Philippine Bolo

tanaruz · 7th April 2020, 05:26 AM

Hello friends. Greetings from Manila. My first post. I bought this beautiful blade recently- I can't identify it properly. My gut feel tells me it is a Lumad Tagakaolo bolo (but i'm not really sure). It has Japanese (or Chinese) characters on the scabbard, and on the blade itself - plus a pagoda.

Could this be a war trophy of a Japanese soldier (if the characters is Japanese)during WW2 and recaptured back to the US forces? Are the characters Japanese or Chinese? what does it say/translate?

Really appreciate any feedback/info on this lovely blade.

Regards and keep safe,

Yves

Lee · 7th April 2020, 03:41 PM

Here is the inscription, rotated and sharpened...

Ren Ren · 7th April 2020, 06:22 PM

This is extremely interesting! Black characters 奉公袋 in Japanese read "hokobukuro" and mean "service records bag" http://www.nambuworld.com/hokobukuro.htm
I don’t understand how these scabbards and the Japanese soldier’s bag are connected, and this is a very interesting case!

For red characters, a separate photo is required - now it is impossible to read them.

asomotif · 7th April 2020, 06:30 PM

Very cool knife , even with the odd translation

Sajen · 7th April 2020, 06:45 PM

Hello Yves,

Welcome to the forum! I also think that your very interesting bolo is from the Kaolu or Tagakaolo, very interesting with the painting and lettering.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 7th April 2020, 11:18 PM

Hello Yves, and welcome to the Forum!

Thanks for posting this very interesting example. The only thing that is definitively Tagakaolu/Kaolu on your piece is the hilt. The curious "ears" to the pommel are uniquely Kaolu as far as I know.

Attached is a picture showing various hilts from Bagobo/Kaolu swords. The oldest is the traditional Bagobo hilt in the upper left. In the bottom right corner is an example of the same form of hilt as shown on your bolo.

In looking at your sword, the edge appears to have a prominent bevel and I wonder if it has a chisel grind. This would be very unusual for a Kaolu blade as the Bagobo/Kaolu knives and swords have a V-grind. If it does have a chisel grind, then the blade is likely Visayan with a hilt from the Kaolu. Since the Kaolu live on Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano on the outskirts of Davao City, and a large population of Visayans live in Davao City, it would not be at all surprising to see a combination of a Visayan blade and a Kaolu hilt. That blade form is certainly produced in many Visayan areas. Overall, I think your bolo was a working tool, as evidenced by the many knicks and chips to the blade, rather than primarily a weapon. The humble, roughly carved hilt, would fit with that use also.

The scabbard may be Kaolu but has been decorated by another culture. The Japanese inscription suggests it was the product of a Japanese soldier during WWII, who perhaps adopted the bolo as his personal jungle knife or machete.

A very interesting piece. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Ian.

Battara · 8th April 2020, 03:57 AM

Welcome to our little forum (and Mabuhay!)!

I totally agree with Ian. All I can add is that the manner of the carvings, the paint, and the manner of blade was made all point to me to WWII.

And I agree with you that many weapons (including copies of Japanese katana) were made locally for Japanese soldiers during the occupation.

7th April 2020, 05:26 AM	#1
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	Philippine Bolo Hello friends. Greetings from Manila. My first post. I bought this beautiful blade recently- I can't identify it properly. My gut feel tells me it is a Lumad Tagakaolo bolo (but i'm not really sure). It has Japanese (or Chinese) characters on the scabbard, and on the blade itself - plus a pagoda. Could this be a war trophy of a Japanese soldier (if the characters is Japanese)during WW2 and recaptured back to the US forces? Are the characters Japanese or Chinese? what does it say/translate? Really appreciate any feedback/info on this lovely blade. Regards and keep safe, Yves Attached Images

7th April 2020, 03:41 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 913	Here is the inscription, rotated and sharpened... Attached Images

7th April 2020, 11:18 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Kaolu hilt Hello Yves, and welcome to the Forum! Thanks for posting this very interesting example. The only thing that is definitively Tagakaolu/Kaolu on your piece is the hilt. The curious "ears" to the pommel are uniquely Kaolu as far as I know. Attached is a picture showing various hilts from Bagobo/Kaolu swords. The oldest is the traditional Bagobo hilt in the upper left. In the bottom right corner is an example of the same form of hilt as shown on your bolo. In looking at your sword, the edge appears to have a prominent bevel and I wonder if it has a chisel grind. This would be very unusual for a Kaolu blade as the Bagobo/Kaolu knives and swords have a V-grind. If it does have a chisel grind, then the blade is likely Visayan with a hilt from the Kaolu. Since the Kaolu live on Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano on the outskirts of Davao City, and a large population of Visayans live in Davao City, it would not be at all surprising to see a combination of a Visayan blade and a Kaolu hilt. That blade form is certainly produced in many Visayan areas. Overall, I think your bolo was a working tool, as evidenced by the many knicks and chips to the blade, rather than primarily a weapon. The humble, roughly carved hilt, would fit with that use also. The scabbard may be Kaolu but has been decorated by another culture. The Japanese inscription suggests it was the product of a Japanese soldier during WWII, who perhaps adopted the bolo as his personal jungle knife or machete. A very interesting piece. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Ian. Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 7th April 2020 at 11:42 PM.

7th April 2020, 06:22 PM	#3
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	This is extremely interesting! Black characters 奉公袋 in Japanese read "hokobukuro" and mean "service records bag" http://www.nambuworld.com/hokobukuro.htm I don’t understand how these scabbards and the Japanese soldier’s bag are connected, and this is a very interesting case! For red characters, a separate photo is required - now it is impossible to read them.

7th April 2020, 06:30 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Very cool knife , even with the odd translation

7th April 2020, 06:45 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Hello Yves, Welcome to the forum! I also think that your very interesting bolo is from the Kaolu or Tagakaolo, very interesting with the painting and lettering. Regards, Detlef

8th April 2020, 03:57 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Welcome to our little forum (and Mabuhay!)! I totally agree with Ian. All I can add is that the manner of the carvings, the paint, and the manner of blade was made all point to me to WWII. And I agree with you that many weapons (including copies of Japanese katana) were made locally for Japanese soldiers during the occupation.