Puzzling Filipino (?) bolo

[Ian]

Thanks Willem. All good points, which are particularly apparent on the blown up picture. As noted previously, the blade has been treated with a hard substance and I can't get to the underlying surface without destroying that coating. Organic solvents have not helped. I think you are correct that it is likely something on the blade rather than an inlay.

[Ian]

Several days ago, I sent these pictures to our fellow forumite, xasterix, for his opinion. I delayed putting his views up because I didn't want to bias the discussion. Here is what he said:

I strongly suspect this to either be from Masbate or Northern Samar. Both of these areas are a sort of 'in-between' of Luzon and Visayas blades; I've seen that type of scabbard before from Masbate, but that blade type is also produced in Northern Samar. They simply call it 'Masbad' and is an oddity from their other blades, because it is their only V-grind (and not the usual chisel). I hope you don't mind, I showed it to a friend ... and he thinks it's from outside PH. So there you have two conjectures on that one.

Something further to think about. Personally, I believe this is a Filipino bolo. The intermediate position of Masbate between Bicol and the rest of the Visayas makes xas' suggestion appealing.

Ian.

[drac2k]

Great Bolo!
Now let me play detective as well. I believe what you see are the remains of scotch tape that covered a descriptive label about the item; over the years the tape yellowed. The tag was removed with the tape and thus you have the brass colored perimeter where the tape was left; the tag may even be the one now on the scabbard. Measure it and see if it fits.

[Battara]

Masbate...........hmmm.

As I look at it again, I now think it is old tape instead of brass inlay. I can see corrosion or forging flaw underneath the tape.