New bolo - dahong palay & leather cleaning advice?

[wildwolberine]

New bolo! Kind of an impulse buy but I’m really pleased. Very similar to one i just posted (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28986). Xasterix kindly IDd that knife as a sinanbartolome profile from Laguna province, Luzon. Different maker’s mark (a “B” instead of a horizontal “P”), and the blade profile is more of a dahong palay?

Carabao hilt, through-tang (peened over), brass ferrule. There’s a tiny hole neatly drilled through the hilt, it must be for a lanyard as it couldn’t be insect damage). Leather sheath with attached belt. Thin, tapered blade. It does seem to have a chisel grind but it’s thin and hard to tell.

These are before-cleaning pics. Will clean the blade with WD-40 and 0000 steel wool and treat the horn with Hooflex. That’s duct tape residue on the leather. Any advice on removing it?

Age probably midcentury? Thanks!

Dimensions: 56 cm overall length, 41 cm by 4 cm blade.

[RobT]

Hi wildwolberine,

Does the hole in the hilt go all the way through? I ask this because, from your photo, it would seem to be drilled where the tang is. If it doesn't go all the way through, then it might have been drilled for a metal bail.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Rick]

Try Goo Gone adhesive remover; it's orange oil based.

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by RobT

Hi wildwolberine,

Does the hole in the hilt go all the way through? I ask this because, from your photo, it would seem to be drilled where the tang is. If it doesn't go all the way through, then it might have been drilled for a metal bail.

Sincerely,
RobT

Yes, it’s drilled through. Looks like it’s just below the tang.

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by Rick

Try Goo Gone adhesive remover; it's orange oil based.

Thanks! I think I have a bottle somewhere. I ordered a bottle of glycerine saddle soap, I may give that a shot first.

[Rick]

Doubt the glycerine saddle soap will remove the mastic maybe soften it; try the goo gone after the saddlesoap.
Leather Therapy is a very good product for preserving suppleness and preventing drying and shrinkage.