Luzon Bolo With Wootz Blade!

Ian · 22nd August 2005, 10:12 AM

Hi Lew:

I can sort of see a pattern of something, but the pics are less than convincing. Even so, assuming this is wootz, it is a very unusual finding on a distinctly Filipino sword from Luzon -- I've not seen another example. The sword blade is definitely a Filipino pattern ("matulis"). The hilt and scabbard suggest c. 1900 or a little later, perhaps a Katipunan piece from the symbols on the hilt.

Possibly the most likely source for a wootz ingot might have been via the Muslims in the south of teh Philippines, and their contacts with other Muslims in Malaysia, India and Arabia. Perhaps something brought back from the Haj that found its way into the hands of a Christian Filipino.

Intriguing piece if it does turn out to be wootz.

Ian.

ibeam · 22nd August 2005, 02:58 PM

Thank you All,
I tried to take a close up of the blade and here it is. The clean smooth steel in the bottom of the picture is the blade edge. Most of the patterning happens just above this hardened edge.

Thanks Lew for posting the sword.

Ferguson · 22nd August 2005, 07:46 PM

I fiddled with your pic in Photoshop to try to show the pattern better. Don't know if it's better or worse.

Lovely Bolo though!

Gt Obach · 22nd August 2005, 08:47 PM

what did you etch with......

it does look very wootzy... nice blade

Greg

Ian · 22nd August 2005, 10:17 PM

I think we need the help of Dr Ann for this one (e-mail sent).

Perhaps we are just seeing some unusual crystallization associated with the process for hardening of the edge.

Ian.

Lew · 22nd August 2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

I think we need the help of Dr Ann for this one.

Perhaps we are just seeing some unusual crystallization associated with the hardening of the edge.

Ian.

Ian

I emailed Dr. Ann she thinks it could be wootz from southern India?

Lew

Battara · 22nd August 2005, 10:24 PM

Rsword corrected me once in that I thought my gunong was wootz. It looked like it, but was not crystaline. This one looks very similar to mine. If Rsword is around, would like to get his opinoin was well. Maybe I'll post some pics for comparison.

Ann Feuerbach · 22nd August 2005, 10:56 PM

Hi all!
I agree it is difficult to judge from a picture. It either looks like very fine south Indian wootz, or very complicated lamination. The blade shape does look as though it may be from a ground down old sword blade. Stick it under a microscope and see if you can see any spheroidal cementite. I know, easier said than done!
Battara, I did not know you were from Louisville. I was just there to visit the Frazier.

kai · 22nd August 2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibeam

I tried to take a close up of the blade and here it is.

Thanks for the pic, Ibeam! Ok, I see the pattern which you are referring to as wootz. However, could you please try to get an even clearer pic? Waiting for a completely overcast day does help... Since this may be such an unique piece, I'd love to get the documentation as good as possible!

Quote:

The clean smooth steel in the bottom of the picture is the blade edge. Most of the patterning happens just above this hardened edge.

That's like fire-hardening a bronze sword's edge...

Actually, this lack of pattern may be a more compelling evidence that this really is wootz: Seems like the bladesmith was unaware of the requirements for forging wootz and thus destroyed the hard wootz edge during a futile conventional "hardening" step!

Maybe this blade was made from an imported wootz blank/blade? Is it possible to deduce from the pattern wether it was just filed into shape or is there any forging noticeable?

Sorry for being a pain!

Regards,
Kai

22nd August 2005, 02:58 PM	#2
ibeam Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 134	Many Thanks Thank you All, I tried to take a close up of the blade and here it is. The clean smooth steel in the bottom of the picture is the blade edge. Most of the patterning happens just above this hardened edge. Thanks Lew for posting the sword. Attached Images

22nd August 2005, 07:46 PM	#3
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I fiddled with your pic in Photoshop to try to show the pattern better. Don't know if it's better or worse. Lovely Bolo though! Attached Images

22nd August 2005, 10:12 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Hi Lew: I can sort of see a pattern of something, but the pics are less than convincing. Even so, assuming this is wootz, it is a very unusual finding on a distinctly Filipino sword from Luzon -- I've not seen another example. The sword blade is definitely a Filipino pattern ("matulis"). The hilt and scabbard suggest c. 1900 or a little later, perhaps a Katipunan piece from the symbols on the hilt. Possibly the most likely source for a wootz ingot might have been via the Muslims in the south of teh Philippines, and their contacts with other Muslims in Malaysia, India and Arabia. Perhaps something brought back from the Haj that found its way into the hands of a Christian Filipino. Intriguing piece if it does turn out to be wootz. Ian.

22nd August 2005, 08:47 PM	#4
Gt Obach Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 116	what did you etch with...... it does look very wootzy... nice blade Greg

22nd August 2005, 10:17 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	I think we need the help of Dr Ann for this one (e-mail sent). Perhaps we are just seeing some unusual crystallization associated with the process for hardening of the edge. Ian.

22nd August 2005, 10:24 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Rsword corrected me once in that I thought my gunong was wootz. It looked like it, but was not crystaline. This one looks very similar to mine. If Rsword is around, would like to get his opinoin was well. Maybe I'll post some pics for comparison.

22nd August 2005, 10:56 PM	#8
Ann Feuerbach Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 133	Hi all! I agree it is difficult to judge from a picture. It either looks like very fine south Indian wootz, or very complicated lamination. The blade shape does look as though it may be from a ground down old sword blade. Stick it under a microscope and see if you can see any spheroidal cementite. I know, easier said than done! Battara, I did not know you were from Louisville. I was just there to visit the Frazier.