Cult of the Bolo

M

munk

Joined
Mar 22, 2002
Messages
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Can you Bolo Boys tell me about this blade? Does it chop as well as a similarly weighted and sized Khuk? Is it better for brush? Or does it just look super cool?

Concerned minds want to know. I've got a whole lot of 18" ish and 29 ounce khuks and other HI blades. Guess someday I could add one more.

Don't get me wrong- I like HI Cults. I get a real kick out of them. You've gone Bolo crazy, though the Museum Model may be gaining.


munk
 
I'm curious too, Munk. :)

I have a 18" kobra for the palmettos here in Florida, but I must admit, my first HI was a M43 and I pretty much use it for everything. To my way of thinking, that is the best all around khukuri.

I had some Old friends visit, they are old in age too [73]. :D

They have camped all over North America, & Mexico, and just came back from Alaska. I left my job early, after they met me, we stopped at a camp ground not on the maps. It was a detour on our way home. I knew they would like the Florida wildreness. Well the point is....................
they fell in love with the M43. I gave them a brand new one I was saving when we made it to the "ponderosa". They have used machette's, hatchets, axe's and bolos, but they thought the M43 was the best tool!

They were speechless!

Sam S.
 
i've been tempted to buy one and put a gaurd on it...

its hard to find straight blades like that at...

okay scratch that, theres only one single place that you can buy 1/2" thick 18" long bolo's/straight choppers - and thats here. the closest your going to get is 3/8", wich is a huge difference.

i'm also very interested in how they handle, as well as where they are hardened (specifically how long the sweet spot is, or if its full edge hardened)

i really wish i had seen the 75$ cracked handled one before it was snagged... i have a big turning block of cherry wood that would be perfect for it...
 
I am with Seth on this one...I plan on getting one soonest!!

If nothing else it would make me feel sexy to hold that thing over my head while I dance in the front yard while wearing my Kilt!!

hmm...I was thinking that a REALLY big chunk of Micarta would look nice on that kind of blade...Would need a guard as Seth stated
 
I'll admit...I too have fallen in love with this one. I even like the handle--don't get me wrong, Andy's mod is much improved, but I will be happy with the original. I'm glad to see the bolos coming up so often. It's fun to have new blades to try...not just different khuks, but different blade styles. Way to go HI and Yangdu.
DanR
 
I would have one if you guys would stop buying them 10 seconds after they are listed hehe. I can see why this forum is addicting, it's fun waiting for the right one to come along, I now check this forum every day which is unusual for me and forums. Does HI have any kind of a showroom in Reno? I get over to the biggest little city a couple times a year at least, and I wouldn't mind buying a knife when I go instead of wasting cash at a game table.
 
No showroom.
You can email Yangdu and see if she can't find what you are looking for.

munk
 
Munk, my Bolo (well, Andy's now) chopped about as good as my 18" AK, so it should chop about as much as its weight suggests that it should. I didn't get a chance to do any brush work with mine, but from how it felt in my hand and others' accounts, it should do well without causing undue fatigue. I wouldn't mind seeing the Bolo with a bit of a thinner blade, maybe 7/16" or even as thin as 3/8". There would still be enough steel behind the relatively narrow blade and it would be more apt to chop more efficiently IMO.

I like the handle as it was designed, though I think that something like the handle on the Backwards Blade Sword would look good on the Bolo, especially if the blade was lengthened some.
 
Munk and others, I carved the model for the bolo out of a coffee table leg I found. The story about it is around somewhere. It balanced so well and felt so good in my hand that I thought it would be cool in steel. The leg weighed about 2 lbs. and I was just guestimating how thick it would have to be in order to stay that way. I wanted a think blade and I put a big fuller in it to save weight. The kamis nailed it though. The handle on mine was too thick and I had to thin it out some, the latest ones look even thicker. The original model handle was very comfortable, that was what inspired me in the first place. Thinning out the new ones to fit would be a good thing and is easy to do with just sandpaper. Or build a new handle to suit your needs. The original handle comfortably accomadates a lot of grips. The flat back swedge was supposed to be hardened for use as a light hammer. Mine is, I don't know if the later ones are. The flat nose is supposed to be like a double bevel chisel of sorts. The gentle curve of the main part of the blade chops well, about like a khuk, maybe not as deep, but none of my khuks cut the same either. It works remarkably well as a froe and a spokeshave too. My idea was to have a multiuse tool and I think it is. There was a karda and chakma of sorts too of my own design, they have never been offered with the bolo, except for the original. It is funny to me that this design generated little interest at the time of conception, sat around for a couple years and then the kamis started making them. Uncle Bill told me that they were very puzzeled by my model and thought it was pretty funny. But they did it and I guess they see some merit in it now.
 
Big Bob said:
I like the handle as it was designed, though I think that something like the handle on the Backwards Blade Sword would look good on the Bolo, especially if the blade was lengthened some.
Click to expand...

The handle on the BBS would look great (if turned around;)). However, while using the sword over the last week I have found that the handle is much too square in my hand for such a heavy blade. It needs to be a little more oval. Actually, in my hand, I rather prefer the sweep of the handle as it is on the sword...minus the painful jarring from the skullcrusher:D If it had been built more machete-like and had the handle been put on the right way, the BBS would be a great brush blade/chopper. As it is, it either needs the handle heavily modified or fitted with something like Andy put on his. Sorry for the hi-jack there:o

I do like the looks of the bolo. I would like to get one soon. Generally speaking, I need more of a knife to take on brush and saplings more than a need a heavy chopper. I love the simple lines of that beautiful piece of steel:)

jake
 
I haven't gotten any chopping done with the bolo yet. Today I plan to do some work on it in the back. Leah's dad is in town, so I'm not going to be doing chopping at home anytime soon. I can tell you its an awesome blade to behold. Looks like it would baton well, and the hammer portion looks useful too. I don't think mine is hardened back there though. Its become my favorite knife.

Thanks for the wonderful comments.
 
Bobwhite,
Great design...and thanks. Yet another reason to love HI. Where else can someone send in a design and have it made like this. I hope to hear more testimony from others who have been using their bolos.
DanR
 
Mine chops pretty well. I worked on a downed tree with it and my biggest complaint was the handle. It is just too big for my hand. It 5.5 inches in diameter and trying to hold on to it with the 2+ pound handle made me give up pretty quickly and go to my M43. I will say the chips did fly. I agree a thinner blade would be nice. It does not seem to penetrate well due to the blade thickness. I am thinking of some mods to mine. Will post when I decide.
Terry
 
I think you meant that the circumference is 5.5". Its not hard to reprofile a handle. Just take a bastard file and get to it. Finish with sandpaper, and finaly a coat of Watco's. We're talking 2 hours max.
 
You are right Andy. I am going to reprofile the handle and maybe make a few other changes.
Terry
 
I think one of the magical things about HI that really hooked me was modding the handles and scabbards. TSF, you're going to really get into it. And once you're done you've got a 1 of a kind rig.

Couple of hints.

Step 1 -- Tape the hell out of everything. Especially the edge and blade, but also the bolster. Its a PITA sanding scratches out of the brass bolster.

-- Find your favorite hammer. That is going to be just about a perfect indicator of what diameter to shoot for.

-- Use your agressive file everywhere but near the pin. Deep scratches in the pin are hard to remove.

-- Don't forget to mod the scabbard. Fun Fun Fun.

There is no expertise required for any of these.
 
Haven't gotten a chance to chop w/mine either. Can't wait. It's a beast, which with the thickness may not be the best thing, but I like it. I actually want to try splitting with it. Maybe I'm nuts, but it seems like it might work on smaller logs. We'll see.
 
I am looking forward to it. Thanks for the tips. I have really enjoyed seeing your work. Inspiration for us all. I may try my hand at a little carving on the end. It just seems to be screaming fro it. There are some blade mods I am kicking around. I am a little more hestat nt to do these as my grinding skills are rudimentary at best. Thanks for the encouragement.
Terry
 
I've done some comparison chop tests with my own HI stuff, and have a belief that the curved forward design of the khuk is still superior to conventional designs despite similar weight and length.

But I'm pleased to hear the Bolo is a good un.


munk
 
I agree Munk. My M43 is still the best chopper I have. Next is my BGR.
Terry
 
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