outcome of the polish and etch.

Side note...I've been contemplating the Baltimore show, but I just can't justify shelling out for the plane fare from the West Coast, accommodations, rental car, while that money could be spent towards something that's on the auction block online. On the other hand the camaraderie with fellow members would be priceless.
if you or anyone got photos of the show, post them..

[VANDOO]

A GREAT CATCH :cool: IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHO MADE THESE, HOW MANY YEARS THEY WERE MADE AND HOW MANY WERE MADE.
JUDGING FROM THE QUALITY OF HORN CARVING, SILVER WORK AND BLADE WORK (SOME WITH FANCY INLAY OR ENGRAVING) AND EVEN THE LEATHER SCABBARDS THAT SOMETIMES ACCOMPANY THEM. THAT MEANS A VERY HIGH QUALITY SHOP WITH SEVERAL HIGHLY SKILLED ARTISTS WORKING IN SEVERAL FIELDS. THESE WERE MADE FOR THE ELITE OR HIGH RANKING OR PRESENTATION SO THERE SHOULD BE RECORDS OF ALL SUCH SHOPS ITS OWNERS AND NOTED CRAFTSMEN.
I ONLY HAVE ONE IN MY COLLECTION AND PHILIPPINE KNIVES OF THIS QUALITY ARE FEW AND COME IN A VARIETY OF FORMS BUT THE WORKMANSHIP ALWAYS LOOKS SIMILAR. I SUSPECT THERE WAS ONLY ONE OR TWO SHOPS MAKING THIS QUALITY OF KNIFE.

[carlos]

Congratulations !! This piece is wonderful !!! One of my favoutites types of knives ! Philippines, horn and silver !!
Enjoy the bolo !!
Thanks !!
Carlos

[Spunjer]

Side note...I've been contemplating the Baltimore show, but I just can't justify shelling out for the plane fare from the West Coast, accommodations, rental car, while that money could be spent towards something that's on the auction block online. On the other hand the camaraderie with fellow members would be priceless. if you or anyone got photos of the show, post them..
it's one a year event, Al. definitely worth it. attaching pictures (sorry, kinda biased. i wished i have taken more pics, but wasn't sure how the committee people would think about it)

good point on some luzon with diamond cross section, jose! i will definitely post once i get it back.
barry, i'm with you that this type is an enigma. we do know this particular style is from luzon, but specifically what part, we don't know.
it has been postulated that the decoration on the handle of these blades corresponds with the rank of the owner in the first republic army.
thanks carlos! i was wondering if you can post yours as well? i can't seem to find it in the archives.

[kino]

Thanks for sharing the photos. I see nothing biased about them ;) .

[VANDOO]

THE KAMPILIANS MUST HAVE KNOWN I WAS NOT GOING TO BE THERE AND IT WAS SAFE TO COME OUT OF HIDING. :p I CAN SEE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPENSIVE TRIP JUST FROM THESE PICTURES. :D
NOT KNOWING THE SHOP WHO MADE THESE FANCY EDGED WEAPONS IS KIND OF LIKE NOT KNOWING THE NAME OR COMPANY WHO MADE ROLLSROYCE CARS. VERY STRANGE !! THE INFORMATION MUST BE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE AND THE COMPANY AND ITS ARTISTS DESERVE RECOGNITION AND A PLACE IN HISTORY. :)

[Spunjer]

finally got this piece back from Philip Tom. he did such an excellent job on removing the crud, polishing, and finally, etching the blade. i stand corrected in that the blade is purely Luzon. thank you guys! i took the liberty in placing it next to a barung for comparison. note the bulk on this beast. you could also see the hardened edge on it.

[Spunjer]

here it is compared to another itak, although the latter is more of a knife. i also notice that the smaller one has a tad more intricate decoration on the handle. the blade on the smaller piece has busier lamination pattern as well...

[Sajen]

Hello Ron,
again, it's a beauty beast! :D It has now received the care that was needed. I am green with envy. ;)

Regards,
Detlef

[carlos]

Hello !! sorry for delay in answer, I didn,t read you want some pictures os my carved horn hilt.

[Spunjer]

Thanks Carlos,
this would make a nice data bank for future reference. thank you!

[carlos]

Hello !! sorry for delay in answer, I didn,t read you want some pictures os my carved horn hilt.
More pictures ...

[Battara]

Carlos would you post more pictures or the one with the horn fist hilt please?

[Dimasalang]

Excellent.
Why can't I ever find one of these. :(

[Battara]

I understand Kevin, not many out there......... :(

[xasterix]

Necro'ing this thread, sharing a simpler sample of what may be another First Republic (or older) bolo. Hoping other members would share theirs as well...these elaborately-hilted blades seem to have run on a "limited edition" basis during its era.

[Rafngard]

I was lucky enough to pick this one up recently.
I'm really happy with it.

Thanks,
Leif

[xasterix]

I was lucky enough to pick this one up recently.
I'm really happy with it.

Thanks,
Leif

Great sample Leif! Also indicative that when push comes to shove, even the pretty blades can be used for battle (as I think this one did- probably even several engagements).

[Battara]

Ragnar, this is an expensive blade, and the horn hilt probably had twisted silver wire in some of the crevices. I'm wondering if the bronze on this was added later to replace silver mounts.

[Battara]

Here is my Katipunaro piece.

[Battara]

Here is another horn carved sword I have that Miguel Diaz (from the past) states is also Tagalog. Though some of the scabbard leather is missing, it is pierced.

[xasterix]

Here is my Katipunaro piece.

Very nice! So that's how the silver wire originally wrapped around the underbelly. The brass/bronze parts on mine and Leif's pieces do seem to be replacements. I have another piece with brass/bronze, I've noticed those parts seem to be retrofitted (unlike yours, which is a cohesive whole piece). This is telling, as it would indicate the original owners (or at least their family) were wealthy enough to have their damaged pieces repaired.

I think it's safe to assume that these blades may have existed even before the Katipunan, as Sir Lorenz Lasco cited the documentation of Madrid's 1887 Philippine Exhibition wherein such pieces were featured. In that instance, the elaborate bolos were marked as coming from Binan, Laguna; but different areas (North, Central, probably even South) Luzon probably produced such thematic pieces even before the Katipunan.

A well-placed friend in Spain also told me that their museum experts age-estimate such bolos as early as 1850s. In terms of aesthetics, I would view these as the pinnacle of Luzon craftmanship, as such elaborate carvings were not seen anymore in turn-of-century pieces.