Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


67 - Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath, WWII Era

The 12.4 inch (31.6 cm) long single edged blade widens along its back in a shallow concave arc reaching a maximum width just short of halfway towards the tip before tapering to an acute point; the cutting edge is mildly convex. The blade is a maximum of 0.12 inch (0.32 cm) in thickness until it begins to taper about three fourths of the way to the tip. The surface is dark immediately adjacent to the hilt and elsewhere is bright with longitudinal scratches and scattered minimal discoloration and pitting. The horn hilt is of caribou (water buffalo) horn well carved to show the face and long hair of a woman. Beyond a brass ferrule the hilt continues with discs of darker horn and brass washers before expanding to a small guard of this same composition. An unusual locking mechanism on the sheath has caused mild damage to the horn of the guard where it closes to secure the knife. The knife is 17½ inches (44.6 cm) long and weighs 11.7 ounces (333 grams). The dark wooden sheath has simple carved decoration upon both wooden faces and has a German (nickel) silver mouth locket with a spring loaded locking mechanism overlying a brass mouth locket to which are attached loops through which soiled, frayed cords have been threaded. A brass cap encloses the tip end of the sheath. German (nickel) silver bands (of which two appear to have been lost) secure the halves of the wooden sheath together and there is an area of loss of wood at the seam just beyond the first surviving band where tapering to the tip begins. Overall length is 18¼ inches (46.2 cm) with a weight of just under 18 ounces (510 grams). Lew dated this example as 1930s -1940s.


Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath

Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath

Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath

Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath

Philippine Bolo Knife with Figural Carved Horn Hilt & Sheath



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