1930s Dog Head Hilt Bonifacio Bolo

Lew · 21st February 2012, 03:53 AM

Sajen

My guess it is from Luzon? The bolo itself shows some type of Spanish influence which includes the ringed guard. The ferrule and hilt show the the maker had a higher skill level than the average town black smith which leads me to believe he was an old timer from the earlier part of the 20th century. Of course I will need to wait and see what our other Philippine bolo collectors have to say.

Lew · 21st February 2012, 07:12 PM

Here are some better pics.

Battara · 21st February 2012, 11:05 PM

HI Lew.

This is indeed a Luzon piece. But by the patina and the eye (which looks like aluminum) I might say mid-20 century. The blade style is a malapad style.

Lew · 22nd February 2012, 02:08 AM

Jose I must disagree

They did have aluminium in the 1930s-40 didn't they? So based on just the eye material how can be sure? The scalloped ferrule is way too fancy and the seamed bolster is a a pre 1940s feature which you never see on post WW2 examples which were usually made from spent brass shells

The seller does state that the bolo belonged to a senior citizen who who's father was a merchant marine so it is possible that the bolo could be circa 1935-42?

Battara · 22nd February 2012, 03:53 AM

Well, I would place it at the earliest WWII then. Aluminum (if it is aluminum) would be readily available from crashed planes. If it is white metal, then I would say perhaps a little earlier.

The blade form is a traditional blade form.

Lew · 24th February 2012, 10:38 PM

Well the bolo arrived today and it turns out that it's a one eared dog

Must have lost it in a fight

. The good news is the scabbard is made out of carved horn. I cleaned up the blade and gave it a few strokes on my sharpening stone and it now has a razors edge

. I'll take some pics tomorrow of the finished product and post them.

Lew · 25th February 2012, 01:49 AM

What I just noticed is that the top quillion is in the form of a rooster head. Here are some pics.

21st February 2012, 07:12 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Here are some better pics. Attached Images

22nd February 2012, 02:08 AM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Jose I must disagree They did have aluminium in the 1930s-40 didn't they? So based on just the eye material how can be sure? The scalloped ferrule is way too fancy and the seamed bolster is a a pre 1940s feature which you never see on post WW2 examples which were usually made from spent brass shells The seller does state that the bolo belonged to a senior citizen who who's father was a merchant marine so it is possible that the bolo could be circa 1935-42? Last edited by Lew; 22nd February 2012 at 02:50 AM.

25th February 2012, 01:49 AM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	What I just noticed is that the top quillion is in the form of a rooster head. Here are some pics. Attached Images

21st February 2012, 03:53 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Sajen My guess it is from Luzon? The bolo itself shows some type of Spanish influence which includes the ringed guard. The ferrule and hilt show the the maker had a higher skill level than the average town black smith which leads me to believe he was an old timer from the earlier part of the 20th century. Of course I will need to wait and see what our other Philippine bolo collectors have to say.

21st February 2012, 11:05 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	HI Lew. This is indeed a Luzon piece. But by the patina and the eye (which looks like aluminum) I might say mid-20 century. The blade style is a malapad style.

22nd February 2012, 03:53 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	Well, I would place it at the earliest WWII then. Aluminum (if it is aluminum) would be readily available from crashed planes. If it is white metal, then I would say perhaps a little earlier. The blade form is a traditional blade form.

24th February 2012, 10:38 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Well the bolo arrived today and it turns out that it's a one eared dog Must have lost it in a fight . The good news is the scabbard is made out of carved horn. I cleaned up the blade and gave it a few strokes on my sharpening stone and it now has a razors edge . I'll take some pics tomorrow of the finished product and post them.