Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1077 - Philippine Bolo Utility Knife with Wooden Sheath

This utilitarian bolo knife has a single edged blade measuring 14½ inches (37 cm) in length. The finish of the blade is mostly bright steel where the surfaces have been smoothed by grinding; some low points from forging retain a rough dark gray surface. There is a pair of stamped impressions on one side of the base of the blade, possibly representing a running animal. The hilt is of wood, reinforced by wound brass or copper wire; the bulbous end is 1.34 inch (3.4 cm) thick. A light colored scabbard of two halves has been joined with slender pegs and wrapped with rattan. On one side there is a channel for a cord. The scabbard shows some scuffing and very light insect damage and there is a suggestion that additional wrapping bands have been lost. Overall length is about 20 inches (50.5 cm) with a weight of just over 20 ounces (574 grams).

Compare with the different but similarly placed double stamped mark on the blade of this bolo (#1073)




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