Which is the Longest Type of Bolo?

ashkenaz · 2nd January 2019, 07:40 PM

Would anyone happen to guess which type of Ethnographic Bolo from the Philippines was the longest?

I am trying to inquire for further research.

It seems the Minasbad is the longest alongside the Pinuti.

Battara · 3rd January 2019, 08:07 AM

Actually I would say the Visayan talibon (up to the turn of the 20th century) or a form of Ilokano long sword are the longest.

Battara · 3rd January 2019, 06:51 PM

The only thing that would beat these in length would be the Mindanao kampilan.

xasterix · 3rd January 2019, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Actually I would say the Visayan talibon (up to the turn of the 20th century) or a form of Ilokano long sword are the longest.

I've heard of rumors that some Pulahanes talibon antiques actually had 32-inch blades, with 7-inch hilt (mine is just 25-inch blade). Supposedly, the pinuti variants of Cebu also reach up to this length and even more, effectively rivaling the kampilan in length.

As for OP's assertion that a minasbad is, in his view, the longest- I won't contest that as I have a friend whose heirloom minasbad reaches up to 33-inch blade length (see attached picture). Who knows what other variants of traditional blades are just waiting to be found with absurdly long blade lengths.

HOWEVER, I've seen an absurdly large panabas in the National Museum of Anthropology of the Filipino People. As you can see in the other picture, it's longer (and definitely larger) than the kampilan or any other sword in its vicinity.

Oh and this isn't related to the topic, but just in case you guys zoom in on the description of BangsaMoro weapons...it states there that the kampilan is traditionally two-hand wield. It's not. All the kampilans I've wielded only have hand-space for one, definitely not two, unless you're going to hold the ornamental part of the hilt.

Sajen · 4th January 2019, 02:23 PM

One of my longest Philippine swords is this sansibar or matulis, equal how you would call it, it's 80,5 cm inside scabbard and 76,5 cm without: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=matulis
Also very long is this tenegre: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=tenegre 78,5 cm inside scabbard, 74 cm without.

Regards,
Detlef

ariel · 4th January 2019, 07:50 PM

Typical boys bragging: whose is longer:-)))

Sajen · 4th January 2019, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Typical boys bragging: whose is longer:-)))

2nd January 2019, 07:40 PM	#1
ashkenaz Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 23	Which is the Longest Type of Bolo? Would anyone happen to guess which type of Ethnographic Bolo from the Philippines was the longest? I am trying to inquire for further research. It seems the Minasbad is the longest alongside the Pinuti.

3rd January 2019, 08:07 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Actually I would say the Visayan talibon (up to the turn of the 20th century) or a form of Ilokano long sword are the longest.

3rd January 2019, 06:51 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	The only thing that would beat these in length would be the Mindanao kampilan.

4th January 2019, 02:23 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	One of my longest Philippine swords is this sansibar or matulis, equal how you would call it, it's 80,5 cm inside scabbard and 76,5 cm without: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=matulis Also very long is this tenegre: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=tenegre 78,5 cm inside scabbard, 74 cm without. Regards, Detlef

4th January 2019, 07:50 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Typical boys bragging: whose is longer:-)))