Cold Steel Bolo Machete

<span>I grew up in a rainy valley on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii. Out there, we mainly used 2 kinds of machetes - cane knives and bolos. Both have heritages in Hawaii that can traced back to the sugar cane industry (cane knives) as well as Filipino immigration (bolos). I am comfortable and happy with both having used them for the tasks each were designed for. Given this, I’ve developed a strong affinity to these machete types and am not nearly as comfortable using Latin machetes that are most commonly found on the market in the US.<br><br>I already had a Brazilian Tramontina cane knife and a South African Cold Steel Heavy Machete (in a cane knife format), so wanted to round out my quiver with a bolo machete as well. I really like my Cold steel heavy chopper so ordered a Cold Steel bolo I found on sale on KeepShooting. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to find a very serviceable sheath included despite the description making clear one is not included - super bonus!<br><br>Pros: Perfect length for a bolo (18” blade); I love the forward balance of the power-inducing tip bulge; a good blend of toughness and hardness from the properly heat treated 1055 carbon steel; durable handle material with ergonomic shape for multiple hand sizes; and I like the semi-rigidity but somewhat lightness of the 2mm thickness for a long blade that is meant for all day work.<br><br>Cons: Arrived with a painted over edge that was practically non-existent requiring 1hr+ with a bastard file and ax sharper to get a proper edge; and a handle texture that is oddly slippery but rough at the same time needing an overwrap of some sort (I used a bicycle inner tube).<br><br>Once I had the bolo set up to my liking, including a lanyard, I tested it out. It was pretty good cutting up a hard, dead, dried out lemon tree (held an edge and didn’t roll or chip), but not as good as my heavy chopper (no surprise there). However, this bolo tore into grass, reeds and light shrubbery like freakin’ demon, totally awesome!!! My super light Tramotina is good for all day light duty work, but the bolo is not bad for long periods either and can take out a much wider range of foliage with no problem.<br><br>All and all, I really love this bolo and it takes me back to clearing patches of jungle for flower beds as a kid in Hawaii. Despite some finishing and edge issues out of the box, it’s a really good bolo design and I highly recommend it if you are willing to put a little work into it. Chop, chop, chop!</span>

<span>Well its a good weight good build however Mine never got fully edged its stamped but not beveled luckily I have the workshop to do this but if you didn't have the tools then you've got a useless piece of steel so be prepared just in case I guess.</span>

<span>This thing is awesome for the money, and just in general. Hack away at anything!!</span>

<span>Ok, if you are knocking down brush on firebreak road or some other slightly overgrown trail. If you are making a new trail, you'll grow to hate this thing. Here's why.<br>Cheap steel, needs sharpening frequently.<br>Handle is hard on hands, you feel every impact in your wrist.<br>Need gloves as the no slip grip only succeeds in being abrasive to skin during sustained use.<br>Came dull as a butter knife, had to spend 30 min or so time with lansky sharpening stone to get it to a point where it didn't bounce off vines.</span>

<span>Super nice bolo . Mine is very sharp .great survival tool.grip is good.love it</span>

<span>This machete is great for the price. The blade is thick enough to cut through any brush and small trees. Even when whacked against the side of a bigger tree the blade was fine. The handle is the only downside, it’s just some simple plastic. I plan to make my own scales to add to it and have a great machete.</span>

<span>This has good weight with a nice balance,very easy to use and very versatile. The blackberries had grown about 6' high in an open field and I was easily able to clear it down to the dirt. This also takes out 1 1/2" maple branches in a single swipe with 2 hands. 3"branches takes a few cuts. I keep it sharp with just a 4" angle grinder. It may seem heavy for a machete but it's a lot easier to carry this up a ladder than most power tools and can do a lot of light duty work,quickly. The soil is extremely rocky and it does ding the edge but,like I said,it's an easy fix. Excellent tool and got 2 friends to get these for yard work,they like it too!</span>

<span>This is a terrible tool.<br>The handle is aggressively textured, and forbids use without gloves. Even with gloves, it wears them out quickly.<br>The steel is far too soft, I'm not sure if it's not hardened of if it's just bad steel. The edge rolls quickly on even the lightest use, and with moderate use the edge looks like summer teeth. It quickly becomes as effective to cut with the back of the blade as the front.<br>This machete has no valid purpose other than to make a bad name for cold steel.<br>The Ontario is just a few dollars more, but light years better.</span>

<span>Best machete I've had in quite a while.<br>Even though I had to even up the edge but I put my own edge on my machetes anyway.</span>

<span>You are getting a pretty darn good machete for a pretty decent price holds an edge quite well and very comfortable in the hand. The no sheath aspect of things is no problem gives a person an opportunity to make one of their own to their own likings.</span>

<span>You are getting a pretty darn good machete for a pretty decent price holds an edge quite well and very comfortable in the hand. The no sheath aspect of things is no problem gives a person an opportunity to make one of their own to their own likings.</span>

<span class="cr-original-review-content">Material resistente</span><span class="cr-translated-review-content aok-hidden"></span>

<span>I guess I should have looked closer at the title as I bought his thinking it came with a sheath as stated in the description... The machete itself is just fine. Just frustrated that the description clearly states "sheath included" but it isn't.</span>

<span>Blade's edge is painted so a little to is needed, otherwise this is the best machete I've ever used.</span>

<span>good</span>

<span>For the price I find it very difficult to complain about this machete. I bought it because I was removing several large agaves from my front yard. The forward weight of the blade made chipping much easier. I gave it 4 stars because it does come very dull and the edge is covered in the black finish. A few minutes on a Stone got the edge where it needed to be.</span>

<span>Works as advertise</span>

<span>Great machete/ Holds up well to larger limbs and is quality material. My only complaint is that it's a little heavy, so I can't swing it with as much control. AOther than that it's great.</span>

<span>Nice Quality Machete, but the "Cold Steel 97LBMS 18" Bolo Machete with Sheath, Black" does not come with a sheath as advertised, just a thin paper sleeve covering the blade. I would have bought it from someplace else had I known I have to purchase a sheath also, Very disappointed.</span>

<span>Great value, and good quality steel. Gave it a good working edge with my bench grinder.</span>

<span>strong but shoddy took 4 hours to straighten the blade</span>

<span>Dont let the price fool you, this is a good machete and can be compared to the quality of a 50 dollar machete, its all i could ask for and is very durable. I choose it over my top dollar machete most of the time</span>

<span>PLEASE...I believe most consumers would prefer to pay the additional funds to get both items upfront...THANK YOU.</span>

<span>I'm ordering this today. I'm sure it will be exceptional as with every child steel product I own. I really want to say something to all of these fools giving one star reviews because the machete arrived dull or they found a chip in the blade. You prissy little girls shouldn't own a machete. First of all, you ate going to have to sharpen it. Almost every time you use it (if you ate truly using it). Now you can stop crying about a chip in the blade. Most chips can be filed out and over a little time these will even out on the blade. You're chopping wood with it not slicing up steaks. That's all I have.</span>

<span>Bigger than expected and slightly wobbly, but seems to hold an edge well. Compared to the "latin" machete I was more used to, this really feels like a chopper or a small axe rather than a machete in my hands. Works great on small and medium branches, but poorly on vegetation in my experience so far.</span>

<span>I love this machete! This will chop, and slash at the same time! I've been able to cut through 1" thick branches with one cut! This machete is great, and I highly recommend it! The only reason why I didn't give it five stars is because the factory edge was pretty bad, you'll have to re-profile it yourself. Other than that this machete is great!</span>

<span>Eh</span>

<span>Mine arrived with a big chip in the bevel. It would need to be reprofiled. Beware, mine was made in South Africa not USA. I couldn't stand looking at it so I dumped it at the flea market. Don't waste your money on this, get a Condor machete and be done with it. 'Nuff said !!!</span>

<span>If you can use such a tool as this large machete, this Bolo would be a good choice, especially considering the low cost. Machetes usually arrive at your door with a rough and unfinished factory grind. That once was frustrating for me, but then I figured out how to sharpen them. If you are interesting in learning how I became an expert machete-sharpening-guy, look up the CS Panga Machete page and look for my customer comments located there.</span>

<span>I got this as a fun toy to take outdoors and play around with. I have more than enough knives and axes that a machete is overkill for most situations that I find myself in, but you've gotta have some fun in life an live a little.<br><br>The craftsmanship is very good. Blade is build ruggedly and could no doubt stand up to years of abuse from someone who tortures their tools much more than I do. The handle feels quite nice in my (medium sized) hand and in my use so far (clearing light brush, chopping wood, wielding dangerously) has not caused any blisters or gross discomfort.<br><br>My machete came in what I would call an "unsharpened" state with an edge dull enough that I would let my 4 year old play with it without fear of her getting injured. I quickly rectified that situation by filing it into a suitable bevel and honing to a useable edge. It is VERY easy to sharpen and the softness of the material will likely require multiple edge redressings in it's lifetime. That's the nature of a machete though, so nothing to complain about.<br><br>I bought the cold steel nylon sheath for it as well and am mostly unimpressed.</span>