Visayan "pinuti"

Spunjer · 23rd April 2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

And then there is the Bonifacio, which I think is a long, clipped blade but I would appreciate someone providing examples of that particular style.

i was going ask about this particular type of sword, as i've seen an example with what appears to be a visayan type, only with a clipped point, ala bowie knife...

tom hyle · 23rd April 2005, 03:28 PM

Bonifacio is an historical figure. One imagines that perhaps the association of a certain sword type with him may be both as vague and/or as well-founded as the Jim Bowie/Mexican bolo connection (which seems to me to run in the other direction than typically claimed in US, if it exists at all); in US, for whatever that's worth, it more seems to refer to the style of hilt; octagonal horn, usually a very stylized swell-centered hoof shape; with a long brass bolster (sometimes a ferule) and a certain characteristic often/usually cast-on brass European style guard as seen on "Africa, Naga, SE Asia?" in iron and likely European/Eurocolonial. There's great variety in the blades; I've heard that the "true" Bonifacio ones are either the bowie-like short-clip ones, or (variously) the matulis-like ones with long points. Squared/cut-point blades are also seen, and (I think newly) a wild profusion of other shapes. It seems to me to be the cultural successor to the older style matulis.

Spunjer · 23rd April 2005, 04:27 PM

that's just it; i've never heard of "bonifacio" type sword until recently. whenever i see a pictures or sculptures(notably the bonifacio monument in Monumento, Caloocan city), of andres (bonifacio) weilding a sword, it's always what is comonly known as itak, nothing more. I wonder if this certain type (the "bonifacio") is derived from these pictures, or did andres has a specific type of itak? hmmmm....

Rick · 23rd April 2005, 04:51 PM

This is what I understand to be a 'Bonifacio' bolo .
Corrections are more than welcome .

Ian · 23rd April 2005, 07:07 PM

Thanks Rick. That was my understanding too. Be interesting to see what other styles people think are also called Bonifacio.

Andres Bonifacio -- born November 30, 1863 in the town of Tondo (now part of Manila). Growing up in humble surroundings, he was a smart guy and self-educated. Inspired by Jose Rizal, Bonifacio joined Rizal's La Liga Filipina which had been founded in 1892 as a peaceful brotherhood and charitable organization. With the arrest and exile of Rizal by the Spanish Government later the same year, Bonifacio became convinced that armed revolution was necessary.

On July 7, 1892 he founded a group called the K.K.K. which stood for Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan nang manga Anak nang Bayan, or Katipunan, for short. A clandestine group that met secretly, it was open to Filipinos who sought to separate themselves from Spanish rule.

The Spanish uncovered the Katipunan plot on August 19, 1896, and set about capturing and executing the plotters. Bonifacio was ill prepared for a battle, but nevertheless, on August 30, 1896, led a band of 800 Katipuneros in an attack on a gunpowder storehouse in San Juan del Monte. An initially successful attack turned into disaster when Spanish reinorcements arrived. Nearly half of the Katipuneros were killed, or captured only to be executed shortly afterwards. Bonifacio and remnants of his group escaped to Cavite.

Shortly afterwards a rift developed between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo with the creation of two rival groups within the Katipunan. Aguinaldo eventually out manouvered Bonifacio and was elected the President of the revolutionary forces.

On April 26, 1897 Bonifacio was arrested by Aguinaldo's orders. Bonifacio, defiant to the end, put up a fight and was wounded during his capture. At a trial on May 8, 1897, both Bonifacio and his brother were sentenced to death by Aguinaldo's tribunal. Two days later they were executed near Lake Taal.

tom hyle · 23rd April 2005, 09:13 PM

Rick, I think the flat guard on yours may make it different (older? at least stylistically?) than the ones I, at least, think of, which have similar handles, though the dog head is less usual than a hoof shape, and I don't know whether the type crossquard I described can be said to characterize the form or not; it seems to be one of the newer evolutions of matulis, etc. What a sentence structure; hopefully someone can make sense of it; I must pry myself up and do an errand of helping.....

Rick · 23rd April 2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Rick, I think the flat guard on yours may make it different (older? at least stylistically?) than the ones I, at least, think of, which have similar handles, though the dog head is less usual than a hoof shape, and I don't know whether the type crossquard I described can be said to characterize the form or not; it seems to be one of the newer evolutions of matulis, etc. What a sentence structure; hopefully someone can make sense of it; I must pry myself up and do an errand of helping.....

I suspect this one is SpanAm era but am not positive .
I believe I bought it from Oliver Perrin .
The guard is slightly dished with the concave side toward the point .

Federico · 23rd April 2005, 09:47 PM

Im with Rick and Ian, when I hear the word Bonifacio bolo, that is the style I think of. In modern terms, the vast majority of those Luzon "Negrito" bolo would fit with the Bonifacio style. Though along with what Spunjer is saying, I remember my dad telling me while this style is sold as the "Bonifacio" the actual bolo Bonifacio used was just a plain old bolo/itak. On a side note, my father used to tell me that the bolo his Waray Grandfather used for arnis, and called a sundang, was similar in blade shape to the "Bonifacio" style, just to throw some more confusion to the mix.

23rd April 2005, 04:51 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Bonifacio ? This is what I understand to be a 'Bonifacio' bolo . Corrections are more than welcome . Attached Images

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23rd April 2005, 03:28 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Bonifacio is an historical figure. One imagines that perhaps the association of a certain sword type with him may be both as vague and/or as well-founded as the Jim Bowie/Mexican bolo connection (which seems to me to run in the other direction than typically claimed in US, if it exists at all); in US, for whatever that's worth, it more seems to refer to the style of hilt; octagonal horn, usually a very stylized swell-centered hoof shape; with a long brass bolster (sometimes a ferule) and a certain characteristic often/usually cast-on brass European style guard as seen on "Africa, Naga, SE Asia?" in iron and likely European/Eurocolonial. There's great variety in the blades; I've heard that the "true" Bonifacio ones are either the bowie-like short-clip ones, or (variously) the matulis-like ones with long points. Squared/cut-point blades are also seen, and (I think newly) a wild profusion of other shapes. It seems to me to be the cultural successor to the older style matulis.

23rd April 2005, 04:27 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	that's just it; i've never heard of "bonifacio" type sword until recently. whenever i see a pictures or sculptures(notably the bonifacio monument in Monumento, Caloocan city), of andres (bonifacio) weilding a sword, it's always what is comonly known as itak, nothing more. I wonder if this certain type (the "bonifacio") is derived from these pictures, or did andres has a specific type of itak? hmmmm....

23rd April 2005, 07:07 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Thanks Rick. That was my understanding too. Be interesting to see what other styles people think are also called Bonifacio. Andres Bonifacio -- born November 30, 1863 in the town of Tondo (now part of Manila). Growing up in humble surroundings, he was a smart guy and self-educated. Inspired by Jose Rizal, Bonifacio joined Rizal's La Liga Filipina which had been founded in 1892 as a peaceful brotherhood and charitable organization. With the arrest and exile of Rizal by the Spanish Government later the same year, Bonifacio became convinced that armed revolution was necessary. On July 7, 1892 he founded a group called the K.K.K. which stood for Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan nang manga Anak nang Bayan, or Katipunan, for short. A clandestine group that met secretly, it was open to Filipinos who sought to separate themselves from Spanish rule. The Spanish uncovered the Katipunan plot on August 19, 1896, and set about capturing and executing the plotters. Bonifacio was ill prepared for a battle, but nevertheless, on August 30, 1896, led a band of 800 Katipuneros in an attack on a gunpowder storehouse in San Juan del Monte. An initially successful attack turned into disaster when Spanish reinorcements arrived. Nearly half of the Katipuneros were killed, or captured only to be executed shortly afterwards. Bonifacio and remnants of his group escaped to Cavite. Shortly afterwards a rift developed between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo with the creation of two rival groups within the Katipunan. Aguinaldo eventually out manouvered Bonifacio and was elected the President of the revolutionary forces. On April 26, 1897 Bonifacio was arrested by Aguinaldo's orders. Bonifacio, defiant to the end, put up a fight and was wounded during his capture. At a trial on May 8, 1897, both Bonifacio and his brother were sentenced to death by Aguinaldo's tribunal. Two days later they were executed near Lake Taal.

23rd April 2005, 09:13 PM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Rick, I think the flat guard on yours may make it different (older? at least stylistically?) than the ones I, at least, think of, which have similar handles, though the dog head is less usual than a hoof shape, and I don't know whether the type crossquard I described can be said to characterize the form or not; it seems to be one of the newer evolutions of matulis, etc. What a sentence structure; hopefully someone can make sense of it; I must pry myself up and do an errand of helping.....

23rd April 2005, 09:47 PM	#8
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Im with Rick and Ian, when I hear the word Bonifacio bolo, that is the style I think of. In modern terms, the vast majority of those Luzon "Negrito" bolo would fit with the Bonifacio style. Though along with what Spunjer is saying, I remember my dad telling me while this style is sold as the "Bonifacio" the actual bolo Bonifacio used was just a plain old bolo/itak. On a side note, my father used to tell me that the bolo his Waray Grandfather used for arnis, and called a sundang, was similar in blade shape to the "Bonifacio" style, just to throw some more confusion to the mix.