Bagobo (?) man's working knife
 

This one will be with me in a couple of weeks. From the auction pictures shown below, it appears to me to be a fairly old example of a Bagobo man's working knife. It has been said that most Bagobo men carry a working knife, but relatively few of the older style knives seem to be around today. In the last 50+ years it seems that Bagobo men have adopted a larger version of the more familiar "women's working knife."

I believe the one shown in the attached pics is an example of an older style of men's working knife. I attribute it to the Bagobo based on the hilt style and especially the pommel which is carved in a manner reminiscent of older Bagobo swords. Overall length 48 cm (about 19 in.)

I would be interested to hear especially from our Filipino colleagues as to what they think of this knife. As always, all thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.

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Hi Ian,

I've noticed it also, it's a very nice knife and I agree with your Bagobo attribution. Congrats, a very nice one!

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks Detlef.

Reminds me of these that I've heard called purok bolo.

Yup Bagobo and early

Hello Jeff,

It is indeed a purok bolo! I have been looking for an old reference I had on these knives and could not find it. That's a nice example that you show. I have another just like it in a similar sheath. The blade form and hilt are very similar to the example I show above.

Ian.

Going through some old files and found a nice picture of a Bagobo forge. The Bagobo ethnicity is established by the pants worn by some of the workers, which show the typical Bagobo beadwork much favored by Bagobo men.

The forge resembles most other ethnic groups in the Philippines, with a relatively small hearth and double-piston bellows powered by the guy sitting on top them.

Note the variety of blades being produced, several of which resemble the man's working knife shown above. Most of the swords are forward-weighted, fat-belly bolos.
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