B13

[rickshooter]

I am with Tim too. Well not really with him but I agree

 

[Father & Son Traditional Sharpening]

I'm sorry to say it guys but I for one am not psyched about ANYTHING Bolo at this point. For the same reason I just haven't ended up with a Killa Zilla yet either, these sort of tools are designed to be somewhat of a hybrid between an axe and machete. Whenever you hybridize things of this nature, you always end up with what amounts to IMO an awkward in between of the two that has the weakness' of both and the strength's of neither.

It's like buying a bike that's between a mountain bike and road bike, you'll never be able to really use it as a mountain bike in rough terrain and the efficiency will be not so great on the road…. so you're left with something that doesn't do anything well really. Just one man's opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it….. :foot:

 

[rickshooter]

I'm sorry to say it guys but I for one am not psyched about ANYTHING Bolo at this point. For the same reason I just haven't ended up with a Killa Zilla yet either, these sort of tools are designed to be somewhat of a hybrid between an axe and machete. Whenever you hybridize things of this nature, you always end up with what amounts to IMO an awkward in between of the two that has the weakness' of both and the strength's of neither.

It's like buying a bike that's between a mountain bike and road bike, you'll never be able to really use it as a mountain bike in rough terrain and the efficiency will be not so great on the road…. so you're left with something that doesn't do anything well really. Just one man's opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it….. :foot:

Angel that bike is called a hybrid great bikes for the city. Too bad that you are out on the B13olo. I really respect your opinion, but I really look forward to it. I love my 1311 I think that an Infi bolo Basic similarly to the 1311 would be awesome. Rusting on the edge is a problem with the 1311 here in Florida.

 

[Father & Son Traditional Sharpening]

Angel that bike is called a hybrid great bikes for the city. Too bad that you are out on the B13olo. I really respect your opinion, but I really look forward to it. I love my 1311 I think that an Infi bolo Basic similarly to the 1311 would be awesome. Rusting on the edge is a problem with the 1311 here in Florida.

Not saying at all it would be totally useless, btw… just less than ideal for what I want my blades to excel at. I don't need to clear brush as I don't live in the jungle, so I really don't need a machete. Or even an axe for that matter, as I don't process tons of wood. I like my blades to excel at one thing, quickly & efficiently taking human life. If it works well enough for other tasks then great, but this is my primary focus.

Everything else would be a distant second to me as far as utility goes, I for one would love to see the B13 take form as an insanely fast handling bowie/scymitar type blade that just cuts and cuts. That being what I want, I don't think anything over 3/16" would qualify by any means. Full convex would be the ticket here, with most of the mass distributed towards the center of the OAL and aggressively reducing the width of the blade as you approach the front half of the blade.

Don't care much for Trail Point or Clip Point's either, much prefer more of a drop point type shape which is almost approaching a spear point placing the tip near the center point of the width of the blade. Perhaps add a swedge grind to this for yet added penetration and now we're cooking with gas….

 

[Father & Son Traditional Sharpening]

Oh and no choil, think I missed that….no chance of anything getting hung up or caught, not needed on something this size anyways.

 

[Blade Runner 7]

I'm sorry to say it guys but I for one am not psyched about ANYTHING Bolo at this point. For the same reason I just haven't ended up with a Killa Zilla yet either, these sort of tools are designed to be somewhat of a hybrid between an axe and machete. Whenever you hybridize things of this nature, you always end up with what amounts to IMO an awkward in between of the two that has the weakness' of both and the strength's of neither.

It's like buying a bike that's between a mountain bike and road bike, you'll never be able to really use it as a mountain bike in rough terrain and the efficiency will be not so great on the road…. so you're left with something that doesn't do anything well really. Just one man's opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it….. :foot:

No. Recurved blades chop better in my experience. It's not a compromise. A compromise would be using a machete in the woods. It would be using an 8" blade to chop wood. It would be using a .25" thick blade or thicker to slice cheese. I'm not sure what you think is being compromised here. This would be a do-it-all and do it all well, blade. Honestly, my 1311 chops better than any Battle Mistress I own if not better. It carries better than any full tang Busse knife I've owned over 8". It slices better than most of my knives half its size yet it doesn't feel unwieldy doing so. It's basically a woods machete. Now let's get it made out of INFI. The bolo addition is just a bonus.

If you think curved blades are compromises, I think you need to talk to a few Gurkhas or anyone else that comes from an area where curved blades are traditional.

 

[Blade Runner 7]

I like my blades to excel at one thing, quickly & efficiently taking human life. If it works well enough for other tasks then great, but this is my primary focus.

You fancy yourself some type of assassin? Really, you buy your knives for the primary use of killing people? I think you are looking for the Cold Steel forum.

It sounds like you are compromising by using a knife in self defense/attacking people. Maybe you should look at a gun for that purpose.

 

[Currawong]

I don’t see this as a hybrid. A hybrid is the second-best tool for more than one job, whereas I see this as being the best tool for the job.

Scenario #1, wood chopping. Part of my enthusiasm for the Bolo13 is that I already have a 13.5” bolo, 0.179” thick, tough steel (52100), custom made specifically for wood chopping. It chops hardwood about as well as a half-size axe. I.e. it has less weight but is much sharper. It provides less fatigue so it lets me chop at a faster rate and for longer. In awkward situations (e.g. balancing on a branch, crawling around in thick vegetation) you don’t necessarily want to be using two hands or a very heavy tool. I’m sometimes in a stand of saplings trying to cut out trees and have less room to swing. Something like this excels when you want a one-handed chopper because a two-handed chopper would be the second-best tool for the job.

Scenario #2, weed / brush cutting. Usually when I’m cutting woody weeds (half my property is covered in them), I want to cut them as close to the ground as possible, because that’s where the main stem is and I also want to reduce re-sprouting as much as possible. Close to the ground means I’ll hit rocks occasionally. That’s where a thick stock blade in INFI is going to be better than a traditional machete. Same thing when cutting saplings or weeds growing through wire fences – you sometimes hit the wire (or nails etc.). I want a tool that I can use without having to be too careful with it. When I’m tired, and have to do something a hundred times in a row, I can’t be bothered clearing rocks, etc – I just want to chop it as fast as possible and move on. An INFI bolo would do jobs that would damage most machetes.

Scenario #3, hiking. A 13” blade is small enough to fit in daypacks, and light enough that you don’t mind carrying it for a day or even a few days. I just wouldn’t take an axe hiking, or camping where I have to go in on foot.

In the right situations a bolo13 would be better than an axe and better than a machete. This is just based on my personal circumstances anyway.

 

[Skrapmetal]

Not saying at all it would be totally useless, btw… just less than ideal for what I want my blades to excel at. I don't need to clear brush as I don't live in the jungle, so I really don't need a machete. Or even an axe for that matter, as I don't process tons of wood. I like my blades to excel at one thing, quickly & efficiently taking human life. If it works well enough for other tasks then great, but this is my primary focus.

Then you're right, this isn't the knife for you. That isn't what we have in mind at all.

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

I imagine he's joking(?)

 

[Father & Son Traditional Sharpening]

You fancy yourself some type of assassin? Really, you buy your knives for the primary use of killing people? I think you are looking for the Cold Steel forum.

It sounds like you are compromising by using a knife in self defense/attacking people. Maybe you should look at a gun for that purpose.

Not only does this post make you come off as a bit of a troll, but it also shows your ignorance towards cutting weapons in combatives. From 5 ft. away and under these sort of tools beats having a gun as they don't run out of ammo, are capable of inflicting VERY nasty wounds, and are much more difficult to disarm. Firearms need a bit of distance to really start becoming the best choice, and having both a cutting weapon and firearm accessible is generally the recommended practice here.

In this scenario which I admit is somewhat unlikely, I want as efficient of a tool as possible and will accept that it may not be perfect for chopping/brush clearing. It will still work for these tasks, which ultimately are not tasks that typically equal death if you don't have the most efficient tool for the job. This does not make me an assassin or Cold Steel ninja as you claim, but rather someone who is aware of reality (not ignorant to it) and would rather be prepared than not.

I imagine he's joking(?)

Ninja's don't have a sense of humor, or so I'm told anyways….

Then you're right, this isn't the knife for you. That isn't what we have in mind at all.

No, definitely not I suppose.

 

[Blade Runner 7]

13ack to the 13asics here. I sure wish I had a 13olo 13 for my camping trip this weekend.

 

[AZTimT]

Hey all, let's stay on track here as plain and simple, this is a thread about getting the B13/Bolo13 to be made as an extremely useful lightweight chopping tool for those who spend time out in the woods, nothing more. It's not about killing people, firearms, combat tactics or questioning others intentions. If you wish to rehash topics like that which are in hundreds of threads all over this site and with which you may please feel free to do so, hopefully with the character traits of a Hog.

If for whatever reason you have no wish to see this blade design get made, please do not stand in our way of making it happen. Even if you currently do not need this design, it will not cause you any harm to let other people get an extremely useful product for their needs delivered into their hands. Who knows, since life is constant change, one day you too just might have great need for a blade of this design yourself. Ten years ago, I had no need for this design, now I can use it everyday as where I live and what I do have changed tremendously, one day you may be in the same boat.

To sum it up, belittling our cause does us great harm yet helps you none.

Now back on topic... 13ring the Bolo13!

 

[Father & Son Traditional Sharpening]

To sum it up, belittling our cause does us great harm yet helps you none.

You may wish to reread my contributions here as I did no belittling, but rather it was Blade Runner 7 who was attacking me personally. I merely stated my hopes for what I'd like to see in a Basic 13 and why, nothing more nothing less. Otherwise, I'm sorry if you feel that me saying I have no interest in a Bolo 13 was belittling than I don't know how or why you came to that conclusion. Please take me off your list of member here who are in for this…..

 

[AZTimT]

Twas not I who did the belittling, but rather Blade Runner 7. I merely stated my hopes for what I'd like to see in a Basic 13 and why, nothing more nothing less.

It's all good. :thumbup: I addressed all to keep this generic and applicable to all who read it, not one specific individual in hopes that none would feel obliged to say anything beyond let's get this Bolo13 made!

 

[AZTimT]

Many thick skinned Hogs are still wishing for the thin B13

!

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

... but rather someone who is aware of reality (not ignorant to it) and would rather be prepared than not.

That's a good mindset to embrace. It's been mine for years. Now. The REALITY IS:

We need to get the 13asic 13 on the road to production.

 

[AZTimT]

I have been thinking about how the slight recurve would work well as a draw knife for debarking a log if one held the spine and handle at the proper angle. Either that or make some wooden handles for that very task. I'm really starting to see how this one design can cover way more uses than we originally anticipate.

 

[AZTimT]

The beauty of the originally drawn design is also that it can be modified into many other designs all from the same blank. I spent a little time with psp to show some options that could all be modded from this original blank, either by the customer or custom shop.
We need this to happen...

... in order to get any of these!

Desert Sage coated CG

Simple lighter weight harpoon via spine thinning

More complex drop point harpoon hybrid

Cleaver type

Drop point, probably one of the more sought after mods

 

[theToad]

Drop point, probably one of the more sought after mods

This is the last thing I'm seeing before I fall asleep tonight..