Antique luzon blade need help in identifying

h0ll0wman · 10th March 2022, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

WOW! I like that sword! I'm not a Filipino knife/sword expert, though I have quite a few weapons from there.

Dimensions, please?

Hello. The blade is 23 inches and handle is 6 inches.

kronckew · 10th March 2022, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ll0wman

Hello. The blade is 23 inches and handle is 6 inches.

Thanks, I want one

.

Ian · 10th March 2022, 05:33 PM

Hi h0ll0wman.

That's a very nice sword. I notice that the brass areas were once darkened, which was not uncommon on swords from the revolutionary period and during WWII. It is somewhat longer than many Luzon swords of the revolutionary period (end of 19th C and start of 20th C), but I think it dates from around 1900.

It is very plain and utilitarian in it's design and may have come from several places in central Luzon or around Manila. The small hexagonal (?) ferrule leads me to think it might be from the Lake Taal/Batangas area or perhaps Cavite, although the ferrules and butt plates from those areas were usually iron. Brass is more commonly seen on Pampangan and Ilocano pieces.

h0ll0wman · 11th March 2022, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi h0ll0wman.

That's a very nice sword. I notice that the brass areas were once darkened, which was not uncommon on swords from the revolutionary period and during WWII. It is somewhat longer than many Luzon swords of the revolutionary period (end of 19th C and start of 20th C), but I think it dates from around 1900.

It is very plain and utilitarian in it's design and may have come from several places in central Luzon or around Manila. The small hexagonal (?) ferrule leads me to think it might be from the Lake Taal/Batangas area or perhaps Cavite, although the ferrules and butt plates from those areas were usually iron. Brass is more commonly seen on Pampangan and Ilocano pieces.

Thank you for the input Ian. It surely added some information regarding this blade. I am still wondering what it is called. It resembles the "uhas tari" blade.

xasterix · 11th March 2022, 01:19 PM

If it's Tagalog, then it would be called dahong bolo. I'm not familiar with the terminology used in Pampanga or Northern Luzon for that profile.

I'm doubting whether the peen and lock are original; they may have been later replacements. The damage at the end of the pommel hints that the original set might have been destroyed. The peen end and the lock don't seem to fit the butt-pommel convincingly, unlike other old Luzon blades I've encountered.

xasterix · 11th March 2022, 03:07 PM

Here's a pre-WW2 dahong bolo from the Tagalog region, a shorter and fatter version than yours, with a clip-point. Notice how secure the butt-pommel construction is.

xasterix · 11th March 2022, 03:26 PM

Forgot to attach the whole sword.

bathala · 11th March 2022, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi h0ll0wman.

That's a very nice sword. I notice that the brass areas were once darkened, which was not uncommon on swords from the revolutionary period and during WWII. It is somewhat longer than many Luzon swords of the revolutionary period (end of 19th C and start of 20th C), but I think it dates from around 1900.

It is very plain and utilitarian in it's design and may have come from several places in central Luzon or around Manila. The small hexagonal (?) ferrule leads me to think it might be from the Lake Taal/Batangas area or perhaps Cavite, although the ferrules and butt plates from those areas were usually iron. Brass is more commonly seen on Pampangan and Ilocano pieces.

I am thinking the same. Cavite is a most probable hilt location

11th March 2022, 03:07 PM	#6
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 670	Here's a pre-WW2 dahong bolo from the Tagalog region, a shorter and fatter version than yours, with a clip-point. Notice how secure the butt-pommel construction is. Attached Images

11th March 2022, 03:26 PM	#7
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 670	Forgot to attach the whole sword. Attached Images

10th March 2022, 05:33 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Hi h0ll0wman. That's a very nice sword. I notice that the brass areas were once darkened, which was not uncommon on swords from the revolutionary period and during WWII. It is somewhat longer than many Luzon swords of the revolutionary period (end of 19th C and start of 20th C), but I think it dates from around 1900. It is very plain and utilitarian in it's design and may have come from several places in central Luzon or around Manila. The small hexagonal (?) ferrule leads me to think it might be from the Lake Taal/Batangas area or perhaps Cavite, although the ferrules and butt plates from those areas were usually iron. Brass is more commonly seen on Pampangan and Ilocano pieces.

11th March 2022, 01:19 PM	#5
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 670	If it's Tagalog, then it would be called dahong bolo. I'm not familiar with the terminology used in Pampanga or Northern Luzon for that profile. I'm doubting whether the peen and lock are original; they may have been later replacements. The damage at the end of the pommel hints that the original set might have been destroyed. The peen end and the lock don't seem to fit the butt-pommel convincingly, unlike other old Luzon blades I've encountered.