Visayan suspension

eques · 7th November 2010, 06:14 AM

I was recently interested in Philippines bolo, particularly the bolo from the Visayan region. After some searching, I have came across the picture from Wikimedia commons here:

My question is as follows: What types of suspension is most common among a Visayan bolo? Is the sword suspended using belt or with a baldric? I've also noticed that the scabbard slides on B, C looks similar to a viking scabbard slide. However it seems to permit thin rope through it instead of a typical leather baldric I am familiar with.

Not to bog down with too much question, but how is scabbard type A suspended anyway? From the picture seems to me it does not have a scabbard slide or any suspension method I am familiar with.

Thanks!

Battara · 13th November 2010, 09:42 PM

Let me take a stab. I think "A" would be thrust through a sash like they do in other parts of the Visayas.

You are right about the others - they would be tied on by a rope or rope like material through little slots/holes in the scabbards, like other parts of the Philippines.

Hope this helps and welcome to the world of collecting Philippine weaponry. Several of us also collect these.

VANDOO · 14th November 2010, 03:50 AM

AS JOSE SAID IT APPEARS THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 WAYS SWORDS AND WORK KNIVES WERE CARRIED. WORK KNIVES USUALLY HAVE THE CORD TYPE OF CARRY. WHEN WORKING AND FOR EVERYDAY WEAR IN THE TROPICS A SORT OF BREACH CLOTH IS THE NORM. A TIGHT CORD FASTENED AROUND THE WAIST ON OR ABOVE THE BREACHCLOTH FORMING THE BELT SEEMS TO BE THE NORM. THE OTHER WAY IS TIEING A CLOTH AROUND THE WAIST OVER THE BREACHCLOTH BELT AND THRUSTING THE SWORD SCABBARD THRU IT.
NOT EASY TO FIND PICTURES TO ILLISTRATE CLEARLY BUT HERE A FEW. ONE IS A DAYAK SHOWING THE BELT/CORD. ALL THE OTHERS SHOW PHILIPPINE WARRIORS IFUGAO AND KALINGA. NOTE HOW TIGHT THEY KEPT THE WAIST OF THEIR BREACHCLOTH. ANOTHER SMALL TIGHT CORD WOULD NOT HAVE BOTHERED THEM MUCH. IN ONE PICTURE IT SHOWS A MARRIAGE AND THE KRIS APPEARS TO BE HUNG BY A CLOTH POSSIBLY ITS ANTING ANTING?? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS??

Spunjer · 14th November 2010, 04:35 PM

batara, i don't believe visayans from the lowlands, or in the case of the sword, ilonggo men wear patadyongs (malongs) back in the days. women did. pictured below is a rattan belt that goes around the waist where if you notice ilonggo scabbards has a leather wrapped around the throat and the out facing side has a small flap that clips on these belts. we were more en vogue with the spaniards back then, lol.

Battara · 14th November 2010, 07:18 PM

Hey Spunger,

Great picture and information. Salamat po.

Never said they wore malongs, however.

Spunjer · 14th November 2010, 09:13 PM

My bad. I was referring to the sash you mentioned, which i took was malong or patadyong in vernacular terms...

migueldiaz · 15th November 2010, 02:09 AM

spunjer, thanks for that pic. would that (quick release of the scabbard from the waist) be also because in some filipino martial arts, the scabbard is used in the other hand as some sort of a buckler? thanks in advance

eques, here's a related thread showing how a panay island sanduko (also called taribong) is strapped to the waist.

Spunjer · 15th November 2010, 03:11 AM

Truthfully, the loops are pretty secure to hook, enough that it doesn't unhook so easily. IMHO, these were made out of necessity by a common person who worked the farm, so i would say the martial aspect would be the last thing in his mind. Also keep in mind that generally, FMA in its basic form uses one hand for offense/defense (using stick or blade) while the free hand is there for checking. Although in the more advance stage, and some styles do use both hands, i've yet to see one that uses the scabbard as part of the curriculum. I suppose it's been done.. like the way manny did last night, only with no sticks

Battara · 15th November 2010, 04:08 AM

Some of the Sulu peoples did use the barong scabbard as a parrying shield in consort with the barong.

migueldiaz · 15th November 2010, 04:24 AM

thanks for the comments

Spunjer · 15th November 2010, 04:58 AM

I shoulda been more specific, lol. FMA normally denotes as the martial arts of luzon and visayas while the brethrens down south refer to their arts as silat... and yes you're right, batara, i believe they use the scabbard on conjunction with their sword...

migueldiaz · 15th November 2010, 06:59 AM

salamat ... i just recalled now that such a pic appeared in cato's moro swords.

7th November 2010, 06:14 AM	#1
eques Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 6	Visayan suspension I was recently interested in Philippines bolo, particularly the bolo from the Visayan region. After some searching, I have came across the picture from Wikimedia commons here: My question is as follows: What types of suspension is most common among a Visayan bolo? Is the sword suspended using belt or with a baldric? I've also noticed that the scabbard slides on B, C looks similar to a viking scabbard slide. However it seems to permit thin rope through it instead of a typical leather baldric I am familiar with. Not to bog down with too much question, but how is scabbard type A suspended anyway? From the picture seems to me it does not have a scabbard slide or any suspension method I am familiar with. Thanks!

14th November 2010, 03:50 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	AS JOSE SAID IT APPEARS THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 WAYS SWORDS AND WORK KNIVES WERE CARRIED. WORK KNIVES USUALLY HAVE THE CORD TYPE OF CARRY. WHEN WORKING AND FOR EVERYDAY WEAR IN THE TROPICS A SORT OF BREACH CLOTH IS THE NORM. A TIGHT CORD FASTENED AROUND THE WAIST ON OR ABOVE THE BREACHCLOTH FORMING THE BELT SEEMS TO BE THE NORM. THE OTHER WAY IS TIEING A CLOTH AROUND THE WAIST OVER THE BREACHCLOTH BELT AND THRUSTING THE SWORD SCABBARD THRU IT. NOT EASY TO FIND PICTURES TO ILLISTRATE CLEARLY BUT HERE A FEW. ONE IS A DAYAK SHOWING THE BELT/CORD. ALL THE OTHERS SHOW PHILIPPINE WARRIORS IFUGAO AND KALINGA. NOTE HOW TIGHT THEY KEPT THE WAIST OF THEIR BREACHCLOTH. ANOTHER SMALL TIGHT CORD WOULD NOT HAVE BOTHERED THEM MUCH. IN ONE PICTURE IT SHOWS A MARRIAGE AND THE KRIS APPEARS TO BE HUNG BY A CLOTH POSSIBLY ITS ANTING ANTING?? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?? Attached Images

14th November 2010, 04:35 PM	#4
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	batara, i don't believe visayans from the lowlands, or in the case of the sword, ilonggo men wear patadyongs (malongs) back in the days. women did. pictured below is a rattan belt that goes around the waist where if you notice ilonggo scabbards has a leather wrapped around the throat and the out facing side has a small flap that clips on these belts. we were more en vogue with the spaniards back then, lol. Attached Images

15th November 2010, 06:59 AM	#12
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	salamat ... i just recalled now that such a pic appeared in cato's moro swords. Attached Images

13th November 2010, 09:42 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Let me take a stab. I think "A" would be thrust through a sash like they do in other parts of the Visayas. You are right about the others - they would be tied on by a rope or rope like material through little slots/holes in the scabbards, like other parts of the Philippines. Hope this helps and welcome to the world of collecting Philippine weaponry. Several of us also collect these.

14th November 2010, 07:18 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Hey Spunger, Great picture and information. Salamat po. Never said they wore malongs, however.

14th November 2010, 09:13 PM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	My bad. I was referring to the sash you mentioned, which i took was malong or patadyong in vernacular terms...

15th November 2010, 02:09 AM	#7
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	spunjer, thanks for that pic. would that (quick release of the scabbard from the waist) be also because in some filipino martial arts, the scabbard is used in the other hand as some sort of a buckler? thanks in advance eques, here's a related thread showing how a panay island sanduko (also called taribong) is strapped to the waist.

15th November 2010, 03:11 AM	#8
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Truthfully, the loops are pretty secure to hook, enough that it doesn't unhook so easily. IMHO, these were made out of necessity by a common person who worked the farm, so i would say the martial aspect would be the last thing in his mind. Also keep in mind that generally, FMA in its basic form uses one hand for offense/defense (using stick or blade) while the free hand is there for checking. Although in the more advance stage, and some styles do use both hands, i've yet to see one that uses the scabbard as part of the curriculum. I suppose it's been done.. like the way manny did last night, only with no sticks

15th November 2010, 04:08 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Some of the Sulu peoples did use the barong scabbard as a parrying shield in consort with the barong.

15th November 2010, 04:24 AM	#10
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	thanks for the comments

15th November 2010, 04:58 AM	#11
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	I shoulda been more specific, lol. FMA normally denotes as the martial arts of luzon and visayas while the brethrens down south refer to their arts as silat... and yes you're right, batara, i believe they use the scabbard on conjunction with their sword...