New Visayan Bolo

[Robert]

Hello everyone, I picked up this bolo/binagon a few days ago because; 1. It was cheep. 2. I liked the carving on the sheath and 3. Except for the fact the hilt is missing the blade itself is in great condition. Now for the questions. Is the figure on the sheath meant to represent a turtle, what would the hilt have looked like and finally can anyone tell me what group/tribe made this piece? The blade itself is 11-7/8 inches with a 3 inch tang. While being just over 1/4 inch thick it is 1-5/8 inches at its widest point. These are the auction photos. Any and all information on this would be greatly appreciated, especially a photo of what the missing hilt would have looked like.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Robert,

intersting item, like the scabbard. Have seen it as well (great price!) but decided to pass on this one because I have already so much restauration projects. I have bought from the same seller this "Bicol" sword with the wooden handle. I think by the look to the scabbard style that it is a very old Visayan sword. And I think that it could have had every Visayan hilt style since I have seen this blade style already with different hilts, figural and the typical rounded plain hilt. The missing hilt and the problem to get a hilt let me pass on this. Wish you good luck for the search to a fitting hilt.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Here is one hilt style your blade could has had. This Visayan sword/bolo I have bought recently for a similar good price like you have paid. Like you see both swords has a very similar blade shape.

[Sajen]

And here you can see a figural hilt style which would also could has been on your blade: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=bicol

So I think you have all options open. But I think it's a difficult undertaking, so again good luck for this project.

Best,
Detlef

[Robert]

Hello Detlef and thank you for your replies to my question on the hilt. The first hilt you posted with the long metal ferrule is pretty standard for blades of this style but all of the ones that I remember seeing (that still had their scabbards) the scabbards had leather throat pieces. The scabbards carved belt attachment and the small size is what intrigued me the most about this piece. That is why I am trying to find out if this used one like the first one posted of if it used one of that style but without the metal ferrule or perhaps one completely different from what has been suggested so far? I have an older hilt that is wood only and though it has a few cracks and is in need of some TLC I was wondering if it might be a more appropriate one for this particular bolo? Here are three photos of it, one with it with the blade set somewhat in place.

Best,
Robert

[Ian]

Robert:

I believe the original item of discussion here is most probably a tenegre from the western Visayas, probably Panay, and almost certainly of Ilongo manufacture.

As such, the choice of hilts would most likely be the traditional little daemon fella, or the stylized version of it that Zelbone once described as a "chicken head" (based on the use of that description by a local Visayan).

Here is a picture that Zel posted some time ago. The center one looks similar to your example and that would probably be a reasonable hilt for it. I think it was probably a working bolo but it could be used as a weapon too.

[BTW I see quite a few recent references to Bicol knives and swords on the site. Many of these look like Visayan pieces to me and I am having difficulty reconciling a Bicol origin for them. While I can see some diffusion of styles might occur into Bicol, these recent discussions remind me of similar discussions about 10 years ago when the distinction between Visayan and Batangan knives was a lively topic. Zelbone (in particular) and Laban Tayo were helpful in sorting some of that out. I think we need a little more discussion on the Bicol knives, with some solid historical evidence to indicate the styles of knives and swords there. The descriptions of eBay sellers are notoriously unreliable.]

Ian.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Robert

Hello Detlef and thank you for your replies to my question on the hilt. The first hilt you posted with the long metal ferrule is pretty standard for blades of this style but all of the ones that I remember seeing (that still had their scabbards) the scabbards had leather throat pieces. The scabbards carved belt attachment and the small size is what intrigued me the most about this piece. That is why I am trying to find out if this used one like the first one posted of if it used one of that style but without the metal ferrule or perhaps one completely different from what has been suggested so far? I have an older hilt that is wood only and though it has a few cracks and is in need of some TLC I was wondering if it might be a more appropriate one for this particular bolo? Here are three photos of it, one with it with the blade set somewhat in place.

Best,
Robert

Hello Robert,

the shown bolo seems to has a replacement hilt from the former owner IMHO. I think like this because the used wood is so bright and simple carved.

Like written before, I think that your bolo with missing hilt has a great age and we only can guess how the hilt has looked original. When I have seen the ebay listing I was thinking already how a handle has to look for this blade but come to a conclusion.

Best,
Detlef