Bagobo sword

Battara · 23rd March 2005, 07:21 PM

As promised, here are pictures of the bagobo sword after I restored it. I made the chain, the brass end cap (with beads) and etched the blade showing twist core. (sent to Lee for resizing).

Enjoy.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 25th March 2005, 12:58 PM

Beautiful Batara, Sorry I've been gone so long. I did get one day off to go sword shopping and here's what I picked up. Scabbards been repaired and the brass is really worn (handle is incredibly small). I especially liked the decoration added to the butt of the scabbard, don't know if you can make it out in the pictures, but it gave me a laugh when I was cleaning it and figured out what it was.

Battara · 25th March 2005, 06:52 PM

Can't tell from the pictures. What is it? Nice piece - don't you just love lamination?

Ian · 25th March 2005, 07:06 PM

Hi dan:

Good to have you back. That's a very nice example of the small kampilan probably prduced by the Tagakaolo (aka Kaolu) near Davao City in Mindanao. The Kaolu live adjacent to the Bagobo, and not surprisingly share weapons that are very similar in appearance. This could be a Bagobo sword, but the hilt is more consistent with the Kaolu, and there is no beadwork on the scabbard which is almost invariably present on Bagobo swords.

In the past, and perhaps on the old Forum, I would have called your example Bagobo, but I was informed of the distinction between Bagobo and Kaolu swords about two years ago. Many dealers still call these "Bagobo" because the Bagobo are a better known tribe (and their craftwork is considered better quality).

Ian.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 26th March 2005, 05:14 AM

Thanks for the corection Ian.

The decoration wrapped around the four posts are brass wire and ... a zipper!

Battara · 26th March 2005, 06:45 PM

A Zipper?

tom hyle · 26th March 2005, 06:57 PM

I love it! I remember getting an old African sword whose handle wrap was a 1/2-melted wonderbread bag, then there's the PI sword I had whose pommel nut turned out to be the dial from a Eurotype oil lamp.

23rd March 2005, 07:21 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	As promised, here are pictures of the bagobo sword after I restored it. I made the chain, the brass end cap (with beads) and etched the blade showing twist core. (sent to Lee for resizing). Enjoy. Attached Images Last edited by Lee Jones; 25th March 2005 at 12:47 PM.

25th March 2005, 12:58 PM	#2
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Another bagobo Beautiful Batara, Sorry I've been gone so long. I did get one day off to go sword shopping and here's what I picked up. Scabbards been repaired and the brass is really worn (handle is incredibly small). I especially liked the decoration added to the butt of the scabbard, don't know if you can make it out in the pictures, but it gave me a laugh when I was cleaning it and figured out what it was. Attached Images

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25th March 2005, 06:52 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Can't tell from the pictures. What is it? Nice piece - don't you just love lamination?

25th March 2005, 07:06 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,521	Hi dan: Good to have you back. That's a very nice example of the small kampilan probably prduced by the Tagakaolo (aka Kaolu) near Davao City in Mindanao. The Kaolu live adjacent to the Bagobo, and not surprisingly share weapons that are very similar in appearance. This could be a Bagobo sword, but the hilt is more consistent with the Kaolu, and there is no beadwork on the scabbard which is almost invariably present on Bagobo swords. In the past, and perhaps on the old Forum, I would have called your example Bagobo, but I was informed of the distinction between Bagobo and Kaolu swords about two years ago. Many dealers still call these "Bagobo" because the Bagobo are a better known tribe (and their craftwork is considered better quality). Ian.

26th March 2005, 05:14 AM	#5
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Thanks for the corection Ian. The decoration wrapped around the four posts are brass wire and ... a zipper!

26th March 2005, 06:45 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	A Zipper?

26th March 2005, 06:57 PM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I love it! I remember getting an old African sword whose handle wrap was a 1/2-melted wonderbread bag, then there's the PI sword I had whose pommel nut turned out to be the dial from a Eurotype oil lamp.