SAMAR BINALHAG
 

My dear blade friends.

Meet my new baby. It's 23 inches long (OAL). I have a very similar one in my collection (but WITHOUT the deity/face pommel) and it came from Borongan, Samar. A fellow blade colleague informed me that my collection was most probably a BINALHAG bolo.

Now come this new piece. the OAL is also 23 inches. They have similar blade profile, with the exception that this new one comes with a pommel with a smiling deity/person ( I really don't know what this is called). The head-pommel looks very different from the 'maranhig' on my tenegres.

I have a feeling that this is a binalhag, but not really that sure.

Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards from Manila.

Yves

What an interesting piece. A true Visayan example. The blade profile does look almost old Cebuano talibong/garab. I would agree with the deity attribution for the pommel.

Only thing is I'm thinking that the binalhag blade profile might be more curved in the middle of the blade top and swollen bottom, similar in some ways to the late 19th century Cebuano talibongs. Am I right?


Thanks for sharing this (Maraming Salamat!)

Hi,

Scabbard definitely looks like a binalhag's. One of my friend's old sundangs has a similar head figural, also provenanced from Samar. Would you know how old this sample is? I'm curious as I've been trying to get a binalhag myself, but our ECQ rules in Manila have prevented any business engagements.

samar binalhag
 

Hi,

This is my first binalhag. From Borongan, Samar c. 1945.

I don't know much about Visayan blades but the 'blade profile might be more curved in the middle of the blade top and swollen bottom' (silimar to a talibong)- might be the bihalhag bolo meant not for combat purposes but the utility type. But it's just my idea on pics that I have seen though.

SAMAR BINALHAG
 

Kind regards,

Yves

Hello Yves,

I agree that these look similar enough - could we also get a view of the other side of the blade, please?

The pommel carving on the piece you're enquiring about seems to me pretty rough without wear and patina from extended use. I'd guess this is a later recarving or replacement. Also the braiding on the grip (plastic?) seems to be too rough for extended use. I'd suggest that this is an older piece whose hilt got revamped sometime after WW2.

Regards,
Kai

I agree with Kai. The carving does look clean and more recent.

SAMAR BINALHAG
 

My dear friends.

Finally, I was able to personally touch this binalhag. This was made possible when the whole of the National Capital Region (which includes Metro Manila) and some areas were downgraded from the Echanced Community Quarantine(ECQ) to a Modified ECQ.

Here are the traits/points from my point of view:
1) the so called 'braided wrappings' on the handle and the scabbard is similar to a rattan material (or something similar to it)- and not plastic.

2) the carving lines on the deity (if this is the right term)- is quote smooth.

3) blade: chisel grind (right side)- right handed. Here are some clearer pics of the blade after I cleaned it up with antique wax and gun oil (on the blade).