bolo knife

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Traditional bolos from the Visayas.

A typical bolo or itak

A bolo is a large cutting tool similar to the machete, used particularly in the jungles of Indonesia, the Philippines, and in the sugar fields of Cuba. The primary use for the bolo is clearing vegetation, whether for agriculture or during trail blazing.

The bolo is called an itak in Tagalog while in Hiligaynon, the blade is referred to as either a binangon or a talibong.

Historical significance

Early 20th century Cebuano Police officers armed with a pinuti (left) and a sundang (right)

Bolos are also used as military weapons and as such they were a particular favorite of the Filipino resistance during the 1898 Philippine Revolution against Spain, the Philippine-American War, and the Commonwealth period. Since the bolo was first used as a farming implement, it was used in combat because during colonial times the ubiquitous bolo was readily available to the common person. For this reason the study of the bolo is common in Filipino martial arts, such as Balintawak Eskrima, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and Modern Arnis.

The failed assassination attempt by Carlito Dimahilig on Imelda Marcos on December 7, 1972 was done with a bolo. She still bears the scars on her arms.

Design

Bolos are characterized by having a native hardwood handle, a full tang, and by a blade that both curves and widens, often considerably so, at its tip. This moves the centre of gravity as far forward as possible, giving the knife extra momentum for chopping vegetation. So-called "jungle bolos", intended for combat rather than agricultural work, tend to be longer and less wide at the tip.

Various bolos

Types

Various types of bolos are employed. An assortment of bolos and related implements include:

1. The all-purpose bolo: Used for all sorts of odd jobs, including breaking open coconuts.
2. The haras: Similar to a small scythe, it is used for cutting tall grass.
3. The kutsilyo: The term comes from the Spanish word cuchillo, meaning knife. Generally used to kill and bleed pigs during slaughter.
4. A smaller bolo.
5. The bolo-guna: A bolo specifically shaped for digging out roots and weeding.
6. The garab: Used to harvest rice.
7. A large pinuti: Traditionally it is tipped in snake, spider or scorpion venom and used for self-defense.
8. The sundang: Supposedly used mainly to open coconuts. The sundang, also called "tip bolo" or itak, was a popular weapon of choice in the revolution against the Spanish colonial government and during the Philippine–American War.

Using a bolo to open a coconut

Other uses of the term

In the US military, the slang term "to bolo" – to fail a test, exam or evaluation, originated from the Philippine-American guerrilla forces during World War II; those guerrillas who failed to demonstrate proficiency in marksmanship were issued bolos instead of firearms so as not to waste scarce ammunition.^[1]

See also

• Cane knife
• Kukri

Footnotes