Filipino Bolo Choppers!

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
4,290
Filipino Bolos
189414.jpg

web photo

I just picked these up out here in the Philippines (where I still am). I contributed photos of their country for their gallery section and I got these from them. Finally, a site that offers them shipped to the US.

http://filipinobolos.com/index.html

These are the ones I own. The handles are interesting and come in carabao horn, wood, plastic, and rattan. Interesting convex grind and sort of a chisel grind where it is flatter on one side. Last year when I reviewed Filipino Bolos for Tactical Knives magazine I noticed the Vasayan Bolos had this chisel grind too.
IMG_2527.jpg

IMG_2533.jpg

IMG_2537.jpg

IMG_2131.jpg
 
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Nice choppers - is there any one model you prefer ?
 
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Thanks for sharing. I hope that there is a review in the making. Those look like some serious work-horse blades.

Are the ratan handles wrapped over a wood core? I just checked out the website... They are wrapped oven a full tang socket. Very cool. Now I must have one... well, three since you can add the small ones to an order for cheap... I guess I had better have the full collection, so four.
 
Some really nice ones there Reuben. I love that top one in the first photo!
 
That top one looks exactly like the one I used while based in Okinawa and deploying to Thailand and the Phillipines in the late 80's early 90's. I had the handle wrapped with ALSE string and the wooden sheath had 100 mph tape and 550 cord on it. Great jungle blade for survival training.
 
tknife said:
That rattan handled one is suh-weet!
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It sure is, gonna try to get a few more like it before I head back. Hand picking the right one is always tricky.
Fred A said:
That top one looks exactly like the one I used while based in Okinawa and deploying to Thailand and the Phillipines in the late 80's early 90's. I had the handle wrapped with ALSE string and the wooden sheath had 100 mph tape and 550 cord on it. Great jungle blade for survival training.
Click to expand...

Got any pictures of it?
 
I wish I did. Went through a nasty divorce in '96 and the ex destroyed all but 3 of my hundreds of pics and memorabilia.
 
Nice group of choppers Reuben. Your first pic, top bolo is where I believe K. Estela got the inspiration for the bolo design he had me make.
Scott
 
Gossman Knives said:
Nice group of choppers Reuben. Your first pic, top bolo is where I believe K. Estela got the inspiration for the bolo design he had me make.
Scott
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Hey Scott.
Do you have a picture of it? I thought I saw a post where K had one on a trip he was on.

-RB
 
I really like the utility Bolo....:) just e-mailed them for a shipping quote...:)
 
Treg said:
I really like the utility Bolo....:) just e-mailed them for a shipping quote...:)
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Not my business, but try emailing them by copying the email and posting it to your email, I heard from a few people that function where you fill out the question and leave your email may not be working on their site.

info@filipinobolos.com

Hope it helps!

-RB
 
Hey BearTheDog thank's for the scoop....:thumbup: and next time mind your own business...:D:p;)
 
The top bolo in your first picture is very similar to the one i have from PI. Mine is a stout chopper and also just plain old cool.
Thanks for showing us these.
 
Hi everyone! Thanks for looking. I heard from a couple of customers that this is a good place to share knives and gears. I'm looking forward to hearing people's views on Filipino Blades and also looking forward learning about yours.

CoyotePhysics said:
Thanks for sharing. I hope that there is a review in the making. Those look like some serious work-horse blades.

Are the ratan handles wrapped over a wood core? I just checked out the website... They are wrapped oven a full tang socket. Very cool. Now I must have one... well, three since you can add the small ones to an order for cheap... I guess I had better have the full collection, so four.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a full-tang socket that is hollow. It's strong and light due to it being hollow inside, similar to a skeletonized full-tang handle.

untamed said:
Water buffalo/carabao horn scale = Nature's G-10!
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Kumusta! Yes, you are correct. Carabao scale is strong, light, and grippy!

Fred A said:
That top one looks exactly like the one I used while based in Okinawa and deploying to Thailand and the Phillipines in the late 80's early 90's. I had the handle wrapped with ALSE string and the wooden sheath had 100 mph tape and 550 cord on it. Great jungle blade for survival training.
Click to expand...

I would be interested in seeing this.

bearthedog said:
Filipino Bolos
189414.jpg

web photo

I just picked these up out here in the Philippines (where I still am). I contributed photos of their country for their gallery section and I got these from them. Finally, a site that offers them shipped to the US.

http://filipinobolos.com/index.html

These are the ones I own. The handles are interesting and come in carabao horn, wood, plastic, and rattan. Interesting convex grind and sort of a chisel grind where it is flatter on one side. Last year when I reviewed Filipino Bolos for Tactical Knives magazine I noticed the Vasayan Bolos had this chisel grind too.
IMG_2527.jpg

IMG_2533.jpg

IMG_2537.jpg

IMG_2131.jpg
Click to expand...

Hi Bear! Thanks for sharing the photos. I posted the Visayan Bolos up on my site, very similar to the ones from your article. Also posted great videos at the forge of them being made and how they're being used here.

Gossman Knives said:
Go over on my forum. I just did a video review of one.
Here's a pic of one.
Scott
Click to expand...

Nice work Scott!
 
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