Old Photo of Philippines "Bolo Maker"

laEspadaAncha · 27th February 2010, 06:23 PM

Not a bolo per say, but still a classic example of the fist pommel... out of the same collection as the kris' and axes I recently acquired. The brass guard and ferrule had been polished by the previous owner. OAL measures approx. 39.5 cm, with a spine that measures 7.8 mm in thickness at the hilt and tapers evenly to the tip:

Battara · 27th February 2010, 07:17 PM

Great picture. Thank you so much for posting this. Maraming Salamat!

Here is my Tagalog bolo with horn hilt, silver ferrule, and bronze guard:

Robert · 27th February 2010, 08:06 PM

Wow, what a great picture!!

A real piece of history frozen in time. Sadly I only have one item in my collection with a carved fist hilt and I believe that it was probably made around WWII for those who travel.

It has aluminum fittings but did come with a nice, and what I believe to be older leather scabbard. One of these days though I will find a nice older one of these to add to my collection. I do have a dagger that has carvings on the hilt similar to the ones shown in the one picture if you are interested. Here are a couple pictures of my poor example.

Robert

laEspadaAncha · 27th February 2010, 08:18 PM

Was hilt carving a specialized profession in the traditional manufacture of Filipino edged weapons, or was it standard for the bladesmith to also carve and mount the hilt? All of tooling in the photo seems to pertain to the creation of hilts, yet there are no unhilted blades visible...

Rick · 27th February 2010, 08:44 PM

Lowney's Chocolates .
http://panam1901.bfn.org/miscbuildin...ybuilding.html

Jose, you realise the hilt he is carving is exactly like yours .

Wow ...

Battara · 27th February 2010, 09:40 PM

Rick you have a point (like the one on my head

) and my piece I believe is literally Katipunan and pre -1900. Wonder if it was carved by the same artist.

Rick · 27th February 2010, 10:21 PM

It's spooky, I tell ya .
This guy could actually be the carver of your hilt .

27th February 2010, 06:23 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Not a bolo per say, but still a classic example of the fist pommel... out of the same collection as the kris' and axes I recently acquired. The brass guard and ferrule had been polished by the previous owner. OAL measures approx. 39.5 cm, with a spine that measures 7.8 mm in thickness at the hilt and tapers evenly to the tip: Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 27th February 2010 at 06:52 PM.

27th February 2010, 07:17 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Great picture. Thank you so much for posting this. Maraming Salamat! Here is my Tagalog bolo with horn hilt, silver ferrule, and bronze guard: Attached Images

27th February 2010, 08:06 PM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Wow, what a great picture!! A real piece of history frozen in time. Sadly I only have one item in my collection with a carved fist hilt and I believe that it was probably made around WWII for those who travel. It has aluminum fittings but did come with a nice, and what I believe to be older leather scabbard. One of these days though I will find a nice older one of these to add to my collection. I do have a dagger that has carvings on the hilt similar to the ones shown in the one picture if you are interested. Here are a couple pictures of my poor example. Robert Attached Images

27th February 2010, 08:18 PM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Was hilt carving a specialized profession in the traditional manufacture of Filipino edged weapons, or was it standard for the bladesmith to also carve and mount the hilt? All of tooling in the photo seems to pertain to the creation of hilts, yet there are no unhilted blades visible...

27th February 2010, 08:44 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Lowney's Chocolates . http://panam1901.bfn.org/miscbuildin...ybuilding.html Jose, you realise the hilt he is carving is exactly like yours . Wow ...

27th February 2010, 09:40 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Rick you have a point (like the one on my head ) and my piece I believe is literally Katipunan and pre -1900. Wonder if it was carved by the same artist.

27th February 2010, 10:21 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	It's spooky, I tell ya . This guy could actually be the carver of your hilt .