Restoring USMC Hospital Corpsman Bolo

ArcheoMark

ArcheoMark

Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
40
I recently purchased this Bolo knife and I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to whether I should remove the rust that is on the blade. The blade itself is not in great shape because it looks like someone a long time ago either ground or machined some of the steel off the blade. The blade thickness, as can be seen in one of the photos, is not consistent. Thanks to everyone for their advice! Please click on link below to view photos.

http://imgur.com/JMNXzGF,BVYB8hw,hKFFrG4,7JzUjFM,0NAJYql#0
 
Do you plan to use this knife? If so, preserve the handle with BLO, take a 0000 steel wool pad (or, better yet, a ScotchBrite pad--they're plastic) to the rust with a VERY little WD-40, and remove the rust as best you can. Then sharpen the blade to your desired angle and USE IT. The more use you put it to, the more the better the blade will look and any rust that remains after the steel wool treatment will fade to a dim patina.

If you don't plan to use the knife, then do the above, but ignore the sharpening and use parts. Just have at it with BLO, 0000, WD-40, and elbow grease. That way it will keep whatever collector value it may still have.

Keep us posted with pics!

Zieg
 
Hi Zieg,

Thanks for the great advice. I will follow your recommendations and let you know how I make out. Thanks again,

Mark
 
I suggest that you use the Scotchbrite 3M pads you can get at most hardware stores instead of reintroducing more steel pieces that can rust by using steel wool.

I have reconditioned a few of those and the 1918 bolo's etc, you can have a good user blade here. They were thinned on both sides towards the tip of the blade, say the last third. Clean her up and then sharpen here up and you have a user!
 
Dear Laurence,
Thanks for the great advice. I followed both your and Zieg's advice and the blade came out really nice. The rust was just on the surface and it was easily removed. I left the remaining patina on the blade.
Next I am going to treat the handle, as soon as I can get to the hardware store and pick up some BLO. Thanks again for your help.

Mark
 
Can't wait to see how it turns out! Have a sheath/scabbard?

Zieg
 
Thanks Zieg. If you were me, would you remove all of the patina? There is some oxidation that has turned dark. I was thinking of just removing that build up. No, I don't have a sheath. That will be my next purchase. BTW, the knife came with an interesting story. The guy I bought it from said that he found the knife while he was stationed on Okinawa back in the late 1990's. He said that he used to hunt for brass during his off-duty time. One day, while he was walking through some brush, he happened to step on the knife by accident. It was hidden by brush and grass. If true, it makes one think as to who might have carried it.

Mark
 
Great story! I would not remove the patina (even if it were possible). If you end up using this knife, you will reduce the original patina and replace it with your own, so it's not worth the effort. If you don't use it but keep it as a collector's item, you will want the patina as part of its history. Either way, you don't want to polish it to look like it's new because it isn't new and it does have a history. I consider this to be like my Lee-Enfield, Mosin-Nagant, or even my M1. I have cleaned them up, "preserved" them, but have not "restored" them. They are old, have history, and I use them. They will never look perfect again. They all served in WWII and they show it. Consider your nickname, "ArcheoMark." Would an archaeologist remove the patina on a valuable antiquity? Cuz that's what you have.

Zieg
 
Thanks again Zieg. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I've been having trouble with my internet connection. By the way, here is what the blade looiks like after removing the rust.

byWcCuk.jpg

byWcCuk.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks again Zieg. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I've been having trouble with my internet connection. By the way, here is what the blade looiks like after removing the rust.

byWcCuk.jpg

byWcCuk.jpg
 
Thanks Laurence. Guys like you and Zeig are what make this Forum such a great site. Thanks for the great advice. Please check out the pixs I posted. Sorry for repeating the same picture. I still don't have posting them down pat.
 
Looks great! I don't think you can do any better without grinding it down. So put an edge on it, find a scabbard, and you have the coolest camp blade anywhere! Clear brush, kill zombies, make a debris hut, cut meat, dig a latrine (maybe not in that order). This thing will do it all!

Zieg
 
YES! I've seen some in a lot worse condition that would still handle all of duties you can throw at them.

Look around on ebay or have someone make a Scabbard for you. Then you can pack this tool with you.

These were used extensively by the Marines in the Pacific theather during WWII.
 
Remove all the grease and oil from the blade and Cold Blue it. It will not only look good but will not rust after you reoil it.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
These were used extensively by the Marines in the Pacific theather during WWII.
Click to expand...

Welll, only if you consider the swabbies who served as corpsmen to have been "Marines." ;) But I'm sure many Marines picked them up as they were such a useful tool.

Zieg
 
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