Sorry that it has taken so long to reply, but I have had a long difficult weekend.
Ken,
As far as welding goes I prefer either Mig or Tig over gas welding as it is much easier to control the heat. I always attach a piece of steel formed to fit tightly against the blades surface with a ridge contoured so that the cutting edge fits tightly against it. This is done by fixing the piece in place using thin gauge steel wire. Not only does this act as a heat sink, but allows the weld to be started on the ridge and continue up onto the thicker part of the blade without burning through. Of course it will have to be cut loose from the blade before the weld to the opposite side can be done. I also use heat sink paste on the blade about an inch on either side of where the weld is to be made. After the welding is completed the blade is then inserted into hot sand to slowly cool again before the clean-up and final shaping are done.
Ian,
Thank you again for your comments on this piece and for the photos you have added as examples. I have examples of both styles of knives/swords that you have shown, but this piece is much larger with a much deeper belly than both of my examples of these two other styles do. Just for added information I have added a photo taken from a book (that I will have to look up the name of) that shows one style of the bolos that we have been calling "tabacs" as "katana". There was a slight mix-up of the letter designations of the items in the description section, but the corosponding names have been added to the photo itself.
Detlef,
Thank you for your kind words on the work that has been done to this point. I will add more photos as the work on this progresses. If it were not for your help I would not have been able to add this most interesting piece to my collection.
Best,
Robert
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