A rather nice Luzon bolo
 

Here some auction pictures from a late 19th to very early 20th century Luzon bolo, one side of the blade with floral engravings inlaid with brass, to my eyes a horn hilt (auctionhouse say wood) in form of a ram head. A silver ferrule at the base and I think to see a silver necklace, 40,5 cm long. A very worn but complete and nice embossed leather scabbard.

Here I have shown once an other Luzon sword with ram head: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=head

A VERY NICE EXAMPLE AND FIRST CLASS GRADE ONE. I AGREE WATER BUFFALO HORN HANDLE , SILVER AND BRASS FITTINGS WITH THE FLORAL INLAY DESIGN IN THE BLADE. ITS NICE TO HAVE THE SHEATH IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE AS WELL. ONLY THE SECOND RAMS HEAD POMMEL I AM AWARE OF. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE WELCOME IN MY COLLECTION. :D

I agree totally. Best example yet!

:eek: :eek: wow !! Very beautiful bolo !! I love this combination of horn, silver and Steel.
A very good adition to the collection!
Thanks
Carlos

Thank you folks! :) I am more as surprised to find it by a german auctionhouse. Will post more pictures when I have received it.

Have received the bolo and I am more as happy with my buy. Only a tiny piece of the rams horn missing on one side. The blade I've cleaned only with a rubber gum for removing rust and steel wool 000 grade and polished the silver and brass. The hilt received an oiling with flax oil. Here some pictures for your enjoy.

Some more pictures, some show it together with my Luzon sword with ram head grip.

Very nice Detlef. Nice silver repousse on that black ram one. Didn't know that that blade had engraved brass on it - real quality!

Thank you Jose,

the engraving was shown in up already but only with one picture and not the complete bolo side so I was afraid already a little bit after a remark from Barry that there could be a damage on the hilt at this side. So there was a great enjoy that all was in fine order. :)
Do you see the small hole at the ear like end of the scabbard? Any guess what there was attached originally? A tassel? A bell?

Regards,
Detlef

:eek: Congratulations! ! With the new pictures my envy is now at maximum! !!
Thanks

Carlos

Lovely example from top to bottom, and how nice to find these complete with sheath...and in such great condition!!

Congrats!!

Thank you Carlos and Charles. :) The condition is maybe good like this because it was a status/dress bolo, you can see clearly signs of very good age but not from daily use, the blade was never sanded after manufacture. So I cleaned the blade like described in up. You still can see the original finish on the blade surface.

Regards,
Detlef

That's a good question. It might have been a tassel or a small anting-anting.

Usually they don't have anything on the terminal end, but if I find anything in my archives or research, I'll let you know.

Here is an example if what I am saying from Vandoo's collection that is similar to yours:

However, I did find this example with a tassel from the Villa Escudero Museum. It is wrapped and not attached to a ring through a hole in the terminal end of the scabbard.

What an absolutely beautiful piece Detlef. This is one of if not the nicest example of this style of bolo that I have ever seen. The combination of the hilt carving and engraved and inlaid blade make this a true piece of the bladesmiths art. Still having what looks to be the original embossed leather scabbards coming with it as well is just unbelievably good fortune. This must have originally been owned by someone of some importance, possibly a high ranking individual such as a local or Military Official. I cannot even start to describe just how jealous I am of your good fortune. My congratulations to you on this magnificent new addition to your collection.

Best,
Robert

P.S. You know where to sent this if you ever get tired of looking at it. :D

Thank you Jose for the effort, just have hoped that you know what there could has been attached.

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Robert,

thank you very much! :) I ever have thought that when I get such a high end bolo to find it in the States. So I am more as surprised to find it by an auction house in Germany. Be sure that it will need a very long time for me to be tired of looking at it! :p

Regards,
Detlef

Congratulations on your magnificent find.How fortunate to have two examples ! I have read the past threads ; has the significance been determined of the highly unusual ram head configuration ?

Thank you Drac2K! :) Regarding the meaning of the ram head there is nothing concrete found until now. :shrug: So when there is a member who know something; please share it here! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

congratulations, Detlef! a truly magnificent piece!!

Thank you Ron! :)