New bolo with interesting coin pommel

wildwolberine · 11th July 2025, 12:28 AM

Sharing what I believe is a nice old Philippines sword from the late 19th century. Very nice horn hilt with age cracks. Fine, tapered blade. Brass guard and ferrule. The blade’s tang extends through the hilt and is peened over a Spanish coin dated 1878. I thought that aspect a bit unusual. A forum search for “Philippines” and “coin” shows a few items with coins as decorative but not necessarily structural elements. Are there other examples of Philippines swords with coins used as pommels?

Overall length 62 cm
Blade length 39 cm
Spine 5 mm at hilt
Blade width 3.5 cm at widest point

Ian · 11th July 2025, 02:17 AM

Hello WW.

This is a nice old 19th C Spanish colonial short sword that you to have. The grooves on the hilt would have held twisted wire originally, perhaps iron or brass. There appears to be a small ricasso with some sort of faint markings.

The use of coins on the pommel is not common on Philippine swords, but does occur occasionally. The bronze coin on your sword is a Spanish 10 centime coin from the period of Alfonso XII.

The attached pics are the coin from your pommel and an online picture of the 1878 Spanish 10 centime coin.

.

Sajen · 11th July 2025, 06:08 AM

Nice Luzon bolo!

11th July 2025, 12:28 AM	#1
wildwolberine Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: San Antonio Posts: 141	New bolo with interesting coin pommel Sharing what I believe is a nice old Philippines sword from the late 19th century. Very nice horn hilt with age cracks. Fine, tapered blade. Brass guard and ferrule. The blade’s tang extends through the hilt and is peened over a Spanish coin dated 1878. I thought that aspect a bit unusual. A forum search for “Philippines” and “coin” shows a few items with coins as decorative but not necessarily structural elements. Are there other examples of Philippines swords with coins used as pommels? Overall length 62 cm Blade length 39 cm Spine 5 mm at hilt Blade width 3.5 cm at widest point Attached Images

11th July 2025, 02:17 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,512	Hello WW. This is a nice old 19th C Spanish colonial short sword that you to have. The grooves on the hilt would have held twisted wire originally, perhaps iron or brass. There appears to be a small ricasso with some sort of faint markings. The use of coins on the pommel is not common on Philippine swords, but does occur occasionally. The bronze coin on your sword is a Spanish 10 centime coin from the period of Alfonso XII. The attached pics are the coin from your pommel and an online picture of the 1878 Spanish 10 centime coin. . Attached Images

11th July 2025, 06:08 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,409	Nice Luzon bolo!