4 pieces from the Philippines

[Freddy]

This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade.

Total length : 60 cm
Handle : 15 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

[Freddy]

I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau).

Total length : 51 cm
Handle : 9,5 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

[Freddy]

A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath.

Total length : 42 cm
handle : 9,5 cm
thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Freddy

A very slender dagger (?) with a single-edged blade. Handle made out of wood with two copper ferrules. There's also a small crossguard. This piece has a leather sheath.

Total length : 42 cm
handle : 9,5 cm
thickness of blade near the hilt : 5 mm

Leather scabbard and peened tang ... looks like another Luzon piece

I have a query for everyone ... does it appear that only Luzon pieces have octagonal hilts (i.e., like the one above)? Thanks in advance!

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I think the blade is older then the handle and the sheath. All wooden sheath, decorated on one side. The two pieces of wood are held together with 3 rattan bindings. Wooden handle with copper ferrule. The blade is very sharp and is a bit 'hollow' on one side (like you see on a mandau).

Total length : 51 cm
Handle : 9,5 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 6 mm

The chisel ground blade and the wooden sheath point to a Visayan origin. Also, I saw earlier in eBay a WW2 G.I. souvenir bolo which has a very similar pommel. Then in its scabbard, "Samar, Philippines" is engraved. Thus it is probable that this bolo came from Samar.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Freddy

This one has a leather sheath. The handle is made of wood with a metal crossguard. Again single-edged and very sharp. The edge is on the straight side of the blade.

Total length : 60 cm
Handle : 15 cm
Thickness of blade near the handle : 1 cm

A leather sheathed Phil. bolo points to a Luzon origin. And then in the pics in the very first post, I thought I saw a peened tang. Thus once again, peened-tang blades are characteristic of Luzon bolos.