Ilocano Wavy Bladed Sword

Battara · 28th September 2014, 03:43 AM

Greetings folks!

Here is a wavy bladed Ilocano bolo. The blade is mono steel and its tang goes through the hilt with a silver round nut at the end.

The hilt is in two pieces, both well and intricately carved in floral designs. At the place where the two pieces meet and at the base of the blade are rings of silver. Along the top and bottom of the hilt are strips of plain silver (I repaired some of it ) which goes around the entire hilt. Bronze that was once silvered is what makes the guard.

There is a scabbard/sheath that is made of pierced thick leather (broken with a missing section) that has bronze for top and bottom chapes. Something was held in place in the middle of the top chape, but I don't know what it was (a triangle, 3 stars, and a sun face?).

Any help and comment would be helpful and enjoy!

Robert · 28th September 2014, 04:02 AM

WOW

You sure can find some purdy stuff !!! The beautiful carving on the hilt and a pierced leather scabbard make this one of the best pieces I have seen. Do you think that a piece of the scabbard is missing or could it be that the leather has just shrank to the point that the end popped off when the blade was pushed in with to much force? As for the missing item on the throat piece, I would guess that it was some type of frog attachment like a short pin with a ball end. You already have my address so just let me know when to expect its arrival.

Congratulations on this wonderful addition to you collection.

Best,
Robert

Ian · 28th September 2014, 05:18 AM

Very nice piece Jose. Congratulations on a great find and for restoring it to its former glory. How many hours work on this one?

Is the blade cross section a diamond shape or triangular? I've seen both on Ilocano pieces.

Ian

Battara · 28th September 2014, 07:30 AM

Thank you both.

Robert - I'm sending to your house on a very, very, very, slow slug. It should get there in 20 years.

Also I looked closely at the torn parts of the leather and they do not match, sadly.

By the way, would you post a picture of the frog attachment to which you refer?

Ian - the cross section of the blade is diamond shaped. It took a few hours or so of work for cleaning, shaping the silver replacements, and making the silver nails.

I may get with an expert leather worker here in town for the scabbard - to stitch and re-enforce some places in the leather, and to make the missing section.

Robert · 28th September 2014, 08:02 AM

Jose, I'll be watching for that slug. In the meantime here is a photo of what a scabbard frog button looks like. All the ones that I have seen so far on Philippine swords have been the round variety similar to the one on the left shown here.

Best,
Robert

P.S.
Have you tried turning the scabbard tip over as it looks as if it could be positioned wrong in the above photos.

carlos · 28th September 2014, 08:47 AM

Ahhhh ! What a wonderful piece !! All is perfect, the carved hilt with silver, the sheath, the wavy blade ...
congratulations with this adquisition, one of the best i have ever seen !
Thanks
carlos

Sajen · 28th September 2014, 12:49 PM

The bolo byself is already one of the best pieces I have seen so far but the pierced leather scabbard, wow!

Hope you can get this restored.

Great addition to your collection, I am green with envy!

Regards,
Detlef

Oliver Pinchot · 28th September 2014, 05:20 PM

Beautiful piece, Jose. The complexity of the carving and silverwork on the grip, to say nothing of the leatherwork, are fantastic. It's in the right hands!

Battara · 28th September 2014, 09:42 PM

Thank you folks. I was pleased to find this on ePrey a while back.

Thank you Robert for the pictures - makes sense. Not sure how I can pull it off however without damaging the chape.

28th September 2014, 03:43 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Ilocano Wavy Bladed Sword Greetings folks! Here is a wavy bladed Ilocano bolo. The blade is mono steel and its tang goes through the hilt with a silver round nut at the end. The hilt is in two pieces, both well and intricately carved in floral designs. At the place where the two pieces meet and at the base of the blade are rings of silver. Along the top and bottom of the hilt are strips of plain silver (I repaired some of it ) which goes around the entire hilt. Bronze that was once silvered is what makes the guard. There is a scabbard/sheath that is made of pierced thick leather (broken with a missing section) that has bronze for top and bottom chapes. Something was held in place in the middle of the top chape, but I don't know what it was (a triangle, 3 stars, and a sun face?). Any help and comment would be helpful and enjoy! Attached Images

28th September 2014, 08:02 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Jose, I'll be watching for that slug. In the meantime here is a photo of what a scabbard frog button looks like. All the ones that I have seen so far on Philippine swords have been the round variety similar to the one on the left shown here. Best, Robert P.S. Have you tried turning the scabbard tip over as it looks as if it could be positioned wrong in the above photos. Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 28th September 2014 at 09:02 AM.

28th September 2014, 04:02 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	WOW You sure can find some purdy stuff !!! The beautiful carving on the hilt and a pierced leather scabbard make this one of the best pieces I have seen. Do you think that a piece of the scabbard is missing or could it be that the leather has just shrank to the point that the end popped off when the blade was pushed in with to much force? As for the missing item on the throat piece, I would guess that it was some type of frog attachment like a short pin with a ball end. You already have my address so just let me know when to expect its arrival. Congratulations on this wonderful addition to you collection. Best, Robert

28th September 2014, 05:18 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Very nice piece Jose. Congratulations on a great find and for restoring it to its former glory. How many hours work on this one? Is the blade cross section a diamond shape or triangular? I've seen both on Ilocano pieces. Ian

28th September 2014, 07:30 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Thank you both. Robert - I'm sending to your house on a very, very, very, slow slug. It should get there in 20 years. Also I looked closely at the torn parts of the leather and they do not match, sadly. By the way, would you post a picture of the frog attachment to which you refer? Ian - the cross section of the blade is diamond shaped. It took a few hours or so of work for cleaning, shaping the silver replacements, and making the silver nails. I may get with an expert leather worker here in town for the scabbard - to stitch and re-enforce some places in the leather, and to make the missing section.

28th September 2014, 08:47 AM	#6
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Ahhhh ! What a wonderful piece !! All is perfect, the carved hilt with silver, the sheath, the wavy blade ... congratulations with this adquisition, one of the best i have ever seen ! Thanks carlos

28th September 2014, 12:49 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	The bolo byself is already one of the best pieces I have seen so far but the pierced leather scabbard, wow! Hope you can get this restored. Great addition to your collection, I am green with envy! Regards, Detlef

28th September 2014, 05:20 PM	#8
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Beautiful piece, Jose. The complexity of the carving and silverwork on the grip, to say nothing of the leatherwork, are fantastic. It's in the right hands!

28th September 2014, 09:42 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Thank you folks. I was pleased to find this on ePrey a while back. Thank you Robert for the pictures - makes sense. Not sure how I can pull it off however without damaging the chape.