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Old 23rd November 2010, 12:42 AM   #1
Robert
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Default New Bolo

Well, This has finally arrived. I was really starting to worried that it had gotten lost in the mail. A late 19th to early 20th century Philippine bolo with a nicely carved carabao grip in the shape of a clenched fist. The finely carved but damaged scabbard is made of a dark wood with wire bands (most of which are replacements) holding the two sides together. I cannot make out the writing carved around the hilt but it looks like SON?-APALIT?-PAMP?-CASTRO Any help with filling in what the missing worn letters might be and the meaning would be greatly appreciated. Measurements below.

Total Length = 25 inches
Blade Length = 18 inches
Blade At Thickest = 5/16 inch
Hilt Length = 7 inches

I am going to try to upload the pictures one at a time so that they might stay in order so please be patient as this might take a while. I will also be adding pictures of the scabbard.

Robert
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Last edited by Robert Coleman; 23rd November 2010 at 01:04 AM.
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Old 23rd November 2010, 01:00 AM   #2
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Here are a few pictures of the scabbard. All comments are welcome.

Robert
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Old 23rd November 2010, 01:45 AM   #3
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Default Pampangas ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pampanga#History
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Old 23rd November 2010, 03:18 AM   #4
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Well, by blade alone I would steer away from Pampangan. However, the fist and carving look good, so I might hesitantly say pre-1900. The hilt is made of worn horn (hey that rhymes ) and the scabbard is made of narra wood. Unique piece. Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?
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Old 23rd November 2010, 05:27 AM   #5
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I think the scabbard is made of Balayong wood. Its deep purple color is highly prized for making furnitures. The wood is no longer available. High end furnitures made of Balayong wood were made in Pampanga up to the very early 1900s.
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Old 23rd November 2010, 10:22 PM   #6
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Balayang wood - not familiar with it. I was basing my thoughts on the red coloration. Interesting.........
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Old 24th November 2010, 02:28 AM   #7
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Hello everyone and thank you for your replies.

Rick,
Thank you for the link. One of the first things I did when this arrived and I found the words carved into the hilt was to do a google search on them and the link you posted was one of the first that I checked out.

Jose,
Yes, the hilt is of worn horn and I am very happy to hear you think it might be pre 1900. To answer your question "Where do you keep coming up with this stuff?" believe me when I say it is purely by accident or just plain dumb luck, I'm not sure which.


Nacho,
Like Jose I have never heard of Balayong wood. The color of this wood is very dark, almost like teak but with like you say "a deep purple color" to it. It looks more reddish in the photos because of the flash.

Now if someone can tell me the meaning of the words carved into the hilt I would be happy. I know from the Wikipedia link mentioned by Rick that Apalit is a municipality in the province of Pampanga and was supposedly named after the Apalit tree also known as the Narra the National tree of the Philippines. (This is something I had not known before but interesting none the less.) I do not know if PAMP is supposed to represent Pampanga ? After looking at the carving SON in sunlight with the help of a magnifying glass I think that there might be one more letter "though it is worn almost completely away" that might be an S making the word SONS ? Castro I am guessing might have been the owners name or the writing in total might be a tribute to that person? All help will be greatly appreciated.


Robert
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Old 24th November 2010, 07:54 AM   #8
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Hi Robert-

A Kapangpangan (a local of Pampanga) friend told me that Apalit is known for bolos, knives and anything metal (rakes, spade hoes etc.). It even have a barangay (local community) called "Capalangan" "Palang" a generic term for knives or bolo. My guess is Castro & Sons of Apalit Pampanga is one of the old home businesses around Apalit that make these domestic metal products.
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Old 24th November 2010, 11:35 AM   #9
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Thanks Reicsritter, that would make a lot of sense......
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Old 24th November 2010, 01:30 PM   #10
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Reicsritter,
Thank you very much. Like Jose said "that would make a lot of sense......". If this is the case, it will be the first time I have seen one of these marked in this way by the maker. Has anyone else seen or have an item from the Philippines that has been marked by the maker in this fashion ? In the mean time I have found that this has a laminated blade and because of my poor picture taking ability I will try doing an etch on it later hopefully to bring it out enough so I might be able to get a few good pictures to post. Again my thank for all the help so far.


Robert
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Old 30th October 2015, 03:38 PM   #11
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Just have won a very similar Apalit bolo, I guess that it is from the same time frame as the one from Robert, this one has a blonde horn handle without the inscription Robert's bolo has and a leather scabbard instead of a wooden one. Here some pictures from the seller. Robert, hope it's ok that I hijack your thread.

Regards,
Detlef
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Old 31st October 2015, 01:51 AM   #12
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Congratulations Sajen! Albino horn is harder to find. Nice carving too.
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Old 31st October 2015, 02:45 AM   #13
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Hello Detlef, I am very happy to see that you were the one who won this great bolo. The auction photos of this piece were not the best I have ever seen so I am really looking forward to seeing more and hopefully better ones after it arrives. My congratulations to you on being able to add this rare piece to your collection.

Best,
Robert
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Old 31st October 2015, 10:22 AM   #14
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Congratulations! Is a very beautiful piece !! Im sure bolo is very happy in his new home !!

Best regards
Carlos
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Old 31st October 2015, 11:47 AM   #15
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Thank you all three for the kind words.

Jose, would you agree with my age guess?

Robert, will post some better pictures when I have received it.

Carlos, yes, I am sure that it will be happy with it's new friends.

Regards,
Detlef
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Old 31st October 2015, 11:55 AM   #16
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congrats, Detlef!
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Old 31st October 2015, 01:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spunjer
congrats, Detlef!

Thank you Ron!
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Old 31st October 2015, 07:59 PM   #18
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I'd agree to your age estimate, more with late 19thc.
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Old 1st November 2015, 12:42 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Battara
I'd agree to your age estimate, more with late 19thc.
Thank you Jose!

Best regards,
Detlef
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Old 23rd March 2016, 10:18 PM   #20
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Just finished cleaning the blade from rust. Here some hopeful better pictures.
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Old 23rd March 2016, 10:22 PM   #21
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Some close up's
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Old 23rd March 2016, 10:27 PM   #22
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Thickness at the base nearly 1 cm --- 0.4'!
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Old 23rd March 2016, 11:38 PM   #23
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Great work! Nice piece!
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Old 23rd March 2016, 11:43 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Battara
Great work! Nice piece!
Thank you Jose!
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