Of bolo rush & bolomen

[Lew]

I found an old news reel from 1943 it shows Philippine troops being armed with bolos. It's about 5 minutes into the video.

http://ahivfree.alexanderstreet.com/View/526281

[carlos]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

I found an old news reel from 1943 it shows Philippine troops being armed with bolos. It's about 5 minutes into the video.

http://ahivfree.alexanderstreet.com/View/526281

Could somebody put a picture of one bolo like the video? thanks
carlos

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by carlos

Could somebody put a picture of one bolo like the video? thanks
carlos

Hola Carlos! I don't have one but I posted some video grab as can be seen above ... Hope somebody can post a pic from his own collection ...

[trenchwarfare]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Hola Carlos! I don't have one but I posted some video grab as can be seen above ... Hope somebody can post a pic from his own collection ...

The Bolos in the video are not locally made. They are of US mfg., made by the US Spring & Bumper Co. Los Angeles Ca. They have molded green rubber handles with co. logo cast in, and star pattern grip. Blades, and guards are plated. Came with a very flimsey canvas scabbard, but the standard 18" machete scabbard fits perfectly. I sold one on ebay a while back. Will try to find pictures. Couldn't find one, back when I was collecting WWII US edged weapons.

[carlos]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

The Bolos in the video are not locally made. They are of US mfg., made by the US Spring & Bumper Co. Los Angeles Ca. They have molded green rubber handles with co. logo cast in, and star pattern grip. Blades, and guards are plated. Came with a very flimsey canvas scabbard, but the standard 18" machete scabbard fits perfectly. I sold one on ebay a while back. Will try to find pictures. Couldn't find one, back when I was collecting WWII US edged weapons.

Thank you very much !! this information is very fine to me!1
Thanks again
carlos

[KuKulzA28]

Thanks Dimasalang!

@ LOUIEBLADES:
Oh wow, that's wicked cool, I like how the text follows the video clip...
Interesting how the Filipino soldiers were issued bolos by the US Army...

I bet they would've brought bolos even if they weren't issued them

This reminds me of Crossing the Sulu Seas where an old man relates of how he remembers Moro krismen ambushing Japanese forces. It seems a common theme with the Filipinos, Moros, Gorkhas, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc. to use a big native blade since guns and ammo were low.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Interesting how the Filipino soldiers were issued bolos by the US Army...

Certain elite units of the present Philippine Marines are still issued bolos (e.g., ginunting), even up to now.

On where to buy them, kindly check out this post.

[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Certain elite units of the present Philippine Marines are still issued bolos (e.g., ginunting), even up to now.

On where to buy them, kindly check out this post.

I actually bought a ginunting from Buddy last Dec. It was a Xmas present to myself. Buddy makes them for the Philippine Marine elite unit. They practice pekiti tirsia under Leo Gaje...and this is their weapon of choice and it is made to their specs.


I just have to add...it is extremely well balanced and light. The Kamagong handles make it look heavy but it is not. Very easy to swing, chop, hack, thrust, etc... And Buddy is a great guy to deal with.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

I actually bought a ginunting from Buddy last Dec. It was a Xmas present to myself. Buddy makes them for the Philippine Marine elite unit ...

Which reminds me, I've been meaning to get one for myself, too!

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

I just have to add...it is extremely well balanced and light. The Kamagong handles make it look heavy but it is not. Very easy to swing, chop, hack, thrust, etc... And Buddy is a great guy to deal with.

By the way, would you know if the Phil. Army (with US troops below, in the 2008 joint exercise in Luzon) would also have a standard issue bolo? Thanks.

[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

By the way, would you know if the Phil. Army (with US troops below, in the 2008 joint exercise in Luzon) would also have a standard issue bolo? Thanks.

Hi Miguel, I wouldn't know if the regulars in the Phil. Army have an issued bolo. Im now curious to know if they do. My guess would be yes, considering the environment they have to deal with most of the time. I'll try and find out.

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

In studying the story of the bolomen, I have yet to read Muddy Glory: America's Indian Wars in the Philippines (1981) and Bullets & Bolos: Fifteen Years in the Philippine Islands (1928).

I've read several times however, Vic Hurley's Jungle Patrol (1938) and Swish of the Kris (1936).

You can read Bullets and Bolos online at a secret location. I'll PM it to you.
I have yet to read Muddy Glory also...tough to find that one. I also read through Jungle Patrol and Swish of the Kris a couple times. A copy of Swish of the Kris sold on ebay a few months back...if I remember right it went over $100. I got my copy of Jungle Patrol on ebay for ~$40.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

Hi Miguel, I wouldn't know if the regulars in the Phil. Army have an issued bolo. Im now curious to know if they do. My guess would be yes, considering the environment they have to deal with most of the time. I'll try and find out.

You can read Bullets and Bolos online at a secret location. I'll PM it to you.
I have yet to read Muddy Glory also...tough to find that one. I also read through Jungle Patrol and Swish of the Kris a couple times. A copy of Swish of the Kris sold on ebay a few months back...if I remember right it went over $100. I got my copy of Jungle Patrol on ebay for ~$40.

Thanks!

In searching for old books, you may also want to try these:

[1] BookFinder4U

[2] UsedBookSearch

[3] Univ. of the Phils. library, in case you have relatives here in the Phils. who are enrolled at UP at the moment ...

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

I found an old news reel from 1943 it shows Philippine troops being armed with bolos. It's about 5 minutes into the video. http://ahivfree.alexanderstreet.com/View/526281

Thanks Lew for the link! That's a very cool find

For quick reference, the narration went:

Narrator: A regiment of Filipino infantry in the United States army receives the one weapon they know best, the Philippine bolo knife. Used in cutting through jungles, the bolo is equally effective in hand-to-hand combat. Filipinos, young and old, have a long and outstanding score to (inaudible ) with the Japanese invaders of their native land. Today, armed with native weapons, augmenting their modern equipment, they are eager to meet the enemy.

Below are some stills from the video.