J.E.S.T Bolo, Member input requested

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
934
I have been reading a lot about the J.E.S.T Bolo knife. For where I live and romp in the woods I think it is the perfect large blade for me. However,not being able to purchase one I have decided to take a run at making a few.

What are your thoughts on the design in general? What would you change if you could, on the one pictured?
bolo3.jpg


I have decided to go with 5160 for a steel choice after some research. Not sure as to go with 3/16" or 1/4" for this project, but leaning towards 3/16". I intend to put a convex edge on these. I will probably put a sabre grind on them and then finish to a convex edge.

I am also working on the handle shape and thinking about doing a hand and a half for the handle. It will extend the legnth of the knife but will give the user multiple hand positions and the ability to change the balance point of the knife.

To sum this post up.

What do you think of the bolo design in general?
5160 steel for a knife like this?
3/16" or 1/4"?
your thoughts on extending the handle to accomodate hand and a half to aid in chopping?

I know that there are a lot of knowledgable users on this forum. I appreciate any and all input.

Heat treating will be done by Peters Heat Treating in PA.
Blanks will be profiled by Great Lakes Water Jet.

Thanks in advance folks

Paul
 
JEST bolo? Looks alot like the HI Jungle Knife to me... you'er going to want more of a guard at the base and the ricasso if it's a beater-retention is a big deal. You may also want to angle the handle a little bit more, or at least curve it, to give you more chopping leverage.

P1010008.jpg

They crank these babies out of 1/4 - 3/8ths 5160. I like it alot so far-I doubt it's the highest performer but definitely a bombproof quality product.
 
I might make the tip a more pointy, as well as change the shape pf the handle slightly (it looks too "tall" towards the first finger in my opinion). Also, lanyard hole. That's just me though.
 
Payetterucker,

It Sure does look like that HI Jungle knife. Not looking to go that heavy on this one 1/4" max.
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
I might make the tip a more pointy, as well as change the shape pf the handle slightly (it looks too "tall" towards the first finger in my opinion). Also, lanyard hole. That's just me though.
Click to expand...

I agree with your observation. I am in the process now of changing the handle shape. I will post progress pictures.

Thanks for the opinions
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
I might make the tip a more pointy, as well as change the shape pf the handle slightly (it looks too "tall" towards the first finger in my opinion). Also, lanyard hole. That's just me though.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my thoughts, I would want a more pointy tip, and the handle does look fat. After recent experiences I'd want a longer handle too but as above that's just my opinion.

The JEST bolo was the first machete I ever loved on sight. I love the one the instructor is using in the video below. I love the over-all shape, and really love the thickness but now I'd definitely want a longer handle and a bit more of a point.

[youtube]y46eQ_siA14[/youtube]
 
That does indeed look just like an H.I Jungle knife.

If you want to make one go for it. If you want one made by some extremely talented Kami's then contact Yangdu on the H.I. forum. She may even have one in stock.
 
I like the overall design of your knife, whats more important is that you like it.

The only mods I would do concerns the grip and how it relates to your particular hand ie hotspots after that I always sharpen the spine about an inch back starting from the point.
 
Having grown-up and used such blades, personally, I'd go with a design you are most comfortable with. They're great for processing bamboo.

A good carbon steel with proper HT in the low to mid 50's RC. 3/16" is good but most blades here also have 1/8". A 5" - 6" handle with rounded contours is best to minimize fatigue in most grips.

The JEST bolo is longer since it is optimized as a jungle tool to clear trails if needed. I like this design taken from this thread. The shape is similar to the one rural folks have strapped around their waists in the provinces here. As you can see, it's shorter but pointier -

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=763234

DSC00908.jpg


DSC00905.jpg


DSC00907.jpg


DSC00906.jpg
 
Only yesterday morning, whilst I was waiting to get my timing belt replaced, a coconut seller dropped by the open-air workshop to sell coconut milk, and he was using the very same knife to cut away the husk to a point where you could insert a straw to drink the milk.

That was in Urdaneta, in the northern part of the Philippines. I asked him how much the knife cost, he said he could not recall because it was such a long time ago, but I except at 40 cents per coconut, it was not expensive in US terms.
 
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^I'd buy one of those, profile looks alot like Fiddleback's 12 inch machete. I bet HI could pull it off well, too...
 
Found mine at a flea market.

Bill Siegle made one from a tracing I sent him.

I prefer the pointed tip and the angle plus thickness of the belly make for easy down force when chopping.

bolo1.jpg
 
Man, are those two the same machete? If so, I need to find one... HatchetJack-who makes that vest?
 
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The top one in the picture is my favorite knife. It has gone with me to 13 different country's and has done it all. the thickest part of the spine is nearly 3/8" thick, But is tapers rapidly to the point and has a tapered tang.
Bolos003.jpg
 
hatchetjack said:
Found mine at a flea market.

Bill Siegle made one from a tracing I sent him.

I prefer the pointed tip and the angle plus thickness of the belly make for easy down force when chopping.

bolo1.jpg
Click to expand...

What is the thickness on that one? Is it tapered or just straight across the whole blade to the tip?
 
hatchetjack said:
Found mine at a flea market.

Bill Siegle made one from a tracing I sent him.

I prefer the pointed tip and the angle plus thickness of the belly make for easy down force when chopping.

bolo1.jpg
Click to expand...

hmmm ... looks familiar.

I was fortunate to score this Jungle Knife from Bill

DSC01688.jpg
 
valcas1 said:
I have been reading a lot about the J.E.S.T Bolo knife. For where I live and romp in the woods I think it is the perfect large blade for me. However,not being able to purchase one I have decided to take a run at making a few.

What are your thoughts on the design in general? What would you change if you could, on the one pictured?
bolo3.jpg


I have decided to go with 5160 for a steel choice after some research. Not sure as to go with 3/16" or 1/4" for this project, but leaning towards 3/16". I intend to put a convex edge on these. I will probably put a sabre grind on them and then finish to a convex edge.

I am also working on the handle shape and thinking about doing a hand and a half for the handle. It will extend the legnth of the knife but will give the user multiple hand positions and the ability to change the balance point of the knife.

To sum this post up.

What do you think of the bolo design in general?
5160 steel for a knife like this?
3/16" or 1/4"?
your thoughts on extending the handle to accomodate hand and a half to aid in chopping?

I know that there are a lot of knowledgable users on this forum. I appreciate any and all input.

Heat treating will be done by Peters Heat Treating in PA.
Blanks will be profiled by Great Lakes Water Jet.

Thanks in advance folks

Paul
Click to expand...


I was stationed in Subic Bay in '79 and picked up a couple of Bolo knives made by the Negritos at the JEST training camp.....back then the blades were made from the "shock shingles" that came off of the WWII jeeps that were left behind. I recently was trimming some branches and laid my knife down...and now I can't find it...as you can imagine, I an really bummed about it...after having it for 33 yrs......gone. I hope to replace it soon, as I use it all the time to do yard work and split wood for kindling....
 
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