New Bolo

Rick · 23rd November 2010, 01:45 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pampanga#History

Battara · 23rd November 2010, 03:18 AM

Well, by blade alone I would steer away from Pampangan. However, the fist and carving look good, so I might hesitantly say pre-1900. The hilt is made of worn horn (hey that rhymes

) and the scabbard is made of narra wood. Unique piece. Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?

nacho · 23rd November 2010, 05:27 AM

I think the scabbard is made of Balayong wood. Its deep purple color is highly prized for making furnitures. The wood is no longer available. High end furnitures made of Balayong wood were made in Pampanga up to the very early 1900s.

Battara · 23rd November 2010, 10:22 PM

Balayang wood - not familiar with it. I was basing my thoughts on the red coloration. Interesting.........

Robert · 24th November 2010, 02:28 AM

Hello everyone and thank you for your replies.

Rick,
Thank you for the link. One of the first things I did when this arrived and I found the words carved into the hilt was to do a google search on them and the link you posted was one of the first that I checked out.

Jose,
Yes, the hilt is of worn horn

and I am very happy to hear you think it might be pre 1900. To answer your question "Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?" believe me when I say it is purely by accident or just plain dumb luck, I'm not sure which.

Nacho,
Like Jose I have never heard of Balayong wood. The color of this wood is very dark, almost like teak but with like you say "a deep purple color" to it. It looks more reddish in the photos because of the flash.

Now if someone can tell me the meaning of the words carved into the hilt I would be happy.

I know from the Wikipedia link mentioned by Rick that Apalit is a municipality in the province of Pampanga and was supposedly named after the Apalit tree also known as the Narra the National tree of the Philippines. (This is something I had not known before but interesting none the less.) I do not know if PAMP is supposed to represent Pampanga ? After looking at the carving SON in sunlight with the help of a magnifying glass I think that there might be one more letter "though it is worn almost completely away" that might be an S making the word SONS ? Castro I am guessing might have been the owners name or the writing in total might be a tribute to that person?

All help will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

Reichsritter · 24th November 2010, 07:54 AM

Hi Robert-

A Kapangpangan (a local of Pampanga) friend told me that Apalit is known for bolos, knives and anything metal (rakes, spade hoes etc.). It even have a barangay (local community) called "Capalangan" "Palang" a generic term for knives or bolo. My guess is Castro & Sons of Apalit Pampanga is one of the old home businesses around Apalit that make these domestic metal products.

Battara · 24th November 2010, 11:35 AM

Thanks Reicsritter, that would make a lot of sense......

23rd November 2010, 01:45 AM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Pampangas ?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pampanga#History

23rd November 2010, 03:18 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Well, by blade alone I would steer away from Pampangan. However, the fist and carving look good, so I might hesitantly say pre-1900. The hilt is made of worn horn (hey that rhymes ) and the scabbard is made of narra wood. Unique piece. Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?

23rd November 2010, 05:27 AM	#3
nacho Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Makati Posts: 69	I think the scabbard is made of Balayong wood. Its deep purple color is highly prized for making furnitures. The wood is no longer available. High end furnitures made of Balayong wood were made in Pampanga up to the very early 1900s.

23rd November 2010, 10:22 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Balayang wood - not familiar with it. I was basing my thoughts on the red coloration. Interesting.........

24th November 2010, 02:28 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello everyone and thank you for your replies. Rick, Thank you for the link. One of the first things I did when this arrived and I found the words carved into the hilt was to do a google search on them and the link you posted was one of the first that I checked out. Jose, Yes, the hilt is of worn horn and I am very happy to hear you think it might be pre 1900. To answer your question "Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?" believe me when I say it is purely by accident or just plain dumb luck, I'm not sure which. Nacho, Like Jose I have never heard of Balayong wood. The color of this wood is very dark, almost like teak but with like you say "a deep purple color" to it. It looks more reddish in the photos because of the flash. Now if someone can tell me the meaning of the words carved into the hilt I would be happy. I know from the Wikipedia link mentioned by Rick that Apalit is a municipality in the province of Pampanga and was supposedly named after the Apalit tree also known as the Narra the National tree of the Philippines. (This is something I had not known before but interesting none the less.) I do not know if PAMP is supposed to represent Pampanga ? After looking at the carving SON in sunlight with the help of a magnifying glass I think that there might be one more letter "though it is worn almost completely away" that might be an S making the word SONS ? Castro I am guessing might have been the owners name or the writing in total might be a tribute to that person? All help will be greatly appreciated. Robert

24th November 2010, 07:54 AM	#6
Reichsritter Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 26	Hi Robert- A Kapangpangan (a local of Pampanga) friend told me that Apalit is known for bolos, knives and anything metal (rakes, spade hoes etc.). It even have a barangay (local community) called "Capalangan" "Palang" a generic term for knives or bolo. My guess is Castro & Sons of Apalit Pampanga is one of the old home businesses around Apalit that make these domestic metal products.

24th November 2010, 11:35 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Thanks Reicsritter, that would make a lot of sense......