Old Photo of Philippines "Bolo Maker"

Dimasalang · 27th February 2010, 06:35 PM

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.

Lew · 27th February 2010, 07:02 PM

I was able to enhance the name. Cavite Viejo Village
Marulas, Kawit, Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawit,_Cavite

Dimasalang · 27th February 2010, 07:22 PM

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.

nacho · 25th March 2010, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

I was able to enhance the name. Cavite Viejo Village
Marulas, Kawit, Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawit,_Cavite

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.

migueldiaz · 25th March 2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nacho

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.

It's good to know that the bolo maker's name was recorded.

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

Dimasalang · 25th March 2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nacho

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.

Nice, thanks for that info!

I collect Philippine history related books as well(old and new). Ill be on the look out for that one.

Battara · 26th March 2010, 04:00 AM

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!

carlos · 29th March 2010, 05:40 PM

Another bolo with similar hilt, I hope you enjoy pictures...
best regards
Carlos

laEspadaAncha · 27th February 2010, 07:23 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, 08:17 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, 09:06 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, 09:18 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, 09:44 PM

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

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

Wow ...

27th February 2010, 06:35 PM	#1
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	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.

27th February 2010, 07:02 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I was able to enhance the name. Cavite Viejo Village Marulas, Kawit, Philippines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawit,_Cavite Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 27th February 2010 at 07:14 PM.

29th March 2010, 05:40 PM	#8
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Another bolo hilt Another bolo with similar hilt, I hope you enjoy pictures... best regards Carlos Attached Images

27th February 2010, 07:23 PM	#9
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 07:52 PM.

27th February 2010, 08:17 PM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	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, 07:22 PM	#3
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	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.

26th March 2010, 04:00 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	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!

27th February 2010, 09:06 PM	#11
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, 09:18 PM	#12
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, 09:44 PM	#13
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Lowney's Chocolates . http://panam1901.bfn.org/miscbuildin...ybuilding.html Jose, you realise the hilt he is carving is exactly like yours . Wow ...