Klewang/Bolo ID Assist?

Ian · 15th February 2005, 05:04 PM

I agree with Tom about the mak. It is a potent chopper, often with a substantial blade. The thicknesses of the blade just in front of the hilts on my two are about 5/8 inch for the top one and about 3/8 inch for the lower one. Both blades are very sharp along the concave edge.

These were probably used to clear brush, chop down bamboo, small branches, etc. The "hook" would be well suited to removing small, low-hanging branches from trees (much like garden tool branch loppers we can obtain in the US).

Ian.

VANDOO · 15th February 2005, 05:37 PM

WELCOME BACK MIKE!
I HAD BID ON THIS ITEM ALSO AND IT IS A LOT NICER THAN THE DESCRIPTIONS AND PICTURES. CONGRADULATIONS IT APPEARS TO HAVE THE CHISIL EDGED BLADE FLAT ON ONE SIDE TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE, THE FACE LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM THAT AREA ALSO PROBABLY VISIAN ISLANDS. THE SPLIT HANDLE ATTACHED WITH PINS AND THEN REINFORCED WITH COPPER BANDS MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY OUTSIDE CONTACT OR MIGHT BE A VARIATION OF THE PANABAS TYPE HANDLES BUT I DON'T THINK THEY HAD PINS. I WOULD RULE OUT A MORO ORIGIN BUT WHAT GROUP TO ASIGN IT TO HAS ME STUMPED ALSO. WHICH PHILIPPINE TRIBES LIKED TO PUT HAIR OR SOMETHING IN THE POMEL OF THEIR SWORDS? YOU MIGHT TRY A LIGHT ETCH TO SEE IF THE BLADE IS FORGED WATERED STEEL OR OF UNIFORM COMPOSITION. GOOD LUCK

Conogre · 15th February 2005, 08:02 PM

Thanks all, and no ofense meant about "rice choppers" Tom, an obviously bad choice of words! **grin**
The Mak actually look very interesting, similar to a Thai tool used for, I think, harvesting and clearing bananas, with theirs being socketed rather than tanged.
Barry, the blade isn't chisel type, something important that I didn't think to add, but rather uniformly slanting down both sides to a razor edge.
I must have taken another stupid pill as I found another PI piece that's similarly mounted, minus the bands, a fairly contemorary machete or brush knife from the N. Islands that also has the open hilt, dark wood and three large pins, as well as an even heavier Iif conventionally shaped) blade, this one with a leather sheath, so it probably IS Visayan in origin.
I just can't help wondering if some of these atypical pieces that I find so attractive aren't older weapon/tool styles that either are or have vanished with modernization, as well as feeling that we are the losers as they vanish into time without even leaving a footnote.

Andrew · 16th February 2005, 02:47 AM

Mike! Great to see you here.

15th February 2005, 05:04 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,363	Mak is a powerful chopper I agree with Tom about the mak. It is a potent chopper, often with a substantial blade. The thicknesses of the blade just in front of the hilts on my two are about 5/8 inch for the top one and about 3/8 inch for the lower one. Both blades are very sharp along the concave edge. These were probably used to clear brush, chop down bamboo, small branches, etc. The "hook" would be well suited to removing small, low-hanging branches from trees (much like garden tool branch loppers we can obtain in the US). Ian.

15th February 2005, 05:37 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WELCOME BACK MIKE! I HAD BID ON THIS ITEM ALSO AND IT IS A LOT NICER THAN THE DESCRIPTIONS AND PICTURES. CONGRADULATIONS IT APPEARS TO HAVE THE CHISIL EDGED BLADE FLAT ON ONE SIDE TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE, THE FACE LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM THAT AREA ALSO PROBABLY VISIAN ISLANDS. THE SPLIT HANDLE ATTACHED WITH PINS AND THEN REINFORCED WITH COPPER BANDS MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY OUTSIDE CONTACT OR MIGHT BE A VARIATION OF THE PANABAS TYPE HANDLES BUT I DON'T THINK THEY HAD PINS. I WOULD RULE OUT A MORO ORIGIN BUT WHAT GROUP TO ASIGN IT TO HAS ME STUMPED ALSO. WHICH PHILIPPINE TRIBES LIKED TO PUT HAIR OR SOMETHING IN THE POMEL OF THEIR SWORDS? YOU MIGHT TRY A LIGHT ETCH TO SEE IF THE BLADE IS FORGED WATERED STEEL OR OF UNIFORM COMPOSITION. GOOD LUCK

15th February 2005, 08:02 PM	#3
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Thanks all, and no ofense meant about "rice choppers" Tom, an obviously bad choice of words! grin The Mak actually look very interesting, similar to a Thai tool used for, I think, harvesting and clearing bananas, with theirs being socketed rather than tanged. Barry, the blade isn't chisel type, something important that I didn't think to add, but rather uniformly slanting down both sides to a razor edge. I must have taken another stupid pill as I found another PI piece that's similarly mounted, minus the bands, a fairly contemorary machete or brush knife from the N. Islands that also has the open hilt, dark wood and three large pins, as well as an even heavier Iif conventionally shaped) blade, this one with a leather sheath, so it probably IS Visayan in origin. I just can't help wondering if some of these atypical pieces that I find so attractive aren't older weapon/tool styles that either are or have vanished with modernization, as well as feeling that we are the losers as they vanish into time without even leaving a footnote.

16th February 2005, 02:47 AM	#4
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Mike! Great to see you here.