Luzon Bolo With Wootz Blade!

Lew · 25th August 2005, 10:13 PM

Hi Guys

I spoke with Al Pendray today he saw the pictures and thinks it is Indian wootz and he agrees it wasn't forged from a billet to him it seems the blade was reworked from a larger sword blade.

Lew

RSWORD · 26th August 2005, 02:20 AM

This is a blade I would love to see in person. I do hope you have an opportunity to take it with you to the Ashokan seminar so that several people can have a close look at it. It is always better to form a firm opinion from something like this in person versus in pictures. At this time, I still remain skeptical and do not believe it to be wootz but I would love to see it in person and change my mind. If it is a reworked blade, I am curious as to what the spine of the blade looks like. Does it show any evidence of lamellar activity or the typical "cleft" one often finds on wootz blades?

ibeam · 28th August 2005, 04:11 PM

Hello All and thank you for all your post and interest on this bolo.

I understand how unlikely a wootz blade would be found on a Filipino sword and let alone on a tagalog blade of Christian region. The patterning on the blade is very tight and never seen it before on any Filipino sandata. Lew was skeptical as well when I told him about it. This was the reason why I brought it over to have him take a closer look at it.

The blade is chisel ground. The patterning is only visible on the beveled side and not visible on the flat side.

The blade was previously etched and Lew did a light etch on it with FeCl.

Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Ashokan and have asked Lew if he could bring this bolo with him. Hopefully many of you could get a chance to look at it in person and give a more definite conclusion.

Here are a few more pics. This is the best I can do with the camera that I have.

Ian · 6th September 2005, 01:36 AM

Any update for us on this one?

Ian.

Lew · 6th September 2005, 01:55 AM

Ian

I will be taking the bolo to Ashokan Dr. Ann will able able to look at and let us know what she thinks.

Lew

Ian · 19th September 2005, 08:16 PM

Hi Lew. Good to see you are back from Ashokan. What was the final verdict?

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Ian

I will be taking the bolo to Ashokan Dr. Ann will able able to look at and let us know what she thinks.

Lew

Lew · 19th September 2005, 09:36 PM

Ian

The experts thinks its a very high quality pattern welded blade but they couldn't explain why they see both pattern welding in one area and a wootz pattern in another? They said if I just showed them a picture of the wootzy area they would swear it was wootz but they spotted a fine pattern welding near the hilt.

Lew

28th August 2005, 04:11 PM	#3
ibeam Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 134	More Pics Hello All and thank you for all your post and interest on this bolo. I understand how unlikely a wootz blade would be found on a Filipino sword and let alone on a tagalog blade of Christian region. The patterning on the blade is very tight and never seen it before on any Filipino sandata. Lew was skeptical as well when I told him about it. This was the reason why I brought it over to have him take a closer look at it. The blade is chisel ground. The patterning is only visible on the beveled side and not visible on the flat side. The blade was previously etched and Lew did a light etch on it with FeCl. Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Ashokan and have asked Lew if he could bring this bolo with him. Hopefully many of you could get a chance to look at it in person and give a more definite conclusion. Here are a few more pics. This is the best I can do with the camera that I have. Attached Images

25th August 2005, 10:13 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Guys I spoke with Al Pendray today he saw the pictures and thinks it is Indian wootz and he agrees it wasn't forged from a billet to him it seems the blade was reworked from a larger sword blade. Lew

26th August 2005, 02:20 AM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	This is a blade I would love to see in person. I do hope you have an opportunity to take it with you to the Ashokan seminar so that several people can have a close look at it. It is always better to form a firm opinion from something like this in person versus in pictures. At this time, I still remain skeptical and do not believe it to be wootz but I would love to see it in person and change my mind. If it is a reworked blade, I am curious as to what the spine of the blade looks like. Does it show any evidence of lamellar activity or the typical "cleft" one often finds on wootz blades?

6th September 2005, 01:36 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Any update for us on this one? Ian.

6th September 2005, 01:55 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ian I will be taking the bolo to Ashokan Dr. Ann will able able to look at and let us know what she thinks. Lew

19th September 2005, 09:36 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ian The experts thinks its a very high quality pattern welded blade but they couldn't explain why they see both pattern welding in one area and a wootz pattern in another? They said if I just showed them a picture of the wootzy area they would swear it was wootz but they spotted a fine pattern welding near the hilt. Lew