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27th February 2010, 05:35 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 264
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Old Photo of Philippines "Bolo Maker"
Since some of you members here are in to Philippines weapons, I'm sure you will see the significance of this photo.
I collect various old photos off the net(anything Philippines history in general)...so dang many I lose track and forget where I get them. I was just thumbing through random photos on my computer last night and found this one. I had this photo stashed in a folder that was dated 2005. It is high quality and I never really looked at the fine details(Im on a laptop). But after blowing it up you can see he is more likely one of the bolo makers of the Phil-Am War era(~1900), and quite possibly for the 1st Republic. I say this cause all the other photos in that folder are of the Phil-Am War and are from that same photographer. At the bottom the caption written on the photo was marked out by a black marker. But you can still read it says "Bolo Maker" and after that I believe it says the smiths name. I can't make out the name! If someone see the name on their computer better or has a photo editing program that can bring the name out, please let me know. This guys name should be remembered.  *Note the chocolate crate in the bottom right corner. The company name can probably tell us more on the date of this photo if it is looked in to. Tools and a few other carved daggers.  Random stuff on the back wall.   After blowing it up completely, you can see from this photo the obvious fist carved handle he created.  I know some of the members here have the fist shaped handles. Can we repost them here? Maybe we will see obvious similarities..and just maybe this is the man who made some of our bolos. 
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27th February 2010, 06:02 PM
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#2 |
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(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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I was able to enhance the name. Cavite Viejo Village
Marulas, Kawit, Philippines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawit,_Cavite Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 27th February 2010 at 06:14 PM. |
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27th February 2010, 06:22 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 264
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Thank you very much Louie! Now that makes perfect sense! Cavite Viejo is the old name for now Kawit, Cavite...and is the home town of the 1st President Emilio Aguinaldo. His grave and house(now shrine) is located there. It is the heart of Aguinaldos Magdalo Katipunan and his 1st Republic. I visited this area on my last Philippines trip.
Interesting even now, looking at current Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Kawit...they are both direct descendants of Emilio Aguinaldo. |
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27th February 2010, 06:23 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 608
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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. |
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27th February 2010, 07:17 PM
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#5 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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Great picture. Thank you so much for posting this. Maraming Salamat!
Here is my Tagalog bolo with horn hilt, silver ferrule, and bronze guard: |
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27th February 2010, 08:06 PM
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#6 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
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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 |
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27th February 2010, 08:18 PM
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#7 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 608
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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...
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27th February 2010, 08:44 PM
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#8 |
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Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,291
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Lowney's Chocolates .
http://panam1901.bfn.org/miscbuildin...ybuilding.html Jose, you realise the hilt he is carving is exactly like yours .  Wow ... |
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27th February 2010, 09:40 PM
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#9 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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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.
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27th February 2010, 10:21 PM
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#10 |
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Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,291
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It's spooky, I tell ya .
This guy could actually be the carver of your hilt .
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28th February 2010, 12:00 AM
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#11 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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The hilts appear identical. Always something of the artist resides in the art...
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28th February 2010, 01:31 PM
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#12 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,770
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Another fist hilted dagger from my collection, 36,5 cm. Some of the inlays missing.
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28th February 2010, 04:49 PM
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#13 |
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Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,291
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When did the Bolo forms develop the brass cross-guard we can see on so many contemporary pieces ?
Pre-WWII ? After ? Earlier ? 
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28th February 2010, 10:29 PM
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#14 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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I have only seen them as in the last example WWII and after.
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2nd March 2010, 12:51 PM
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#15 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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dimasalang, thanks for posting that old pic! wonderful
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25th March 2010, 04:40 AM
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#16 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Makati
Posts: 69
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Quote:
The name of the bolo maker is Carino Victa, a bolo maker who provided weapons to the Filipino resistance fighters circa 1898. The photo is in the Library of Congress. Also published in Kasaysayan: The History of the Filipino People. Book 5. |
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25th March 2010, 01:35 PM
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#17 | |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
I wonder though whether that's really his nom de guerre -- because "cariño" refers to being sweet or dear, while "victa" [or victor] means conqueror. In any case, that's a cool name for that day and age's rocket scientist
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25th March 2010, 06:12 PM
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#18 | |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 264
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Quote:
I collect Philippine history related books as well(old and new). Ill be on the look out for that one. 
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26th March 2010, 03:00 AM
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#19 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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Nacho,
You are wonderful. Thank you for the name and history of this artist and patriot. Lends even more evidence to the fist being a Katipunan symbol. Maraming Salamat! |
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29th March 2010, 04:40 PM
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#20 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 737
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Another bolo hilt
Another bolo with similar hilt, I hope you enjoy pictures...
best regards Carlos |
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30th March 2010, 01:08 AM
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#21 | |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
The one on top in the photo, does the blade have a design on the other side? Maybe you can post pics of the entire blade, if it's not too much to ask Thanks again! |
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31st March 2010, 09:33 AM
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#22 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 61
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Here is another one with a wavy blade. Does anyone have any idea what the small thing often enclosed in the fist is? presumably it has some significance. I believe the date engraved on this one is the first attack/beginning of the revolution
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31st March 2010, 10:51 AM
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#23 | |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
The thing inside the fist pommel is the peened tang, but as to whether it was made to represent something, am not sure. The engraving looks like it says "Kauit [i.e., Kawit, Cavite province] 30 Agozto [18]96 [the date Cavite province joined the revolution against Spain]". |
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31st March 2010, 04:32 PM
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#24 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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Ashoka - an unusual piece. Usually I see these wavy blades from the Visayas or the Ilocanos. Cavite is far from both. Hmm.......
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31st March 2010, 05:22 PM
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#25 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 61
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Unusual it is, Jose. I,ve seen other waved blades from the north, not common but just another variation. I,m not sure I have seen a waved sheath before though which this one has...
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1st April 2010, 01:39 AM
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#26 | |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 264
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Quote:
Undoubtedly with the differences we see in all the swords of this era, many had to be custom made for individuals. This being a quality piece, I would definitely say it was made for a high ranking individual in the Katipunan. There were only two Katipunan factions in Cavite; the Magdalo(Emilio Aguinaldos group) and the Magdiwang(Mariano Alvarezs group). Both were rivals to one another(The Supremo Andres Bonifacio was associated and accepted with the Magdiwang). The wavy blade is obviously of Ilocos or south Philippines, so it is very odd to see this coming from Cavite. But there was a famous Ilocano hero who achieved a high ranked status in Cavite during the revolution, his name is Artemio Ricarte(El Vibora - the Viper). Ricarte was born in Ilocos Norte and later resided in Cavite as a school teacher prior to the revolution. And interestingly enough, he was accepted and affiliated with both Katipunan groups of Cavite...it was well known Aguinaldo gave gifts to high ranked officers of his rival(the Magdiwang) in order for them to switch sides. Ricarte was a Magdiwang member Aguinaldo highly sought. During the Tejeros Convention in 1897(which was made up of nearly all Cavitenos and heavily Magdalo influenced), Ricarte(the only Ilocano) was elected Captain-General of the Army...which is a extremely high position for a outsider, and I would say is a position higher then the Supremo Andres Bonifacio(elected Director of Interior). This elected position for Ricarte shows the love and high respect they all had for Ricarte. Well anyways, not saying this could be Ricartes sword, but you can see the possibility of how a Ilocano style blade could of been custom made for a Ilocano rebel in Cavite. Also worth mentioning, during this era, more particularly in Luzon then in the deep south, many families moved and resided in other regions. It was not uncommon to see Tagalogs living in Ilocos region or Ilocanos in Tagalog territory...so this could just very well be a sword made by a Cavite smith who wanted to replicate a Ilocano blade. But I still would like to believe it was made for El Vibora. 
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1st April 2010, 03:08 AM
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#27 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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Fascinating and very helpful Dimasalang. Answers a lot of things. This does look more Ilocano than Visayan or Moro.
Maraming Salamat. |
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1st April 2010, 03:31 AM
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#28 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 338
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I second that. Maraming Salamat Po!
That was a very informative read. |
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1st April 2010, 04:08 AM
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#29 | |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manila, Phils.
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
Dimasalang, if all Phil. history professors recount the past like you do, then this school subject will not be boring at all
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1st April 2010, 07:54 AM
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#30 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 61
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!! that is what I call background knowledge..! thanks Dimasalang that is fascinating information. On the other side of the blade is carved 'Kalayaan'?
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