Philippine Bolo

Sajen · 7th April 2020, 05:45 PM

Hello Yves,

Welcome to the forum! I also think that your very interesting bolo is from the Kaolu or Tagakaolo, very interesting with the painting and lettering.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 7th April 2020, 10:18 PM

Hello Yves, and welcome to the Forum!

Thanks for posting this very interesting example. The only thing that is definitively Tagakaolu/Kaolu on your piece is the hilt. The curious "ears" to the pommel are uniquely Kaolu as far as I know.

Attached is a picture showing various hilts from Bagobo/Kaolu swords. The oldest is the traditional Bagobo hilt in the upper left. In the bottom right corner is an example of the same form of hilt as shown on your bolo.

In looking at your sword, the edge appears to have a prominent bevel and I wonder if it has a chisel grind. This would be very unusual for a Kaolu blade as the Bagobo/Kaolu knives and swords have a V-grind. If it does have a chisel grind, then the blade is likely Visayan with a hilt from the Kaolu. Since the Kaolu live on Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano on the outskirts of Davao City, and a large population of Visayans live in Davao City, it would not be at all surprising to see a combination of a Visayan blade and a Kaolu hilt. That blade form is certainly produced in many Visayan areas. Overall, I think your bolo was a working tool, as evidenced by the many knicks and chips to the blade, rather than primarily a weapon. The humble, roughly carved hilt, would fit with that use also.

The scabbard may be Kaolu but has been decorated by another culture. The Japanese inscription suggests it was the product of a Japanese soldier during WWII, who perhaps adopted the bolo as his personal jungle knife or machete.

A very interesting piece. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Ian.

Battara · 8th April 2020, 02:57 AM

Welcome to our little forum (and Mabuhay!)!

I totally agree with Ian. All I can add is that the manner of the carvings, the paint, and the manner of blade was made all point to me to WWII.

And I agree with you that many weapons (including copies of Japanese katana) were made locally for Japanese soldiers during the occupation.

Sajen · 8th April 2020, 07:40 AM

It should be remembered this nice sword Ian has shown a long time ago: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Tagakaolo

Ren Ren · 8th April 2020, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Welcome to our little forum (and Mabuhay!)!

And I agree with you that many weapons (including copies of Japanese katana) were made locally for Japanese soldiers during the occupation.

In the auxiliary units of the Japanese Imperial Army, not only the Japanese served, but also the peoples from the occupied countries. Or I'm wrong?

kronckew · 8th April 2020, 08:11 PM

A box used to hold service records may have been repurposed into a scabbard when the service of the Japanese was terminated and the box remained when he didn't.

Battara · 8th April 2020, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

In the auxiliary units of the Japanese Imperial Army, not only the Japanese served, but also the peoples from the occupied countries. Or I'm wrong?

There were some collaborators, but most of the people hated the Japanese soldiers and government, especially if you include little things like forced labor,
forcing girls from 10 years old to women of 40 to become "comfort women" to "serve" the Japanese soldiers, and other atrocities from the minute they arrived. They hated them so much that Filipinos, Moros, and all tribes united fought against them (instead of each other). My 10 year old father had to flee with my lolo to the forested mountains to escape forced labor camps and his little sister and my lola put dirt on their faces and dirty clothes so that the Japanese soldiers would not rape them both.

Sorry, I'll stop now. This is just to give folks a very tiny taste of that time there.

To further answer your question, many Koreans were forced to be in auxiliary units, and perhaps others.

Ren Ren · 9th April 2020, 12:19 AM

Thank you for answer, Battara! Believe me, I didn’t want to offend your feelings - we in Russia know well how the invaders behaved in the occupied territory.

But I would like to return to the Japanese soldier "service records bag". From the information that I could find in Russian and English, it follows that this was an important thing, which was not only the subject of military ammunition. For the Japanese reservist, the bag was a symbol of his connection with the Army - he was kept in a place of honor in the house in the wall hollow "tokonoma". I suppose that decorating scabbard of the bolo with the inscription "hokobukuro", its owner wanted to show his connection with the Japanese Army. But the Japanese soldier had nothing to do for this - he had his own genuine bag. This was probably done by a person who was not so familiar with Japanese rules and customs.

Battara · 10th April 2020, 04:19 AM

Oh no offense taken. The Nazi's were insanely brutal occupiers to the Russians as well, unfortunately.

7th April 2020, 10:18 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Kaolu hilt Hello Yves, and welcome to the Forum! Thanks for posting this very interesting example. The only thing that is definitively Tagakaolu/Kaolu on your piece is the hilt. The curious "ears" to the pommel are uniquely Kaolu as far as I know. Attached is a picture showing various hilts from Bagobo/Kaolu swords. The oldest is the traditional Bagobo hilt in the upper left. In the bottom right corner is an example of the same form of hilt as shown on your bolo. In looking at your sword, the edge appears to have a prominent bevel and I wonder if it has a chisel grind. This would be very unusual for a Kaolu blade as the Bagobo/Kaolu knives and swords have a V-grind. If it does have a chisel grind, then the blade is likely Visayan with a hilt from the Kaolu. Since the Kaolu live on Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano on the outskirts of Davao City, and a large population of Visayans live in Davao City, it would not be at all surprising to see a combination of a Visayan blade and a Kaolu hilt. That blade form is certainly produced in many Visayan areas. Overall, I think your bolo was a working tool, as evidenced by the many knicks and chips to the blade, rather than primarily a weapon. The humble, roughly carved hilt, would fit with that use also. The scabbard may be Kaolu but has been decorated by another culture. The Japanese inscription suggests it was the product of a Japanese soldier during WWII, who perhaps adopted the bolo as his personal jungle knife or machete. A very interesting piece. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Ian. Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 7th April 2020 at 10:42 PM.

8th April 2020, 07:40 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	It should be remembered this nice sword Ian has shown a long time ago: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Tagakaolo Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

7th April 2020, 05:45 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	Hello Yves, Welcome to the forum! I also think that your very interesting bolo is from the Kaolu or Tagakaolo, very interesting with the painting and lettering. Regards, Detlef

8th April 2020, 02:57 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Welcome to our little forum (and Mabuhay!)! I totally agree with Ian. All I can add is that the manner of the carvings, the paint, and the manner of blade was made all point to me to WWII. And I agree with you that many weapons (including copies of Japanese katana) were made locally for Japanese soldiers during the occupation.

8th April 2020, 08:11 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	A box used to hold service records may have been repurposed into a scabbard when the service of the Japanese was terminated and the box remained when he didn't.

9th April 2020, 12:19 AM	#8
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	Thank you for answer, Battara! Believe me, I didn’t want to offend your feelings - we in Russia know well how the invaders behaved in the occupied territory. But I would like to return to the Japanese soldier "service records bag". From the information that I could find in Russian and English, it follows that this was an important thing, which was not only the subject of military ammunition. For the Japanese reservist, the bag was a symbol of his connection with the Army - he was kept in a place of honor in the house in the wall hollow "tokonoma". I suppose that decorating scabbard of the bolo with the inscription "hokobukuro", its owner wanted to show his connection with the Japanese Army. But the Japanese soldier had nothing to do for this - he had his own genuine bag. This was probably done by a person who was not so familiar with Japanese rules and customs.

10th April 2020, 04:19 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Oh no offense taken. The Nazi's were insanely brutal occupiers to the Russians as well, unfortunately.