bolo knives

J

jcs71

Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
138
I was wondering what you people thought about bolo style knives for camping/survival?
The reason I ask is because I see people are using khukri's, bowies, and machete type knives. The bolo is like a combination of these style of knives. Can you guys suggest any makers who could make these style of knives?
 
Only own one, a 20 yr oldTrimontina bolo machete. Shorter than a U.S. machete but same blade thickness; the shorter length (14" blade and bolo shape makes it stiffer for wood than the jungle machete.
 
There is some differences of opinion as to what a bolo is. To most people who post here a bolo is a thin machete with a widened tip, to make it weight forward. To those of use who have been in the service and served in the far east, specifically J.E.S.T. school in the Philippines, a Bolo knife is a large thick knife. The examples I have range from 1/4" to 3/8 thick at the thickest point and taper to the tip and to the but. The shortest Bolo I have has a 11" blade and the longest has a 13" blade These knives are thick and wide to cut through Bamboo and Jungle hard wood. Remembering back to when I went through J.E.S.T school there were some Marines who didn't want to buy a Bolo for the course. They tried to use an Issued machete and basically slapped and beat the bamboo.
As far as wood craft goes, I have carried a Bolo knife in 13 country's, 4 continents, From the equator to the arctic circle. I have cut wood, cleared trails, dug holes, and built snow caves and igloos with my Bolo. I have used a bolo to build a bow and arrow set with no other tools, and I have used it to cut through walls in burning buildings.
Any of the Khukuri guys handling my bolos would recognize the cutting power right away. Now days I have accumulated a large collection of knives and tomahawks, but when there is big cutting jobs to do I get the Bolo knife out.
 
bikermikearchery said:
There is some differences of opinion as to what a bolo is. To most people who post here a bolo is a thin machete with a widened tip, to make it weight forward. To those of use who have been in the service and served in the far east, specifically J.E.S.T. school in the Philippines, a Bolo knife is a large thick knife. The examples I have range from 1/4" to 3/8 thick at the thickest point and taper to the tip and to the but. The shortest Bolo I have has a 11" blade and the longest has a 13" blade These knives are thick and wide to cut through Bamboo and Jungle hard wood. Remembering back to when I went through J.E.S.T school there were some Marines who didn't want to buy a Bolo for the course. They tried to use an Issued machete and basically slapped and beat the bamboo.
As far as wood craft goes, I have carried a Bolo knife in 13 country's, 4 continents, From the equator to the arctic circle. I have cut wood, cleared trails, dug holes, and built snow caves and igloos with my Bolo. I have used a bolo to build a bow and arrow set with no other tools, and I have used it to cut through walls in burning buildings.
Any of the Khukuri guys handling my bolos would recognize the cutting power right away. Now days I have accumulated a large collection of knives and tomahawks, but when there is big cutting jobs to do I get the Bolo knife out.
Click to expand...


Wish I knew where to get one of those mine was confiscated in Okinawa by customs when I was leaving Kadena!
 
I did a lot of wilderness shelter building practise with the tramontina bolo which costs $5.95 w/o shipping. I still own it. It is a tough knife and a very efficient cutting tool.

I was on a camping trip in Kuaui, I sawa gun shop/shooting range had to check it out. They were selling 14" or so bolos made in the Filipines out of 5160 for 40 bucks. I passed it up because of already having too much gear to deal with. I still regret it.
 
I too went to Jest back in 1985 when I was in the corp, I own several knives including Busie knives and I still always keep my Bolo as my #1 survival tool, even put it against my dog father and it's a tie on chopping but the dogfather is much thicker and you can pry through a tank with it. But for survival use I still prefer the Bolo, I have Kurkui's, machetes, etc.. but the bolo still outperforms.I always recommend the bolo as the number one survival tool, but the style I have is from the school here, http://www.pt-go.com/ses_jest.asp and If you e-mail them, I wonder if they will sell them. If Jerry Busie ever made a bolo this style, I'd be all over it like white on rice.


Anyway here's some pics:

http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/falcon5000_/?action=view&current=IMG_1788.jpg
http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/falcon5000_/?action=view&current=IMG_1559.jpg
http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/falcon5000_/?action=view&current=IMG_1560.jpg
http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/falcon5000_/?action=view&current=IMG_1557.jpg
http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/falcon5000_/?action=view&current=IMG_1780.jpg
 
bikermikearchery said:
There is some differences of opinion as to what a bolo is. To most people who post here a bolo is a thin machete with a widened tip, to make it weight forward. To those of use who have been in the service and served in the far east, specifically J.E.S.T. school in the Philippines, a Bolo knife is a large thick knife. The examples I have range from 1/4" to 3/8 thick at the thickest point and taper to the tip and to the but. The shortest Bolo I have has a 11" blade and the longest has a 13" blade These knives are thick and wide to cut through Bamboo and Jungle hard wood. Remembering back to when I went through J.E.S.T school there were some Marines who didn't want to buy a Bolo for the course. They tried to use an Issued machete and basically slapped and beat the bamboo.
As far as wood craft goes, I have carried a Bolo knife in 13 country's, 4 continents, From the equator to the arctic circle. I have cut wood, cleared trails, dug holes, and built snow caves and igloos with my Bolo. I have used a bolo to build a bow and arrow set with no other tools, and I have used it to cut through walls in burning buildings.
Any of the Khukuri guys handling my bolos would recognize the cutting power right away. Now days I have accumulated a large collection of knives and tomahawks, but when there is big cutting jobs to do I get the Bolo knife out.
Click to expand...

Interesting.
Sounds like you really got around.
Any pics of your Bolo?
 
Bikermikearchery's post on top is spot on. The blade may be long and slender or broad and leaf-shaped. More often than not, they are products of "backyard engineering": not the best fit and finish or looks and crudely made but very practical.

Some general characteristics from the ones we have around here in my area of the Philippines -

1. Since they are a "do-it-all tool" field/camp tool, they are usually long bladed but NOT machete length (blade usually at least 8" but not exceeding 14" overall).

2. They're made of high-carbon steel. The best ones are made from leaf springs of old trucks or jeeps. They're tempered in low RC's for easy sharpening in the kitchen or the field.

3. Along with toughness, cutting efficiency is a prime consideration. Hence, seldom, if at all, do we have 1/4" thick blades. They're usually 1/8" to something only slightly thicker.

4. Handles are usually from "nature's G10" - carabao (water buffalo) handles. Tough and wears best as it ages.

5. Majority are rat-tail tangs, though there are full tangs. Rat-tail tangs may be perceived as weaker, but trust me, they survive the worst beatings!

6. 2 prevailing design of blades are the broad-leaf shape and the wharncliffe.

Hope that helps!
 
Bolos003.jpg

The first Bolo is 9/32" thick just forward of the hilt tapering evenly to the point. 12" blade and 6" handle. I made this one in the Philippines under the tutorage of the Negerito instructor of the J.E.S.T school. I needed a bigger Handle to fit my big paw, so I paid ed him well to teach me his way. The second Bolo is the one I bought the first time I went through J.E.S.T in 1979. It is 1/4" thick just in front of the handle. Nice even taper to the point. The third knife I bought on my third trip to P.I. Made from a file Just liked the way it looked. The first Khukuri is one of the really cheep ones I had th re-bevel the edges take the handle slabs off and re-heat treat the blade. The Khukuri type knife under that is one I made when I was 12 many decades ago. Then a Becker and a Ka-bar heavy bowie.
 
Hey Mike,
Where can I get one of these Bolos? I mean, besides flying to Manilla.
- Thanks.
 
Bikermikearchery I'm REALLY loving the topmost one! You could really see the flavor of home!
 
Nice one too hatchetjack and full-tang to boot! The topmost is a "panabas" design and the second one looks to be a fighter, a "pinuti" perhaps?
 
Nice knives Hatchet. Like the top one a lot, and of coarse #3 looks like my favorite.
I forgot a few of the Bolo I have in my collection. I also have a few of those WWII Medical corps Bolos. One I have kept in issue condition, and the other one I fixed / reground so it is a usable tool.
 
Bolos are pretty awesome. Seems like one of the original big knives. A friend brought back one for me from overseas and it is like everyone says. Handmade, little ugly in a good way, and razor sharp. I've never seen such a large blade slice so effortlessly.
Always wondered how well it would handle the heavier thicker wood here in the pac NW.
If you find a real one for under 60 $ go for it. You will not be disappointed.

J.
 
There's another beaten to death "If-you-only-had-one(bladed tool)-with-you" thread. Well, geo/topography aside, the rural folk and natives from my side of the earth would undoubtedly grab one of these tools and just about do anything with them.

BTW, I'm from the province below, Pampanga, about 1.5 hours away. If you're coming from Manila, you'll definitely be passing our way towards Olongapo City (where the JEST School is in the former Subic Naval Base) in Zambales province. My mom's side is from there and my grandpa was a USN vet as well.
 
untamed said:
There's another beaten to death "If-you-only-had-one(bladed tool)-with-you" thread. Well, geo/topography aside, the rural folk and natives from my side of the earth would undoubtedly grab one of these tools and just about do anything with them.

BTW, I'm from the province below, Pampanga, about 1.5 hours away. If you're coming from Manila, you'll definitely be passing our way towards Olongapo City (where the JEST School is in the former Subic Naval Base) in Zambales province. My mom's side is from there and my grandpa was a USN vet as well.
Click to expand...

Kabayan! Ako naman taga-Manila, pero Kapampangan ang tatay ko.

Just wondering, where do you shop for knives? It's kinda tough getting knives shipped in from overseas, and the only places I know to get good high-end knives are Hahn (in various Metro Manila malls) and SOE in Makati Cinema Square, Makati City. And prices at those shops are unreasonably higher than what many internet retailers charge.
 
(Apologies being OT to the rest folks. . .)

We're in the same boat Doc! Not too many reliable places that sell this "expensive" hobby of ours! I heard that the "Urban" store is now somewhere in Greenhills? The SOE folks are good friends and the "big" guy there is my gun and tactics teacher/adviser.

BTT. . .
 
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