Bolo / Parang ???

Robert · 4th May 2011, 04:08 AM

Just won this and to be quite honest I am not familiar with this blade type with the file work on the lower side next to the hilt. The only information that I have is the length which is 23-1/4 inches. The pictures below are from the auction. All help with this will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

VVV · 4th May 2011, 06:50 AM

It looks as the same blade but with a dagger hilt?

Michael

Battara · 4th May 2011, 07:54 AM

Well, this is an interesting piece. The blade does look like that from a minisbad, but the hilt looks more Tagalog. Not sure what to think yet.

Robert · 4th May 2011, 04:10 PM

Michael and Jose, Thank you both for your comments. This is a rather interesting looking piece, I just wish that I had more information on it or at least some better pictures. At this point I do not know if the hilt is made of wood or horn or even if the tang extends all the way through the hilt or not. It is to bad that there was no scabbard with it to help in identifying its possible origin.

Robert

Battara · 4th May 2011, 05:12 PM

I'm pretty sure it goes through until the end. That I usually don't see until WWII, but the blade is not WWII........

Sajen · 4th May 2011, 05:26 PM

Hello Robert,

very interesting sword. Can't wait to see better pictures.

Regards,

Detlef

Robert · 6th May 2011, 12:49 AM

Hello Detlef, And thank you, I too think that this is a very interesting sword and I wish that it would just hurry up and get here so that I can give it a light cleaning and post more pictures of it as well as the dimensions. Maybe then with the new (and I hope better) pictures I will be able to get more of the forum members thoughts on it.

Robert

migueldiaz · 6th May 2011, 10:08 AM

The blade is definitely southern Luzon (i.e., Bicol), while the hilt is Tagalog. Thus it looks like a Tagalog got hold of a Bicol blade and rehilted it (or vice versa).

The hybrid configuration is very possible, because the two regions are just next to each other (please see attached map).

[Robert, it looks like there's some engraving on the blade. Please do show us detailed pics later, please. Thanks!]

Robert · 7th May 2011, 08:57 PM

Hello everyone,
The minasbad arrived and I don't think I could be happier. It is 23-1/4 inches in total length with a 17-3/8 inch blade. A its widest point the blade is 1-1/4 inches while at its narrowest point it is 11/16 inch. The blade is 7/16 of an inch thick at the hilt. The hilt itself is made of what looks to be very dark kamagong wood and has a seamed brass collar. The only damage to the hilt is an old age crack that can be seen in the pictures. The tang of the blade does not extend completely through hilt. Here are a few poor pictures of it after a light cleaning (the blade was covered in layers of old wax and dirt with very little actual rust) and some ren wax.

Robert

P.S.
Lorenz, Thank you for the information and the map. Unfortunately when this arrived I found that there was no engraving on the blade.

Battara · 8th May 2011, 04:29 AM

Have you etched it yet?

Robert · 8th May 2011, 05:05 AM

Hello Jose,
Not yet but I've been thinking about it. Can it be etched without removing the file marks from when the blade was first made? I really like the marks that are on the blade, they can be seen very clearly on the pictures of the tip area of the blade and cover the entire blade with the same pattern.

Robert

carlos · 8th May 2011, 09:36 AM

congratulations Robert, is avery beatiful piece, I´m sure you are very happy Now!!
Best regards
carlos

Robert · 8th May 2011, 07:28 PM

Hello Carlos, and thank you for your kind words. Yes, I was extremely happy with finding this as a sleeper on ebay. I was even happier when it finally arrived and found it was just covered with years of old wax and dust and not rust as it looked to be in the original pictures. Now I have another project in making a scabbard for it and thanks to Michael and Lorenz I already have examples to base one one. If anyone else has any information to share or suggestions on the proper scabbard that I should make for this I would be very grateful for your help. Thank you all again for your kind words and help in identifying this.

Robert

Battara · 9th May 2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Hello Jose,
Not yet but I've been thinking about it. Can it be etched without removing the file marks from when the blade was first made? I really like the marks that are on the blade, they can be seen very clearly on the pictures of the tip area of the blade and cover the entire blade with the same pattern.

Robert

Yes you can etch the blade and find out if it has laminations or at least a temper line.

Atlantia · 9th May 2011, 01:05 AM

It looks fantastic Robert!
What a transformation.

Robert · 9th May 2011, 05:34 AM

Thank you Gene but this one was really easy. A little ammonia and warm water on the blade to remove the filth and then a soft toothbrush and Murphy Oil Soap on the wooden hilt for the same purpose. A through drying and some oil on the blade and Ren Wax for all and it's done. I just wish that they were all this easy to clean.

Robert

4th May 2011, 04:08 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Bolo / Parang ??? Just won this and to be quite honest I am not familiar with this blade type with the file work on the lower side next to the hilt. The only information that I have is the length which is 23-1/4 inches. The pictures below are from the auction. All help with this will be greatly appreciated. Robert Attached Images

4th May 2011, 06:50 AM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It looks as the same blade but with a dagger hilt? Michael Attached Images

6th May 2011, 10:08 AM	#8
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	The blade is definitely southern Luzon (i.e., Bicol), while the hilt is Tagalog. Thus it looks like a Tagalog got hold of a Bicol blade and rehilted it (or vice versa). The hybrid configuration is very possible, because the two regions are just next to each other (please see attached map). [Robert, it looks like there's some engraving on the blade. Please do show us detailed pics later, please. Thanks!] Attached Images

7th May 2011, 08:57 PM	#9
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello everyone, The minasbad arrived and I don't think I could be happier. It is 23-1/4 inches in total length with a 17-3/8 inch blade. A its widest point the blade is 1-1/4 inches while at its narrowest point it is 11/16 inch. The blade is 7/16 of an inch thick at the hilt. The hilt itself is made of what looks to be very dark kamagong wood and has a seamed brass collar. The only damage to the hilt is an old age crack that can be seen in the pictures. The tang of the blade does not extend completely through hilt. Here are a few poor pictures of it after a light cleaning (the blade was covered in layers of old wax and dirt with very little actual rust) and some ren wax. Robert P.S. Lorenz, Thank you for the information and the map. Unfortunately when this arrived I found that there was no engraving on the blade. Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 8th May 2011 at 08:16 AM.

4th May 2011, 07:54 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Well, this is an interesting piece. The blade does look like that from a minisbad, but the hilt looks more Tagalog. Not sure what to think yet.

4th May 2011, 04:10 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Michael and Jose, Thank you both for your comments. This is a rather interesting looking piece, I just wish that I had more information on it or at least some better pictures. At this point I do not know if the hilt is made of wood or horn or even if the tang extends all the way through the hilt or not. It is to bad that there was no scabbard with it to help in identifying its possible origin. Robert

4th May 2011, 05:12 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I'm pretty sure it goes through until the end. That I usually don't see until WWII, but the blade is not WWII........

4th May 2011, 05:26 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	Hello Robert, very interesting sword. Can't wait to see better pictures. Regards, Detlef

6th May 2011, 12:49 AM	#7
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Detlef, And thank you, I too think that this is a very interesting sword and I wish that it would just hurry up and get here so that I can give it a light cleaning and post more pictures of it as well as the dimensions. Maybe then with the new (and I hope better) pictures I will be able to get more of the forum members thoughts on it. Robert

8th May 2011, 04:29 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Have you etched it yet?

8th May 2011, 05:05 AM	#11
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Jose, Not yet but I've been thinking about it. Can it be etched without removing the file marks from when the blade was first made? I really like the marks that are on the blade, they can be seen very clearly on the pictures of the tip area of the blade and cover the entire blade with the same pattern. Robert

8th May 2011, 09:36 AM	#12
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 738	congratulations Robert, is avery beatiful piece, I´m sure you are very happy Now!! Best regards carlos

8th May 2011, 07:28 PM	#13
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Carlos, and thank you for your kind words. Yes, I was extremely happy with finding this as a sleeper on ebay. I was even happier when it finally arrived and found it was just covered with years of old wax and dust and not rust as it looked to be in the original pictures. Now I have another project in making a scabbard for it and thanks to Michael and Lorenz I already have examples to base one one. If anyone else has any information to share or suggestions on the proper scabbard that I should make for this I would be very grateful for your help. Thank you all again for your kind words and help in identifying this. Robert

9th May 2011, 01:05 AM	#15
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	It looks fantastic Robert! What a transformation.

9th May 2011, 05:34 AM	#16
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank you Gene but this one was really easy. A little ammonia and warm water on the blade to remove the filth and then a soft toothbrush and Murphy Oil Soap on the wooden hilt for the same purpose. A through drying and some oil on the blade and Ren Wax for all and it's done. I just wish that they were all this easy to clean. Robert