US Model 1917 Bolo Knife

[@Butterybiscutbase]

I’ve always been a fan of the various bolo knives used by the US in the early 1900s. Used to look at lots of them all the time, I really like the 1904 “hospital Corp” bolo knife. Awesome video.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thanks for watching!

[@josephmartin1540]

Loved your presentation. And anything hand weapons or even gear from WWI. Had a Grandpa there, but he died late 60's when I was in elementary school.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

WWI is a conflict I am very glad I wasn’t around for. Not that any conflict sounds pleasant but certain WWI battles are the most distressing experience I can imagine. People back then were made of some sturdy stuff to come out the other end of that meat grinder and still function in society. Thanks for watching!

[@madmartigan8305]

Looking good in the war room Tomas! Keep it up Buddy!! 👍

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thank ya kindly!

[@theamer1776]

Really enjoyed this video and learned something new. Keep the videos coming.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thanks for watching! Got two more in the pipeline and working on the next knife demo after that 👍🏻

[@R005t3r]

Thank you for this enlightening moment. I won one of these at auction last month. In virtually new condition. It is a Model 1910, the model Mr. Johnson used, made at Springfield Armory in 1912. The stenciling on the scabbard is worn but sharp: 34 MG ALA. Scabbard is of the locking type and was made at Rock Island Armory 1912. If you want any privacy; show up in person, pay cash. FFS..... If you'd like photos, you may contact me.

[@Republikaner1944]

Reminds me of German Puma Waidblatt "universal" knife.

[@bennettguns3809]

I LIKE THIS VIDEO!

[@DefyantFrost]

I have one that is from 1918 and has a C.T. The pommel is connected to the tang though, there seems to be a separation on that one, by connected I mean that it is all one piece.

[@pointynotsharp]

Great video, I had no idea there were so many variations to the bolo knife

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thank ya! They definitely have a lengthy history over here

[@stansfieldmcelroy]

Very cool knife Thomas. I've been contemplating getting into edged weapons lately. Up here in Canada, a batch of surplus Swiss army officer's swords was imported and caught my eye but unfortunately I was too slow.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thanks! I’ve been on the edge (pun intended) of getting a few swords myself, a local shop has some pre WWI Prussian swords and WWII Luftwaffe dress swords

[@miguelcastrellon227]

Tengo uno soy de panamá

[@woodwage7988]

P.S..The Bolo knife in question has the numbers on one side as l mentioned and on the other side of the blade it's marked" SA"..Which l took to simply imply Standard Army..once again, thanks

[@Rhythmicons]

I'm looking for one of these.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Hope you manage to find one! They do pop up from time to time but they are definitely getting a little more scarce. Give EBay a look, seen them on there recently, just keep an eye out for reproductions (it’s usually pretty obvious if it’s genuine or not)

[@hp9857]

Very interresting knife. Im a collector of trenchknives of WW1, but I've never seen such one here in Europe. Greetings from Austria

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

They are pretty common around here but I imagine a lot of what you have over there is near unobtainable here, thanks for watching!

[@hp9857]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry Thats true. I found several german or austrian trenchknifes or even trenchclubs on fleamarkets in the 1990ies.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

The German knives pop up around here a lot (I have one, a ton were brought home as trophies) but the Austrian trench knives pretty much don’t exist in America. I also have a French fighting knife but those are pretty rare here

[@hp9857]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry Austrian trenchknifes were much rarer than german ones. Austria simply had not the industrial resources. Often civilian huntingknives ( the so called Knicker) were used.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Very interesting. I’m gonna have to look into that some more, I would very much like to have one in my collection

[@nickyminter4271]

G’day Thomas from Australia 🇦🇺✊

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thanks for watching Nick!

[@allisonserl1900]

Where do I buy one for cheap?

[@woodwage7988]

Hello my friend..before anything..l really appreciated your video, thank you..l have a question if you will..l recently bought a Bolo knife for my son's collection..l was told that there were only 50, 000 of that particular model made..mine/his, it's true is stamped with the number 22, 086..so my questions are, is that true about this limited edition and l paid around 500 dollars for it, did l get a fair deal?..Anyway , thank you once again for your video and if you can find a moment, I'd appreciate it...Take care...

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

I would certainly have to look into it to be certain, but average price for this style of bolo knife is around $300, there are definitely minor variations that are worth more but I’d need to know the specific model of knife to be certain. Also, is the SA stamp outlined in a square stamp? If it is that indicates that it wound up in the Finnish Army (the actual words are quite long and complicated Finnish words) and Finnish equipment is often very valuable

[@woodwage7988]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry wow thank you for responding so quickly..Unfortunately l don't have the knife in front of me but l don't remember a square around the SA..but what sold me was the guy said there were only 50, 000 made, and it's true it is stamped with that number specifitly..?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

@woodwage7988 it is definitely plausible, I wouldn’t discount it as unbelievable I just don’t know for certain. The nice thing though is even if you did overpay (which I have no reason from this info to think you did) it will probably be worth that in not much time anyway. The value on fighting knives of this time period has only been climbing

[@woodwage7988]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry Thanks so very much to have taken the time to respond..But I'm absolutely curious now on why the one l bought was stamped with 22, 086..lf by chance in your world as a professional..if you ever come across some information about it, I'd love to hear from you..good luck with your videos and thank you for your time.

[@badas45]

I would love to see a good Harlem hellfighter movie. I have a 1917 bolo that was my grandfathers then my fathers,its missing the canvas sheath cover. I have a notion that would absolutely piss off some purists.... I would like to put serrations on the spine and reprofile the blade ever so slightly to take out the "entreching tool" aspects of it ,Maybe a kydex sheath and maybe trimming the hilt a bit on the back side. I enjoy taking it with me on trips I'd like it more if it was modernized a bit Some would say it belongs in a museum

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

I’m actually really surprised we haven’t gotten a modern movie or show on that particular topic

[@denniswyse3590]

You modify in any way will drastically reduce the value ! There's not many left....

[@51WCDodge]

Intresting, I'd never heard of the Harlem Hellfighters. Don't bother to hide notes :-) we all use them. Nice to have a story with a item though, What stories could the individual items we have tell? Um, each one casts a light on some aspect of the time.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Glad to share some info on them! They are quite fascinating. I only wish I had some means of discerning each of my items stories… I imagine a few of them could have been party to some very important moments in history (that’s half of the reason this hobby so intrigues me)

[@51WCDodge]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry You and me both. I have two very simple cardboard boxes. Abou 6 x 8 x 4 inch. They are marked International Red Cross , POW food parcels, one Canada, one Glasgow. They came to Jersey in the Channel Islands at Christmas 1944 aboard the SS Vega , a ship chartered to the Red cross. At the times the Island was occupied by the German's , following the invasion of Normandy the Island' was under siege, and the civillian population on the verge of starvation. Finally the German's and British agreed to to a relief ship, which arrived in the Island , Boxing day 1944. Both parcels were issued to the Grandparent's of a late friend of mine. The boxes were later used to keep family photos in. I inherited them when my friend died suddenly and she had left to me her 1944 Dodge WC54 Ambulance and the collection that went with it. Fortuantley my son, and grand kids share the passion. .

[@TonyGilbert1]

They make repros I think atlanta cutlery makes em for less than $100

[@justinmusicstuff6819]

They found a German in the Philippines?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

This event was in France during WWI

[@TonyGilbert1]

Oh and they don't know if mr johnson used a m1910 or 17

[@AussieArmenian]

Cool vid!. I still have my Grandfathers WW2 Bolo Kokoda Machete. It is an amazing tool. Very high quality steel. The handle is the only con. It is a bit small and slippery. But yeah still a great piece of history.... It has that rounded edge also but he was not a medic, he was a Gunner, possibly grabbed it from a fallen soldier? Any ideas. Thanks

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Very cool, best I can figure is he probably grabbed it from a fallen comrade or traded for it, such things were not uncommon. By the description that does sound like the medical variant, but stuff got passed around.

[@AussieArmenian]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry You are right in a way. Did some research. So It is a Kododa, English issue Bolo. They were as you said issued to Medics"great knowledge btw" and Gunners. Frank(grandad) was a gunner/hand to hand combat trainer. You probably already know but the medics had to get through the jungle quick and the bolo did the job. Gunners needed to clear a 5×5m are to place the 50pounder's. Very interesting....Anyway Ming was his nickname after the character Ming the merciless because he was a bit rough on the guys in training. But he definately meant well. He volunteered in his off time at Bondi surf club Sydney to teach new soldiers a bit of self defence I guess... Could have been resting. Chasing girls lol. But he cared. Great men back then. Again great vid. Got to learn how to restore this thing. Still sharp but needs an oil etc