I got a Gavilan Incolma S.A Columbia No 127 ivory handled machete with a leather sheath decorated with tassles hanging from it. a total 26 inches long. how much is it worth and what year is it from?

Answer 1

The machete was issued to airborne in Panama at the jungle warfare school at FT. Sherman. The ivory handle is most likely hard plastic. if it were ivry it would be a modified machete and against the law. All ivory is illegal unless it is an old piano key, LOL. The machete is hard to value as it depends on the maker and condition of the blade and sheath. My machete is similar as i actually purchased my machete at the Airborne school in panam at FT. Sherman in 1984. The blade and sheath are new condition. The blade has elements of slight surface rust but no pitting. It was never sharpened and because i purchased it new this was common as it is illegal to sensd a shapened machete through the mail, or atleast it was in 1984. I was a Marine going to the Jungle Warfare School and gained the Title Jungle Expert. I have the original dual cobra certificate i was given also the shoulder patch no longer authorised to wear because not to many soldiers are in the service who went to that school. i was told it closed down in the early 90,s but am not sure about the date. I do know one thing my handle was black hard plstic this is the real deal only issued to persons who attended and graduated this school. This is not i repeat NOT a standard Army issue machete. This is the only machete made especially for the school by GAVILAN. It was issued for the school only and the sheath is hand stamped leather, brown and hand sewn. The tassles are yellow and white plastic woven with black leather tassles on the end. The bottom tassle is leather made of the same color as the sheath. The sheath is of fine workmanship and thick leather. I got it from the specialty shop in the FT. Sherman PX/USO/NCO building. A shack, lol. It was open only a few days to the students in between training. The sheath has PANAMA Stamped in the upper outside of the sheath. The difference between this and the other offered machetes is this one was a special edition ceremonial piece. The machetes offered by the school were military Army and this piece. The military were army issue this was the choice of the instructors and i was told buy the MSG/Master Sergeant who sold it to me the Army Machetes are crap we only use these here in the school. I paid $75 for the complete setup machete and sheath. in 1984. Well because the machete was only made for the Airborne school and it was a limited edition and the school is famous i would say from talking to collectors/ARMY NAVY Stores, and military weapons collectors this weapon you have if in prestine condition not sharpened and with the original sheath is worth $1,000-$1,100. I would have to see the handle to tell if it was altered. If so even ivory it is worth about $200 but if it is ivory it is illegal and only someone of a country who doesnt care about international law would buy it. The machete i have is a museum piece as it is unaltered. THe piece i have is coated with laquer on the blade as the metal rusts easily. I havent touched the blade as i keep it in a warm dry place. The blade reads as followsan eagle facin right with GAVILAN under it this is looking at the blade pionted don and to the right. The eagle is up and down the handle on the right and blade on the left sharp side down. Then the words to the right next to the eagle first ine on top INCOLA S.A, then second line under first Colombia then next to this oppsing as it is left to right if you have the machete standing up wth blade ont top and handle on bottom with sharp side to the left the symbol No 127 the o is underlined. This piece was made in Columbia. This is the best machete available in the centeral American area at that time. This is the one that a collector wants. The only way to get this machete is from going to columbia and somehow smuggling it home or being a member of the military in the early 1980's and purchasing it in Panama. I was a Marine so i go the oppertunity to purchase this. I was going to buy the $12 machete that the Army issues and the MSG talked me into it. I honestly thought it was a waste of money at the time. I later found out this particular machete was only made for this school and the special sheath was limited to just 30 total. In panama in 1984 $75 was what $475 is worth today but in the USA. In Panama Central America $75 could be a years wages in 1984. This machete was only sold at that school and they only bought 200 total from the company as i stated they were limited. The estimated value in used condition is about $500-$1,000 for an airborne school FT. Sherman Panama machete with an original sheath/military 1979-1987. A ceremonial edition 1/30 in used condition $1,500-$2,600. A museum condition set in the $3,000-$4,500 range. These are the holy grail of the machetes for military collectors. The overall condition is reflective of the prices. In most items collectors love to see wear but only in the cases of if the weapon belonged to a famous military person. In knifes/guns, and in this case Machetes the condition is a factor but in the case of this particular machete it is all in the stamping. The has the S.A which stands for Sherman Airborne