Bolo's ...Expert's best choice

4

4arm

Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
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I'm thinking of purchasing a pair of Bolo knives for training purposes, as you guys are knowledgable in Filipino arts which make of Bolo and size would you recommend that is regarded as an effective weapon and not just a tool.

Thanks 4arm

:confused:
 
Hey! What gives?! I posted a response yesterday, where has it gone? Didn't it get thru? Dang dial-up!!!

Anyway, no expert here but check out this one, a very common design. Me as well as my two uncles have something similar, although on a very picky note, this model has a downward spine. Traditional ones have straight spines;

Katipunan Bolo-Tusok, first column, fourth row down

http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinnie_store/web_store.cgi?page=FRATOTAB/newadditions.htm&cart_id=

The design is sort of a tool with the attributes of a weapon.

Here's another site for FMA weapons a friend of mine recommended if you're in the states:

http://www.psdtc.com/Filipino.bladed.weapons.htm

As for size, 24" was the ideal of one of my previous teachers. Besides, 20" is more for a tool-size while 28" might seem too unweildly.

Edit: Nevermind, it was another thread over at Prac-Tac. Maybe more appropriate here though.
 
untamed said:
Hey! What gives?! I posted a response yesterday, where has it gone? Didn't it get thru? Dang dial-up!!!

Anyway, no expert here but check out this one, a very common design. Me as well as my two uncles have something similar, although on a very picky note, this model has a downward spine. Traditional ones have straight spines;

Katipunan Bolo-Tusok, first column, fourth row down

http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinnie_store/web_store.cgi?page=FRATOTAB/newadditions.htm&cart_id=.
Click to expand...
That's not a Katipunan Bolo. Its a common Matulis bolo. Or if your a modern arnis guy, a "Presas family" bolo.
untamed said:
The design is sort of a tool with the attributes of a weapon.

Here's another site for FMA weapons a friend of mine recommended if you're in the states:

http://www.psdtc.com/Filipino.bladed.weapons.htm

As for size, 24" was the ideal of one of my previous teachers. Besides, 20" is more for a tool-size while 28" might seem too unweildly.

Edit: Nevermind, it was another thread over at Prac-Tac. Maybe more appropriate here though.
Click to expand...
You could get one of those, however a friend was given one and it snapped after two strokes against another blade. You could do better.
 
Dagatan said:
That's not a Katipunan Bolo. Its a common Matulis bolo. Or if your a modern arnis guy, a "Presas family" bolo.

You could get one of those, however a friend was given one and it snapped after two strokes against another blade. You could do better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out. I too questioned the name of the design, but for expediency's sake I was just saying the label attached to it on the website.

As for the other site, really? Sad to hear that. The site was just recommended to me by a leading NHB practitioner here.
 
I like the Kris Cutlery Bonifacio Bolo, but it has been discontinued. I've used one of mine for clearing branches, small trees, and brush and it works very well. I keep it in my car. I bought them for $35.00 each in 1999.
 
untamed said:
Thanks for pointing that out. I too questioned the name of the design, but for expediency's sake I was just saying the label attached to it on the website.

As for the other site, really? Sad to hear that. The site was just recommended to me by a leading NHB practitioner here.
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Well maybe you shouldn't tell them. Just keep it in mind if you ever fight a blade match with them.
 
Dagatan said:
That's not a Katipunan Bolo. Its a common Matulis bolo. Or if your a modern arnis guy, a "Presas family" bolo.

.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I immediately recognized the pattern, and am glad somebody else did too.
 
Maybe we should define what a 'bolo' is?

The knives pictured are far bigger than those I've seen in the US Army Museums at West Point or San Francisco. They have bolos from the Philippine War and World War I. Those have blades of about 10" or so. Probably made from old leaf springs from trucks or farm equipment.
 
Fraser said:
Maybe we should define what a 'bolo' is?

The knives pictured are far bigger than those I've seen in the US Army Museums at West Point or San Francisco. They have bolos from the Philippine War and World War I. Those have blades of about 10" or so. Probably made from old leaf springs from trucks or farm equipment.
Click to expand...

Since this is an FMA forum a "bolo" would be a Filipino bolo rather than those little knives that Americans often call "bolos" such as the Ontario Specplus Bolo. :D

Seriously, in my experience a bolo can be just about any size. Until recently I had my grandmother's bolo she used for gardening and it was about 8 or 9 inches. I gave it to my dad since he started collecting them. Other bolos I have are larger, depending on the task they are meant for. The average bolos I've seen in the Philippines are maybe 15-20 inches. Bolos come short or long, narrow or wide, thick or thin, and in many different shapes.

For martial arts use, IMO a bolo would be 14+ inches and usually in the Matulis, Pinuti, or Bonifcaio styles, though the styles can vary greatly.
 
If it's got an edge it's a weapon, Period! I have 2 Pilipino Bolo's payed 15 US Dollars for both or 840 Pesos Philippine. There ugly and nasty looking spring steele but they work well enough. I'm not much on fancy and expensive blades, it's the Kuya on the trigger that matters
 
for training, any bolo between 14" and 24" blade that's FULL TANG WITH STURDY RIVETS. to many heat-sunk blades fly off the handles at the least convenient time. ;)
 
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