Machete/Bolo recommendations?

RokJok, thanks for the links. I'd actually been looking for those Jerry Hossom links to post. Thought I had 'em bookmarked, I do now. :D
 
Dave568 said:
Since there isn't a machete/bolo forum here, I figured this would be the best place to post it, since it is the most relevant. I am looking for a machete or bolo for bushcraft that will be suited for various camp chores. I need something decently durable and reliable, and it needs to be able to handle small saplings easily, because that will be what it is used for mostly. I have been looking around online and in stores, but the only machetes I can find near my house are crappy Coleman ones from sporting goods stores. If anyone can suggest a good one for me, I'd really appreciate it. I'm looking for something with a sheath as well, which has been another problem - I've been finding lots of machetes that don't come with sheaths online. I'm looking for something in the $30-40 range or lower.

Thanks.
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have you tryed a flea market I got a great mechete for $6
 
Since this thread started, I've since acquired a No.2 bolo from Reflections of Asia...$20 + $7 shipping from CA. It came with a very stiff tooled leather sheath which I had to work on some because it was warped, but I straightened it out with hot water, and then treated the whole thing inside and out with SnoSeal. It's fine now.

So far I've only used it for splitting kindling for an outdoor fire at a New Years Eve party.

I like it, I think it has good weight, good balance and a large full handle.
 
Coldwood!! Dang you, first Mora's, now these Reflections of "Evil" bolos. :eek: I still have to order the Mora's, now there is a "Bolo Gap" too!
I'll have to put a keen edge on the Visa card and go slashing through the cyber jungles to catch up. ;)

OK, seriously, I have been ready to pull the trigger on the #5 jungle.

What is your impression of the tang area on the #2, in terms of strength?
How thick are they? Would you guess they are a carbon steel?

Impulsive buyers are standing by! :D
 
C'mon Skunk, you gotta catch up! ;)

According to the website, it's made out of recycled steel, whatever that is (leaf springs?), but definitely carbon (NOT Paki stainless). Mine arrived with about 6 pin-head dark spots, the rest was shiny. Coated in grease.

The blade on the No. 2 is 1/4" at the spine, flat/convex grind to the edge, distal taper to the point. The blade is 12" long, 3" at the widest point.

The tang is 5/8" wide where it enters the handle and the shoulder cuts are rounded (from the little bit I can see), not sharp corners, so I don't think it's going to break there. There's a solid 1" brass collar surrounding it all with some crude decoration. The tang goes all the way through the handle, tapers to what appears to be about 3/16" at the tip, peened over a solid brass washer.

The handle is 6" long, made of some kind of almost black dense-grained wood, unfinished, that might even be ebony; decorative carving at the butt.

The condition of the blade is what knife-makers here would politely call "unfinished". While the blade is well-executed, grind marks are very evident and there are some sharp corners. Somebody with a belt sander could finish it off nicely. I'm just going to take a file to the sharp corners and leave it as is since I intend to use it. The blade came sharp enough for a machete. I don't see any evidence of forging, I'm thinking more and more that this was ground out of a leaf spring.

The sheath is some kind of stiff leather, tooled, center seam down the back. There's a collar around the top with a tab for hooking over a belt. As I said, the leather has a tendency to warp (I think a lot of oiling will cure that). The other problem was the back seam was separating, I was afraid the hand-stitching might eventually give; so I cut a strip of leather scrap and glued it over the stitching with contact cement to reinforce the seam.

It's solid and hefty, a little rough in finish, feels good in the hand, definitely a user, I'm very happy with it for the price. Unlike my Tramontina, this definitely is something for chopping small trees and splitting wood.
 
I'm glad to see others liking the RA line. That buffalo horn will look real good with a little smoothing and a dunk in mineral oil.
 
I got this one at a flea market for 7 bucks. ( I got there early) I've since seen a few others but they were in pretty beat up condition but looked like they'd clean up well.

This one is carbon steel with pinned water buffalo scales.

They Ontario 12" machete is a handy one. I keep one lashed to a BoB and it is close in feel to my bolo.

thanks for looking,

hatchet-

bolo1.jpg
 
I like the looks of that one HJ.
 
Stay away from the CS Bolo. Looks great, feels good in the hand, but cheap. I love most CS products, but not this POS. The edge BENDS and FOLDS with little effort. My buddy bought a Ontario "Gov. issue" and I sharpened it for him. NICE. High carbon steel, holds an edge. I see one in my future.
 
I can only comment on the tramontinas, as thats the only machete I've owned. It was an awsome tool, great for saplings and the like. Great machete for the price, I bought mine for, I think 30 dollars with a sheath, now the sheath wasnt that good, but it worked fine.
 
Fonly said:
I can only comment on the tramontinas, as thats the only machete I've owned. It was an awsome tool, great for saplings and the like. Great machete for the price, I bought mine for, I think 30 dollars with a sheath, now the sheath wasnt that good, but it worked fine.
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WAS an awesome tool? What happened to it?

I'm thinking of getting one..
 
haha, actually I lost (well I didn't but you get the point) it in the move out. but owell, next time I get the chance I'm picking up another one also.
 
Coldwood said:
C'mon Skunk, you gotta catch up! ;)

According to the website, it's made out of recycled steel, whatever that is (leaf springs?), but definitely carbon (NOT Paki stainless). Mine arrived with about 6 pin-head dark spots, the rest was shiny. Coated in grease.

The blade on the No. 2 is 1/4" at the spine, flat/convex grind to the edge, distal taper to the point. The blade is 12" long, 3" at the widest point.

The tang is 5/8" wide where it enters the handle and the shoulder cuts are rounded (from the little bit I can see), not sharp corners, so I don't think it's going to break there. There's a solid 1" brass collar surrounding it all with some crude decoration. The tang goes all the way through the handle, tapers to what appears to be about 3/16" at the tip, peened over a solid brass washer.

The handle is 6" long, made of some kind of almost black dense-grained wood, unfinished, that might even be ebony; decorative carving at the butt.

The condition of the blade is what knife-makers here would politely call "unfinished". While the blade is well-executed, grind marks are very evident and there are some sharp corners. Somebody with a belt sander could finish it off nicely. I'm just going to take a file to the sharp corners and leave it as is since I intend to use it. The blade came sharp enough for a machete. I don't see any evidence of forging, I'm thinking more and more that this was ground out of a leaf spring.

The sheath is some kind of stiff leather, tooled, center seam down the back. There's a collar around the top with a tab for hooking over a belt. As I said, the leather has a tendency to warp (I think a lot of oiling will cure that). The other problem was the back seam was separating, I was afraid the hand-stitching might eventually give; so I cut a strip of leather scrap and glued it over the stitching with contact cement to reinforce the seam.

It's solid and hefty, a little rough in finish, feels good in the hand, definitely a user, I'm very happy with it for the price. Unlike my Tramontina, this definitely is something for chopping small trees and splitting wood.
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Dang it Coldwood, you've turned this into a "Which Machete" thread! :D
Man, I gotta wait until the Plastic billing cycle closes and get me into February or so. Then we'll play "catch up" ;)

Leaf springs is what they make Kukri's out of, so that makes it carbon steel alright, it's probably something along those lines.

Great description, thanks. Sounds like a winner. (along with the Moras, and whatever else can I spend money on?)
 
Hey Aproy how would you compare the Valiant Survival Golok to your Himalayan imports bolo? I own a HI 15 inch ang khola myself and was wandering about how you liked those bolos and if you have any kurkris how would you compare them?
 
minipyro23 said:
Hey Aproy how would you compare the Valiant Survival Golok to your Himalayan imports bolo? I own a HI 15 inch ang khola myself and was wandering about how you liked those bolos and if you have any kurkris how would you compare them?
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Hehe. This comparison cannot be made. It would be like comparing your framing hammer to a sledge for performance. My HI Bolo weighs almost 3 lbs. Its spine is 1/2" for almost its entire length. The VSG is light and fast, and compares well with the RA bolos that I have. Its weight is just in between the #1 and #3 from RA. Its super pretty, and the scabbard is awesome. Came razor sharp, and fit and finish to match American makers. I did some testing and it suffered no edge damage or dulling. But that HI Bolo is a chopper.

How bout a pic...
 

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I just received the two bolos I ordered from ROA yesterday after the USPS took their good ole time delivering. I got the #4 Batangas 28" and the #5 Jungle bolo. Very nice. I'm looking forward to using them to chop some vegetation in the backyard when it warms up.

FWIW, the #4 is advertised as 18" blade 28" OAL. In reality it has a 19" blade and is 25" OAL. So take their description as more of an estimate than anything.

The Jungle Bolo is considerably thicker and heavier despite being much shorter - it's about 7/32" thick compared to the Batangas at 5/32".

I'm very impressed for the price. If they hold up to some heavy testing I'll probably order 1 or 2 of the Ilocos.
 
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