"Bagobo Golok"?

VVV · 22nd April 2006, 09:39 AM

Back home again and recieved this eBay sword that probably some of you recognise?
It resembles the Bagobo Golok pictured in Stone p. 249, except missing the large cast brass piece on the handle.
Searching old forum threads it also resembles the Mandaya/Manobo swords that Ian and Rick has posted.

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000548.html
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001052.html

The seller, who is a member of this forum, wasn't convinced that the scabbard matched the sword.
But I find some of the patterns on the blade similar to those on the scabbard? And the blade fits the scabbard.

Look forward to all comments.

Michael

Rick · 22nd April 2006, 04:22 PM

This looks very much like the sword that the unknown native was holding in a picture that Ian posted asking for identification and tribe .
I can't remember the thread title but I copped the picture to try a photoshop for more detail (sorry Ian) .
Anyway here's the picture ; maybe it will jog someones memory ; I also recall that someone weighed in on this thread many months later offering an answer .

VVV · 22nd April 2006, 04:53 PM

Thanks Rick,

I remember that thread. Here is the link:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235

Maybe I am wrong but I don't think it's the same sword.
Actually that bolo's blade resembled more the strange Y-bolos found in old
Filipino collections as well as in Hein's Indonesische Schwertgriffe?

Michael

Rick · 22nd April 2006, 04:59 PM

Yes , you're correct ; plus the spine on the example you show is straight .

Ian · 22nd April 2006, 10:56 PM

Michael:

I'm confident your sword is not Bagobo. Apart from the fat bellied blade, it has no features of Bagobo work and the scabbard is wrong.

I'm going to suggest N. Borneo for this one, primarily because of the blade decoration. An old thread on the previous Forum included examples of N. Borneo blades that had similar dot designs. These were recently made blades for the most part, but they seem to resemble the designs on your blade. That thread is here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001304.html

John might have some further thoughts.

Ian.

P.S. Does that disk guard look a little like the guard on a pakayun?

ibeam · 23rd April 2006, 04:26 AM

Hello VVV,

Here is a very similar piece to yours with a kampilan style blade.

22nd April 2006, 09:39 AM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	"Bagobo Golok"? Back home again and recieved this eBay sword that probably some of you recognise? It resembles the Bagobo Golok pictured in Stone p. 249, except missing the large cast brass piece on the handle. Searching old forum threads it also resembles the Mandaya/Manobo swords that Ian and Rick has posted. http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000548.html http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001052.html The seller, who is a member of this forum, wasn't convinced that the scabbard matched the sword. But I find some of the patterns on the blade similar to those on the scabbard? And the blade fits the scabbard. Look forward to all comments. Michael Attached Images

22nd April 2006, 04:22 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,268	This looks very much like the sword that the unknown native was holding in a picture that Ian posted asking for identification and tribe . I can't remember the thread title but I copped the picture to try a photoshop for more detail (sorry Ian) . Anyway here's the picture ; maybe it will jog someones memory ; I also recall that someone weighed in on this thread many months later offering an answer . Attached Images

22nd April 2006, 04:53 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Rick, I remember that thread. Here is the link: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235 Maybe I am wrong but I don't think it's the same sword. Actually that bolo's blade resembled more the strange Y-bolos found in old Filipino collections as well as in Hein's Indonesische Schwertgriffe? Michael Attached Images

22nd April 2006, 10:56 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,071	Maybe N. Borneo Michael: I'm confident your sword is not Bagobo. Apart from the fat bellied blade, it has no features of Bagobo work and the scabbard is wrong. I'm going to suggest N. Borneo for this one, primarily because of the blade decoration. An old thread on the previous Forum included examples of N. Borneo blades that had similar dot designs. These were recently made blades for the most part, but they seem to resemble the designs on your blade. That thread is here: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001304.html John might have some further thoughts. Ian. P.S. Does that disk guard look a little like the guard on a pakayun? Last edited by Ian; 22nd April 2006 at 11:13 PM.

23rd April 2006, 04:26 AM	#6
ibeam Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 134	Similar Hilt Hello VVV, Here is a very similar piece to yours with a kampilan style blade. Attached Images

22nd April 2006, 04:59 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,268	Yes , you're correct ; plus the spine on the example you show is straight .