New Bolo

Robert · 23rd November 2010, 12:42 AM

Well, This has finally arrived. I was really starting to worried that it had gotten lost in the mail. A late 19th to early 20th century Philippine bolo with a nicely carved carabao grip in the shape of a clenched fist. The finely carved but damaged scabbard is made of a dark wood with wire bands (most of which are replacements) holding the two sides together. I cannot make out the writing carved around the hilt but it looks like SON?-APALIT?-PAMP?-CASTRO Any help with filling in what the missing worn letters might be and the meaning would be greatly appreciated. Measurements below.

Total Length = 25 inches
Blade Length = 18 inches
Blade At Thickest = 5/16 inch
Hilt Length = 7 inches

I am going to try to upload the pictures one at a time so that they might stay in order so please be patient as this might take a while. I will also be adding pictures of the scabbard.

Robert

Robert · 23rd November 2010, 01:00 AM

Here are a few pictures of the scabbard. All comments are welcome.

Robert

Rick · 23rd November 2010, 01:45 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pampanga#History

Battara · 23rd November 2010, 03:18 AM

Well, by blade alone I would steer away from Pampangan. However, the fist and carving look good, so I might hesitantly say pre-1900. The hilt is made of worn horn (hey that rhymes

) and the scabbard is made of narra wood. Unique piece. Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?

nacho · 23rd November 2010, 05:27 AM

I think the scabbard is made of Balayong wood. Its deep purple color is highly prized for making furnitures. The wood is no longer available. High end furnitures made of Balayong wood were made in Pampanga up to the very early 1900s.

Battara · 23rd November 2010, 10:22 PM

Balayang wood - not familiar with it. I was basing my thoughts on the red coloration. Interesting.........

Robert · 24th November 2010, 02:28 AM

Hello everyone and thank you for your replies.

Rick,
Thank you for the link. One of the first things I did when this arrived and I found the words carved into the hilt was to do a google search on them and the link you posted was one of the first that I checked out.

Jose,
Yes, the hilt is of worn horn

and I am very happy to hear you think it might be pre 1900. To answer your question "Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?" believe me when I say it is purely by accident or just plain dumb luck, I'm not sure which.

Nacho,
Like Jose I have never heard of Balayong wood. The color of this wood is very dark, almost like teak but with like you say "a deep purple color" to it. It looks more reddish in the photos because of the flash.

Now if someone can tell me the meaning of the words carved into the hilt I would be happy.

I know from the Wikipedia link mentioned by Rick that Apalit is a municipality in the province of Pampanga and was supposedly named after the Apalit tree also known as the Narra the National tree of the Philippines. (This is something I had not known before but interesting none the less.) I do not know if PAMP is supposed to represent Pampanga ? After looking at the carving SON in sunlight with the help of a magnifying glass I think that there might be one more letter "though it is worn almost completely away" that might be an S making the word SONS ? Castro I am guessing might have been the owners name or the writing in total might be a tribute to that person?

All help will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

Reichsritter · 24th November 2010, 07:54 AM

Hi Robert-

A Kapangpangan (a local of Pampanga) friend told me that Apalit is known for bolos, knives and anything metal (rakes, spade hoes etc.). It even have a barangay (local community) called "Capalangan" "Palang" a generic term for knives or bolo. My guess is Castro & Sons of Apalit Pampanga is one of the old home businesses around Apalit that make these domestic metal products.

Battara · 24th November 2010, 11:35 AM

Thanks Reicsritter, that would make a lot of sense......

Robert · 24th November 2010, 01:30 PM

Reicsritter,
Thank you very much. Like Jose said "that would make a lot of sense......". If this is the case, it will be the first time I have seen one of these marked in this way by the maker. Has anyone else seen or have an item from the Philippines that has been marked by the maker in this fashion ? In the mean time I have found that this has a laminated blade and because of my poor picture taking ability I will try doing an etch on it later hopefully to bring it out enough so I might be able to get a few good pictures to post. Again my thank for all the help so far.

Robert

Sajen · 30th October 2015, 03:38 PM

Just have won a very similar Apalit bolo, I guess that it is from the same time frame as the one from Robert, this one has a blonde horn handle without the inscription Robert's bolo has and a leather scabbard instead of a wooden one. Here some pictures from the seller. Robert, hope it's ok that I hijack your thread.

Regards,
Detlef

Battara · 31st October 2015, 01:51 AM

Congratulations Sajen! Albino horn is harder to find. Nice carving too.

Robert · 31st October 2015, 02:45 AM

Hello Detlef, I am very happy to see that you were the one who won this great bolo. The auction photos of this piece were not the best I have ever seen so I am really looking forward to seeing more and hopefully better ones after it arrives. My congratulations to you on being able to add this rare piece to your collection.

Best,
Robert

carlos · 31st October 2015, 10:22 AM

Congratulations! Is a very beautiful piece !! Im sure bolo is very happy in his new home !!

Best regards
Carlos

Sajen · 31st October 2015, 11:47 AM

Thank you all three for the kind words.

Jose, would you agree with my age guess?

Robert, will post some better pictures when I have received it.

Carlos, yes, I am sure that it will be happy with it's new friends.

Regards,
Detlef

Spunjer · 31st October 2015, 11:55 AM

congrats, Detlef!

Sajen · 31st October 2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

congrats, Detlef!

Thank you Ron!

Battara · 31st October 2015, 07:59 PM

I'd agree to your age estimate, more with late 19thc.

Sajen · 1st November 2015, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I'd agree to your age estimate, more with late 19thc.

Thank you Jose!

Best regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 23rd March 2016, 10:18 PM

Just finished cleaning the blade from rust. Here some hopeful better pictures.

Sajen · 23rd March 2016, 10:22 PM

Some close up's

Sajen · 23rd March 2016, 10:27 PM

Thickness at the base nearly 1 cm --- 0.4'!

Battara · 23rd March 2016, 11:38 PM

Great work! Nice piece!

Sajen · 23rd March 2016, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Great work! Nice piece!

Thank you Jose!

23rd November 2010, 12:42 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	New Bolo Well, This has finally arrived. I was really starting to worried that it had gotten lost in the mail. A late 19th to early 20th century Philippine bolo with a nicely carved carabao grip in the shape of a clenched fist. The finely carved but damaged scabbard is made of a dark wood with wire bands (most of which are replacements) holding the two sides together. I cannot make out the writing carved around the hilt but it looks like SON?-APALIT?-PAMP?-CASTRO Any help with filling in what the missing worn letters might be and the meaning would be greatly appreciated. Measurements below. Total Length = 25 inches Blade Length = 18 inches Blade At Thickest = 5/16 inch Hilt Length = 7 inches I am going to try to upload the pictures one at a time so that they might stay in order so please be patient as this might take a while. I will also be adding pictures of the scabbard. Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 23rd November 2010 at 01:04 AM.

23rd November 2010, 01:00 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Here are a few pictures of the scabbard. All comments are welcome. Robert Attached Images

23rd November 2010, 01:45 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	Pampangas ?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pampanga#History

30th October 2015, 03:38 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Just have won a very similar Apalit bolo, I guess that it is from the same time frame as the one from Robert, this one has a blonde horn handle without the inscription Robert's bolo has and a leather scabbard instead of a wooden one. Here some pictures from the seller. Robert, hope it's ok that I hijack your thread. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

23rd March 2016, 10:18 PM	#20
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Just finished cleaning the blade from rust. Here some hopeful better pictures. Attached Images

23rd November 2010, 03:18 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Well, by blade alone I would steer away from Pampangan. However, the fist and carving look good, so I might hesitantly say pre-1900. The hilt is made of worn horn (hey that rhymes ) and the scabbard is made of narra wood. Unique piece. Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?

23rd November 2010, 05:27 AM	#5
nacho Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Makati Posts: 69	I think the scabbard is made of Balayong wood. Its deep purple color is highly prized for making furnitures. The wood is no longer available. High end furnitures made of Balayong wood were made in Pampanga up to the very early 1900s.

23rd November 2010, 10:22 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Balayang wood - not familiar with it. I was basing my thoughts on the red coloration. Interesting.........

24th November 2010, 02:28 AM	#7
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello everyone and thank you for your replies. Rick, Thank you for the link. One of the first things I did when this arrived and I found the words carved into the hilt was to do a google search on them and the link you posted was one of the first that I checked out. Jose, Yes, the hilt is of worn horn and I am very happy to hear you think it might be pre 1900. To answer your question "Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?" believe me when I say it is purely by accident or just plain dumb luck, I'm not sure which. Nacho, Like Jose I have never heard of Balayong wood. The color of this wood is very dark, almost like teak but with like you say "a deep purple color" to it. It looks more reddish in the photos because of the flash. Now if someone can tell me the meaning of the words carved into the hilt I would be happy. I know from the Wikipedia link mentioned by Rick that Apalit is a municipality in the province of Pampanga and was supposedly named after the Apalit tree also known as the Narra the National tree of the Philippines. (This is something I had not known before but interesting none the less.) I do not know if PAMP is supposed to represent Pampanga ? After looking at the carving SON in sunlight with the help of a magnifying glass I think that there might be one more letter "though it is worn almost completely away" that might be an S making the word SONS ? Castro I am guessing might have been the owners name or the writing in total might be a tribute to that person? All help will be greatly appreciated. Robert

24th November 2010, 07:54 AM	#8
Reichsritter Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 26	Hi Robert- A Kapangpangan (a local of Pampanga) friend told me that Apalit is known for bolos, knives and anything metal (rakes, spade hoes etc.). It even have a barangay (local community) called "Capalangan" "Palang" a generic term for knives or bolo. My guess is Castro & Sons of Apalit Pampanga is one of the old home businesses around Apalit that make these domestic metal products.

24th November 2010, 11:35 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Thanks Reicsritter, that would make a lot of sense......

24th November 2010, 01:30 PM	#10
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Reicsritter, Thank you very much. Like Jose said "that would make a lot of sense......". If this is the case, it will be the first time I have seen one of these marked in this way by the maker. Has anyone else seen or have an item from the Philippines that has been marked by the maker in this fashion ? In the mean time I have found that this has a laminated blade and because of my poor picture taking ability I will try doing an etch on it later hopefully to bring it out enough so I might be able to get a few good pictures to post. Again my thank for all the help so far. Robert

31st October 2015, 01:51 AM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Congratulations Sajen! Albino horn is harder to find. Nice carving too.

31st October 2015, 02:45 AM	#13
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Detlef, I am very happy to see that you were the one who won this great bolo. The auction photos of this piece were not the best I have ever seen so I am really looking forward to seeing more and hopefully better ones after it arrives. My congratulations to you on being able to add this rare piece to your collection. Best, Robert

31st October 2015, 10:22 AM	#14
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 746	Congratulations! Is a very beautiful piece !! Im sure bolo is very happy in his new home !! Best regards Carlos

31st October 2015, 11:47 AM	#15
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Thank you all three for the kind words. Jose, would you agree with my age guess? Robert, will post some better pictures when I have received it. Carlos, yes, I am sure that it will be happy with it's new friends. Regards, Detlef

31st October 2015, 11:55 AM	#16
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	congrats, Detlef!

31st October 2015, 07:59 PM	#18
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	I'd agree to your age estimate, more with late 19thc.

23rd March 2016, 10:22 PM	#21
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Some close up's Attached Images

23rd March 2016, 10:27 PM	#22
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Thickness at the base nearly 1 cm --- 0.4'! Attached Images

23rd March 2016, 11:38 PM	#23
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Great work! Nice piece!