Does anyone know what these are?

not2sharp

not2sharp

Platinum Member
Joined
Jun 29, 1999
Messages
20,448
Someone posted a picture of one of these here previously. Since then these have turned up. What are they? A part of me suspects someone left a kukri and a bolo alone in the dark, and they were naughty. :) But, on a more serious note, other than a vague attribution to SE Asia, I have no idea what they are.

n2s


attachment.php
 
Khukolo
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: :p :rolleyes:

If no one can figure out what they are, we will be free to call them anything we want to. We may have descovered a new spieces of knife. At least they have a cho...

n2s
 
Perhaps not, but they look like Phillipine Bolos to me.

I have seen similar knives supposed to have come from Borneo.
 
These knives were discussed at length by some well known collectors here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000594.html

The discussion is inconclusive, but it opens up some interesting possibilities. It may prove that my opening jest was very close, and that these really were a mating of the Gurkha's khukuri with the Indonesian bolo.

n2s
 
"Bokuri", or, "Kukolo" !!!!!

They are interesting pieces non-the-less. BTW, these are actually fairly light knives. They are more machete like than either the bolo or the khukuri. Very well made (including tapered tangs and blades), but the larger is 3/16" thick at it's heaviest, while the smaller one peaks at only 1/8" in thickness.

n2s
 
Now that I take a look at them and I know that they are light for their size. I thinks it kinda looks as if a Barong went wrong. Whatever they are they look neat.:)
 
Military, or, non-military?

I would expect a military bolo to look more like this one. Notice that it has a belt loop large enough to be fitted with other military equipment. This one was probably locally produce for private sale to foreign troops.

Perhaps these knives were to be used with a frog or by unconventional native troops.....

n2s
 

Attachments

  • bolo knife.jpg
    bolo knife.jpg
    20.5 KB · Views: 268
I have located an lithograph from 1823 that includes a knife somewhat similar to the ones pictured above. It is just a vague clue at this time - but time will tell. The knife is pictured on the person of a native hunter from Guam. Guam had no native metal resources and no pre-European metal's technology. However,had become a standard import, and by the early 1700s we know that the Spanish Governor was advising his superiors that the natives had been provided with all of the axes, swords, and knives that they could use, and that inventories of these goods were stocked in excess of need.

As with most native cultures encountered during the period, the original population was quickly decimated by desease and war. The pre-European population of approximately 50,000 had been reduced to somewhere around 5,000, and these were mostly women and children. The Spanish actively repopulated the island by importing people from their colony in the Phillipines. By the 19th century these populations would have been well integrated. That might explain the odd feel of these knives.

n2s
 

Attachments

  • guam hunter 1823 knife.jpg
    guam hunter 1823 knife.jpg
    20.3 KB · Views: 296
I sent off a quick Email to the best contact I had come across
RE various blades in the Asian region and got this response:

"Dear Sir,

We regret to advise that we couldn't positively identify those 'hybrid' blades.
We're absolutely sure they are NOT of Indonesian origin and almost certain they were made in the Philippines. We make some 'hybrid' blades as well and probably some people would question their origin in the future.

We apologize that we can't help your out in regards to this matter. If you have any other inquiries in the future, don't hesitate to drop us a note.

Best regards,
Suwandi WD.
Valiant Trading Co.

----- Original Message -----
From: D.D. Rector
To: valiantco@bigpond.com
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 8:06 AM
Subject: unknown blade style

Could you help some blade enthusiasts identify this style blade:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=196275
Your assistance is appreciated. "

So, we narrow it down a bit, most likely.

Dean
 
Get a hold of Golok. He comes in here sometimes and I have talked with him via email before. He is Phillipine and living there and very knowlegable about their local knives. He may know more or at least be able to point you in a direction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top