Philippine sword...

roshan · 25th December 2007, 02:09 PM

My dad bought this sword while travelling somewhere to the south of Manila... What can you tell me about it?

I guess its just a wall hanger.

Henk · 25th December 2007, 02:27 PM

If you put it on the wall, it is a wallhanger indeed.

Just like the most of our swords we collect.

It is a bolo. But I'm not an expert on Philippine swords. I'm sure the more knowledgeable members will give their comment on this piece.

roshan · 25th December 2007, 02:45 PM

True, I suppose.

Im just not sure of the quality of the blade, or the age of the weapon, although I think its probably very recent. I tried chopping a coconut tree with it, it didnt go deep in at all. I dont know whether that was due to the coconut tree, the sword or me.

I did have better luck chopping up a malungay tree though:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25056169@N00/462705936/

Henk · 25th December 2007, 03:45 PM

Mostly we don't chop trees with our swords. Although with a good sword and technique one can chop a tree, but swords are generally not made for chopping trees. Unfortunately fine blades can be ruined by these kind of acts.

As far as I can see it on the picture it is a a rather nice sword fitted with a belt hanger. I personally would remove the belt hanger.

For the age I don't think it is brand new. A careful guess is around or maybe even before WWII.

Ferguson · 25th December 2007, 04:26 PM

I hope you don't mind. I lightened your picture a bit so we could see the detail better. It seems to me a very nice bolo, with a hilt style I have not seen before. Hopefully the experts will stop by and comment. It's as least as old as WWII, maybe older. I'd be careful about chopping with it. If you need a blade to use, I'd be glad to trade you a nice hatchet for it.

Thanks for sharing!
Steve Ferguson

roshan · 25th December 2007, 04:48 PM

Ferguson and Henk, thanks for that information, I think I am going to be taking much better care of the sword. My father purchased it on a whim from someone while visiting some waterfalls (called Mahayhay) in Luzon somewhere south of Manila (I think not far from mount Makiling), its not a destination that is known by tourists or even most locals. I dont know who he bought it from, but I believe it was just some random person (who was probably using the bolo for utilitarian purposes), not at a shop or anything. He bought it for what would be considered pocket change in western countries, so I never realized that the sword was a true ethnographic weapon.

I cant actually remove the belt hanger because the scabbard (?) is composed of two halves held together by the belt hanger. It used to be really dirty (packed with mud and everything) but Ive cleaned it up.

Heres a picture I took of the waterfalls near where the sword was purchased:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8968/ss101717byc9.jpg

BTW, thanks for lightening the picture, I dont mind at all, it does make it much easier to see the details.

roshan · 6th September 2009, 03:19 AM

Thank you for the information Miguel! Very interesting....

25th December 2007, 02:09 PM	#1
roshan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	Philippine sword... My dad bought this sword while travelling somewhere to the south of Manila... What can you tell me about it? I guess its just a wall hanger.

25th December 2007, 04:26 PM	#5
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I hope you don't mind. I lightened your picture a bit so we could see the detail better. It seems to me a very nice bolo, with a hilt style I have not seen before. Hopefully the experts will stop by and comment. It's as least as old as WWII, maybe older. I'd be careful about chopping with it. If you need a blade to use, I'd be glad to trade you a nice hatchet for it. Thanks for sharing! Steve Ferguson Attached Images

25th December 2007, 02:27 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	If you put it on the wall, it is a wallhanger indeed. Just like the most of our swords we collect. It is a bolo. But I'm not an expert on Philippine swords. I'm sure the more knowledgeable members will give their comment on this piece.

25th December 2007, 02:45 PM	#3
roshan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	True, I suppose. Im just not sure of the quality of the blade, or the age of the weapon, although I think its probably very recent. I tried chopping a coconut tree with it, it didnt go deep in at all. I dont know whether that was due to the coconut tree, the sword or me. I did have better luck chopping up a malungay tree though: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25056169@N00/462705936/

25th December 2007, 03:45 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Mostly we don't chop trees with our swords. Although with a good sword and technique one can chop a tree, but swords are generally not made for chopping trees. Unfortunately fine blades can be ruined by these kind of acts. As far as I can see it on the picture it is a a rather nice sword fitted with a belt hanger. I personally would remove the belt hanger. For the age I don't think it is brand new. A careful guess is around or maybe even before WWII.

25th December 2007, 04:48 PM	#6
roshan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	Ferguson and Henk, thanks for that information, I think I am going to be taking much better care of the sword. My father purchased it on a whim from someone while visiting some waterfalls (called Mahayhay) in Luzon somewhere south of Manila (I think not far from mount Makiling), its not a destination that is known by tourists or even most locals. I dont know who he bought it from, but I believe it was just some random person (who was probably using the bolo for utilitarian purposes), not at a shop or anything. He bought it for what would be considered pocket change in western countries, so I never realized that the sword was a true ethnographic weapon. I cant actually remove the belt hanger because the scabbard (?) is composed of two halves held together by the belt hanger. It used to be really dirty (packed with mud and everything) but Ive cleaned it up. Heres a picture I took of the waterfalls near where the sword was purchased: http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8968/ss101717byc9.jpg BTW, thanks for lightening the picture, I dont mind at all, it does make it much easier to see the details.

6th September 2009, 03:19 AM	#7
roshan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	Thank you for the information Miguel! Very interesting....