Those "Negrito bolos" are actually Ilocano knives

[Ian]

Part I: The "Negrito bolo"

Anyone who is interested in edged weapons of the Philippines, and searches online for such items, will eventually come across knives labeled "Negrito bolo." For the most part, these are inexpensive, well made working knives that have been dressed up a bit for the tourist trade. U.S. servicemen who served in the Philippines during and after WWII were a prime target, and many of these knives found their way back to the US and ended up on our markets.

The blades on these bolos come in three main forms: (1) a heavy, clipped, single-edged blade that resembles a so-called "Bowie" knife; (2) a wavy double-edged blade that has sometimes been called a "Luzon kris" (a blade, however, completely different from the Moro kris); and (3) an intermediate form with a single-edged recurved blade. Blade lengths vary from about 6 inches up to 20+ inches.

Features often found on the blades of these knives are rather crudely inscribed versions of "Phillippines," "Philippine Islands," and "negrito bolo." Occasionally, wavy patterns have been added to the sides of the blade with a small grinding tool—these are crude decorations that appear to have no special significance. Less common blade decorations include incised scenes of huts, vegetation, water buffalo and other Philippine motifs. Deeply incised initials (usually two) are found at forte on some examples, especially on the "Bowie" types. It is possible the initials are makers' marks.

These bolos almost always have a straight brass guard and brass ferrule that is usually brazed on to the guard. Because the "Bowie" style does not have a central tang, but one offset toward the back of the blade, the length of the guard on the cutting edge side is longer than the other side; the result is that equal lengths of the guard protrude beyond the blade on either side. For the "kris" style blade, the tang is centered on the top of the blade, and the two sides of the brass guard are of equal length. For the intermediate, "recurved blade" style, the tang is offset similar to the "Bowie" style, and there is a corresponding unequal length of the two sides of the brass guard. These are consistent features, and can be seen in the examples shown in the pictures below.

The remainder of the hilt is made of dark horn, or less commonly wood, with a full length tang either peened over a brass plate, or, less commonly, the end of the tang has a screw thread that takes a washer and nut. It is my impression that peened tangs are found on older examples of these knives, and that threaded tangs were made more recently, but I have found no reference to indicate that this is the case.

The end of the horn hilt is almost always carved in a characteristic fashion. About 1.5–2 inches from the end of the handle, there is a prominent groove on the under surface of the hilt (i.e., the side continuous with the edge of the blade), after which the pommel widens into a three-lobed structure that might represent a flower bud. The tang protrudes slightly from the middle lobe of this structure, where it is either peened over a plate, or threaded to take a nut and washer to secure the hilt to the blade. On the "Bowie" style and intermediate, "recurved blade" forms, the tang bends down a little at the pommel. In contrast, the "kris" style has a straight tang, and the groove that precedes the three-lobed structure may continue all the way around the hilt.

The groove just before the pommel seems to accommodate the little finger ("pinky notch") and may be a feature that assists in gripping the bolo. The "Bowie" and "recurved blade" styles, being single-edged, need only one such notch, whereas the double-edged "kris" style has one on each side to accommodate gripping the knife from either side of the hilt (see attached pictures).

Many of these knives come in leather sheaths of varying quality and decoration. Wooden scabbards are uncommon and probably reflect earlier manufacture.


-----------------Attachments showing "Negrito bolos"--------------------

Figure 1. Various swords posted previously on this site by PepperSkull

A. Visayan sundang
B. "Negrito bolo" (Bowie type)
C. "Negrito bolo" (Kris type—recent interpretation from Kris Cutlery with atypical hilt)
D. Dahong palay, Luzon
E. "Negrito bolo" (Bowie type—note wavy pattern of decoration on the blade from small grinding device)
F. Older "Negrito bolo" form (Bowie style) with iron ferrule, small disc guard and wooden scabbard

Figure 2. Typical "Negrito bolo" (Kris type). "Negrito bolo" inscribed on blade.

Figure 3. "Negrito bolo" (Recurved blade type). "Negrito bolo" inscribed on blade.

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