Small Philippine Knife
 

Hello everyone, Here is a small bolo/knife that I just won on e-pray with a very strange blade shape. It (the blade) is of a design that I have never seen before on any edged weapon from Luzon or anywhere else for that matter. This knife is only about 10-1/2 inches long but looks to have a very well made blade that definitely looks like it was meant for mayhem. Age is something I'm not sure about at all on this piece and I wish that it would have come with a scabbard as that could have helped in dating it. The carving on the hilt looks to be of a better quality than most WWII and later pieces that I've seen (so far) but it still could be from that time frame. The grip being carved in the shape of a clenched fist could also point to this knife being of an earlier manufacture. As I do not have this in my possession yet the pictures below are from the auction. Any help and comments on this would be greatly appreciated.

Robert

Good morning Robert.
I bid a small amount on that one too. Glad you got it. I was intrigued by the blade shape as well. Nothing I have ever seen before. Not too aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but looks sturdy and not very "touristy". The hilt is wonderfully carved and was what I was drawn too. I can't wait to hear the experts opinion on this one. Congrats!
Steve

Good morning Steve, and thank you. Just like you the hilt is what first attracted me to it also, but the more I looked at it the more interesting and intriguing (it is rather ugly isn't it) the blade became. What makes me think that is was not made for the tourist market is in fact the strange shape of the blade. While being "Not too aesthetically pleasing to the eye" in trained hands it could be very effective and deadly in a fight with its gut hook style design. I too can't wait to hear the experts opinions on this.

Robert

In my expert opinion, it's a knife with a nice carved handle and a funny shaped blade. :)

It would go very nicely in my own collection.

Robert, congrats for another great piece to your Luzon collection!

This is the first time I've also seen such blade shape. I drew a line along the top of the blade (pic attached). My speculation thus is that the indentation on the blade's spine is a latter addition by way of a subtraction :)

As to why one would do that, I can only continue to speculate.

In any case, it's a great blade. And its unique shape only adds mystique to it.

PS - If I were you, I'd just invent a story :D -- said Katipunan bolo was dented by a bullet during a bolo rush, and so the owner being a vain person carved out the damaged portion, and was pleasantly surprised when a sinister-looking blade came out. What would be your version? ;)

Hello Migueldiaz, Sorry that it has taken me so long to reply to your comments.
The blade could very well have been altered from its original shape as you have pointed out. I just hope that when it arrives that there is some form of evidence (poorer finish to the blade surface in that area) that could show whether it was tampered with or not. My main concern is what time period to assign this knife to. Is it late 1890s to early 1900s or mid 1900s? I have seen this style of grip used on early and late pieces but all of the later ones did not have quality of carving that this one has and most were fitted with aluminum hardware. As far as a good story for this being the shape it is, I really cannot improve on the one that you have already posted. I hope you don't mind if I use it.:D :D :D ;)

Robert

An interesting piece. Too bad it is missing the rest of the brass fittings.....

Yes Jose, it is a shame that there are so many pieces of brass missing from the hilt.:( I am hoping to replace them after it arrives to help restore its appearance.


Robert

Hi Robert. Sure you can use my version :)

Please let us know later how the indentation's surface looks like vs. the rest of the spine.

On dating, it's a bit tricky as we all know. My guess is that your bolo is 1890s to early 1900s. And it's because I have at least two of such fist bolos, and I'm almost sure that they were made during WW2 or just a little earlier before that era. Now your piece definitely looks older and better than said pieces of mine. Thus my said guess. Hope that others can give their opinion, too.

Migueldiaz, Thank you very much. As you mentioned, dating these can be VERY tricky. Every time I think I've made some progress in doing it something like this shows up. It would probably help if I would just wait for an item to actually get to my door before posting then I might have a better idea.:o Hopefully I will be able to take a few better pictures of the spine and the area in discussion once it arrives. Below is one other that I have acquired that I will post in a separate thread as soon as it arrives. Thanks again for you help.

Robert

I was wondering if the piece in question was later than 1900. The quality of the carving makes me hesitate and say later (or perhaps it is the dirt, which if true, then we could reevaluate).

Yes there are versions that were done (or at least used) in WWII.