Ive been looking long and hard for one of these. For all the hype around Moro Swords, old bolo are real hard to find. Since they werent as exotic, not as many were taken by tourists, and since theyre work weapons they were used (and when they could be used no more they were recycled). Of course there are sacred pusaka pieces that occaisionally pop up, but they are pieces that I personally do not feel comfortable buying. What makes this one even more special, is that it is from a time when besides work bolo, they made special ones for war. This blades is huge, at 25" OAL it is still light and agile. The hilt detail is actually how you can tell the old ones from the new ones (not to mention most of the newer ones are much smaller). What gave away the location of the piece (since this style is found all over Visaya), is the little cross. A friend has suggested that is a mark of the Pulajan's a religious revolutionary group based in Leyte/Samar during the early 1900s. The hilt motif is of a flower in blossom. Anyways, there is a certain rightness that I feel when I hold this piece, as if it was always meant to be in my hand. Other blades have spoken to me, but none like this. It is like I found a family member that has been long lost.
