Mexican Bowie? Looking for some help with ID

[Murindo]

I recently bought this "Mexican Bowie" because I liked the look and feel. Very light and fast.

The blade is 8.375 long double hollow grind with sharp false edge. Main edge is sharp. As you can see there is a lot of rust. The cross guard is cast brass that very closely fits the blade. The logo is present on both sides and looks like a wave or a shark fin.

The handle has a horn bolster and crown stag butt. The tang is through the handle and held on with a nut. The handle is very tight and well fitted although there has been some shifting and shrinkage. The overall length is 13 inches. The sheath is well made and reinforced at the mouth and tip. The strap is rotted and broken at the snap.

I do not think this is a custom or even handmade, rather a well made production knife.

I intend to restore it. I paid $ 55 for it.

 

[tltt]

These are Filipino. They're a little uncommon, you'll see 100's of Negrito bolos and bowies for every one of these. Most I see are early 1900's - just after WWII. I don't recognize the brand, but it probably is handmade or small shop rather than what we'd think of as factory.

They sometimes get mistaken for Mexican because they share material, size, shape, and sheath cues with some Mexican knives.

Here's another larger Filipino bowie -

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-philippines-zamboanga-bowie-1905196164 .

.

And here's a listing for one with an all stag handle that sold -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LO...vip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137 .

P.S. You're probably looking at the Luzon area for the main place of manufacture for these.

 

[Murindo]

Thanks!

 

[John A. Larsen]

tilt, Thanks for the information, first I have seen a bowie made in the PI. I note that the sheath has the wire loop to attach to a GI web belt, nice touch. John

 

[tltt]

Yeah, they're neat knives. You don't see a lot of stag used on fixed blades from there, but when you do, it's very handsome stuff. Lots of figure.