Luzon bolo with carved horn handle

Sajen · 17th September 2014, 12:57 AM

Have recently won this bolo from Luzon with carved horn handle, 20 1/4 " long complete with a blade length of 14 3/4 ". Blade seems to be made from a file!? Maybe not the finest carving at the handle you can find.
How you would call it and what you think about the age?

Robert · 17th September 2014, 02:48 AM

Hello Detlef, If I were pressed to put a name to it I would call it an Itak and would put the age to late 1800's to very early 1900's. A great piece and I believe it will clean up very nicely. I too was watching this but had to make a choice on what item to bid on and the silver fitted knife I posted the other day won out.

Congratulations on this very beautiful addition to your collection.

Best,
Robert

Sajen · 17th September 2014, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

Hello Detlef, If I were pressed to put a name to it I would call it an Itak and would put the age to late 1800's to very early 1900's. A great piece and I believe it will clean up very nicely. I too was watching this but had to make a choice on what item to bid on and the silver fitted knife I posted the other day won out.

Congratulations on this very beautiful addition to your collection.

Best,
Robert

Hello Robert,

thank you for confirming my thoughts about this one!

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 21st September 2014, 12:08 PM

Have received the Tagalog itak and I am very pleased with it, here some pictures how it look after some maintenance, the blade I've cleaned with steel wool, the brass get a little bit polish and the horn hilt I've oiled with linseed oil.

Ian · 21st September 2014, 01:36 PM

That one came up very nicely with some cleaning Detlef. Nice pick up on your part.

I would also say circa 1900 based on the style of carving on the horn and probably of Ilocano manufacture judging from the blade and the "little pinky notch" on the hilt.

Sajen · 21st September 2014, 01:55 PM

Thank you Ian,

so I have three concurrent opinions regarding the age. But Jose write me before that he think it's a from the Tagalog, so a little bit more in the South.
I personally have problems to distinguish between Ilocano and Tagalog characteristics. Maybe a very good issue for a thread!

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 21st September 2014, 02:18 PM

I would agree with Jose that the carving on the hilt looks like Central Luzon/Tagalog work. However, the blade and hilt style would fit well with features consistent with Ilocano manufacture.

Often hard to distinguish between Ilocano work of northern Luzon and that from central Luzon/Tagalog areas. From what I have read here there seems to be diverse opinions about what comprises Ilocano styles and materials. There are a few features that I feel reasonably comfortable with in attributing pieces to the Ilocano, but those are better left to a thread devoted to the topic and with some well documented/provenanced pieces. Even so, it will be hard to make strict distinctions because of the blurring of traditional styles in recent years.

Sajen · 21st September 2014, 02:32 PM

Thank you again Ian for the further remarks, maybe I will start a thread about this issue.

Regards,
Detlef

carlos · 21st September 2014, 02:40 PM

Very good adquisition, I love this carving hilt !! I was the second in the auction .

Im happy to see finally you was the winner.
If some day decided to sell it ...

thanks again and enjoy it !

Carlos

Sajen · 21st September 2014, 02:46 PM

Thank you Carlos,

when I need to sell it one day I will remember you!

Regards,
Detlef

Robert · 21st September 2014, 06:31 PM

WOW, it has indeed cleaned up very nicely. Makes me wonder now if I made the right choice in making my offer on the one I did and not bid on this instead. Add me to the list of potential new owners if you ever get tired of looking at this.

Best,
Robert

Sajen · 21st September 2014, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

WOW, it has indeed cleaned up very nicely. Makes me wonder now if I made the right choice in making my offer on the one I did and not bid on this instead. Add me to the list of potential new owners if you ever get tired of looking at this.

Best,
Robert

Thank you Robert, will do!

But your Luzon Knife is a beauty as well!

Regards,
Detlef

Terry K · 22nd September 2014, 01:17 AM

Avery nice looking piece that cleaned up nice. Congrats!
Terry

drac2k · 22nd September 2014, 04:20 AM

WELL DONE, BRAVO !!!

Ferguson · 22nd September 2014, 08:14 AM

Beautiful!
Steve

Sajen · 22nd September 2014, 09:33 AM

Thank you guys, you are very kind!

Oliver Pinchot · 27th January 2015, 09:56 PM

Beautiful carving and proportions, Detlef. Congratulations on a great acquisition!

Battara · 27th January 2015, 11:57 PM

Ian does have a good point - I have seen such carving on some Ilocano pieces: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=ilocano+sword

Sajen · 28th January 2015, 06:17 PM

Thank you Oliver.

Jose, thank you as well, indeed the style of carving is very similar on your beautiful sword hilt.

Regards,
Detlef

17th September 2014, 12:57 AM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Luzon bolo with carved horn handle Have recently won this bolo from Luzon with carved horn handle, 20 1/4 " long complete with a blade length of 14 3/4 ". Blade seems to be made from a file!? Maybe not the finest carving at the handle you can find. How you would call it and what you think about the age? Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 17th September 2014 at 01:09 AM.

21st September 2014, 12:08 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Have received the Tagalog itak and I am very pleased with it, here some pictures how it look after some maintenance, the blade I've cleaned with steel wool, the brass get a little bit polish and the horn hilt I've oiled with linseed oil. Attached Images

17th September 2014, 02:48 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Detlef, If I were pressed to put a name to it I would call it an Itak and would put the age to late 1800's to very early 1900's. A great piece and I believe it will clean up very nicely. I too was watching this but had to make a choice on what item to bid on and the silver fitted knife I posted the other day won out. Congratulations on this very beautiful addition to your collection. Best, Robert

21st September 2014, 01:36 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,023	That one came up very nicely with some cleaning Detlef. Nice pick up on your part. I would also say circa 1900 based on the style of carving on the horn and probably of Ilocano manufacture judging from the blade and the "little pinky notch" on the hilt.

21st September 2014, 01:55 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Thank you Ian, so I have three concurrent opinions regarding the age. But Jose write me before that he think it's a from the Tagalog, so a little bit more in the South. I personally have problems to distinguish between Ilocano and Tagalog characteristics. Maybe a very good issue for a thread! Regards, Detlef

21st September 2014, 02:18 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,023	I would agree with Jose that the carving on the hilt looks like Central Luzon/Tagalog work. However, the blade and hilt style would fit well with features consistent with Ilocano manufacture. Often hard to distinguish between Ilocano work of northern Luzon and that from central Luzon/Tagalog areas. From what I have read here there seems to be diverse opinions about what comprises Ilocano styles and materials. There are a few features that I feel reasonably comfortable with in attributing pieces to the Ilocano, but those are better left to a thread devoted to the topic and with some well documented/provenanced pieces. Even so, it will be hard to make strict distinctions because of the blurring of traditional styles in recent years.

21st September 2014, 02:32 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Thank you again Ian for the further remarks, maybe I will start a thread about this issue. Regards, Detlef

21st September 2014, 02:40 PM	#9
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 731	Very good adquisition, I love this carving hilt !! I was the second in the auction . Im happy to see finally you was the winner. If some day decided to sell it ... thanks again and enjoy it ! Carlos

21st September 2014, 02:46 PM	#10
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Thank you Carlos, when I need to sell it one day I will remember you! Regards, Detlef

21st September 2014, 06:31 PM	#11
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	WOW, it has indeed cleaned up very nicely. Makes me wonder now if I made the right choice in making my offer on the one I did and not bid on this instead. Add me to the list of potential new owners if you ever get tired of looking at this. Best, Robert

22nd September 2014, 01:17 AM	#13
Terry K Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 86	Avery nice looking piece that cleaned up nice. Congrats! Terry

22nd September 2014, 04:20 AM	#14
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	WELL DONE, BRAVO !!!

22nd September 2014, 08:14 AM	#15
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Beautiful! Steve

22nd September 2014, 09:33 AM	#16
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Thank you guys, you are very kind!

27th January 2015, 09:56 PM	#17
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 456	Beautiful carving and proportions, Detlef. Congratulations on a great acquisition!

27th January 2015, 11:57 PM	#18
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Ian does have a good point - I have seen such carving on some Ilocano pieces: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=ilocano+sword

28th January 2015, 06:17 PM	#19
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Thank you Oliver. Jose, thank you as well, indeed the style of carving is very similar on your beautiful sword hilt. Regards, Detlef