Bolo
Top: A typical bolo fromLuzon; Bottom:Lumad bolos with sheaths fromMindanao in theNational Museum of Anthropology
Type	Knife orsword
Place of origin	Philippines
Service history
Wars	Battle of Mactan Spanish Conquest Philippine Revolution Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I World War II
Specifications
Blade type	Single-edged, convex blade
Hilt type	hardwood,carabao horn
Scabbard/sheath	hardwood,carabao horn

Look up bolo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Abolo (Tagalog:iták/gúlok,Ilocano:bunéng,Ibanag:badáng/aliwa,Pangasinan:baráng,Kapampangan:paláng,Bikol:tabák/minasbad,Cebuano:súndang/kampilan,Waray:sansibar,Hiligaynon:sandúko/binangon,Aklan:talibong) is a general term for traditionalpre-colonial small- to medium-sized single-edgedswords or largeknives of thePhilippines that function both as tools and weapons.^[1][2] Bolos are characterized by a wide curved blade that narrows down to the hilt, and that comes with a pointed or a blunt tip. Bolos are used as tools in the Philippines and are sometimes compared tomachetes.^{[3][better source needed]}

Bolos are differentiated from other Filipino swords and bladed implements by their dual use as both tools and weapons. They are characterized by a curved (usually convex) wide blade that narrows towards the hilt, with pointed or blunt tips. There are various types of bolos differing byethnic group and purpose, ranging from large knives to short swords to specialized agricultural equipment. They had a wide range of use, from hunting to scything grass, opening coconuts, harvesting crops, or clearing dense brush.^[2][4][5]

Most bolos are cheap and unornamented, with the handle usually made from plaincarabao horn or wood. Bolos with finely carved handles with precious materials were used asstatus symbols of high social rank.^[6]

The bolo is common in the countryside due to its use as a farming implement. As such, it was used extensively duringSpanish colonial rule as a manual alternative to ploughing with acarabao. Normally used for cuttingcoconuts,^[4] it was also a common tool for harvesting narrow row crops found onterraces such asrice,mungbean,soybean, andpeanut.^[7]

During the American period in the Philippines, Filipino fighters armed with bolos were known as "bolomen". They were used as auxiliary troops by the Americans during the various battles with Moros, and others. They were often placed in front of riflemen, as beliefs inanting-anting.^[8] The bolo men were effective in close combat with riflemen usingbayonets but were easily defeated if riflemen opened fire on them.^[9]

The bolo was adopted by theUS Military as thebolo knife.Produced from 1897 to 1918, they remained in service both as a tool for clearing brush and for combat untilWorld War II.^[10]

The bolo is also used inFilipino martial arts orArnis as part of training.^[11][12][13]

A bolo is characterized by having a nativehardwood or animal horn handle (such as from thecarabao),^[14] a fulltang, and asteel blade that both curves and widens, often considerably so, towards its tip.^[4][13] This moves thecentre of gravity as far forward as possible, giving the bolo extra momentum for chopping.^[14]

So-called "jungle bolos", intended forcombat rather than agricultural work, tend to be longer and less wide at the tip.^[4][13] Bolos forgardening usually have rounded tips.^[14]

The term "bolo" has also expanded to include other traditional blades that primarily or secondarily function as agricultural implements. They include:

• Barong - a leaf-shaped sword or knife favored by theTausug people.
• Batangas - a single-edged bolo of theTagalog people that widens at the tip.
• Garab - asickle used for harvestingrice.
• Guna orBolo-guna - A weeding knife with a very short, wide, dull blade and a perpendicular blunt end. It is used mainly for digging roots and weeding gardens.
• Iták - a narrow sword used for combat and self-defense in theTagalog regions. Like thesúndang, it is also known as the "jungle bolo" or "tip bolo", and was a popular weapon during thePhilippine Revolution and thePhilippine Insurrection.
• Haras - ascythe used for cutting tall grass. It is called "Lampas" by people from Mindanao.
• Pinutî - a narrow sword traditionally carried as a personal weapon for combat or self-defense.
• Pirah orPira - a wide-tipped sword or knife favored by theYakan people, it is also common in theSulu Archipelago,Mindanao, and theVisayas.
• Punyál orGunong - a dagger derivative of thekalis. Used as a side-weapon in combat, or to kill and bleed pigs duringslaughter. Also known under the more generic termkutsilyo (Spanishcuchillo, "knife").
• Súndang - the most common personal weapon used for combat and self-defense in theVisayas. Also known as the "jungle bolo" or "tip bolo". It was a popular weapon of choice in thePhilippine Revolution against theSpanish Empire and during the subsequentPhilippine Insurrection.
  • Binangon - A form of súndang used inWestern Visayas andNegros Island.

The bolo was the primary weapon used by theKatipunan during thePhilippine Revolution.^[13][15] It was also used by some Filipinoguerrillas and bolomen during thePhilippine–American War.^{[4][5][13][16]}

DuringWorld War I, United States Army soldierHenry Johnson gained international fame repelling a German raid in hand-to-hand combat using a bolo.^[17]

DuringWorld War II, members of the1st Filipino Regiment and the81st Division used bolos forclose quarters combat, earning them the distinctive title "Moro Bolo Battalion".^[13][18]

On 7 December 1972, would-be assassin Carlito Dimahilig used a bolo to attack formerFirst LadyImelda Marcos as she appeared onstage at a live televised awards ceremony. Dimahilig stabbed Marcos in the abdomen several times, and she parried the blows with her arms. He was shot dead by security forces while she was taken to a hospital.^[19][20]

The bolo serves as a symbol for theKatipunan and thePhilippine Revolution, particularly theCry of Pugad Lawin. Severalmonuments ofAndres Bonifacio, as with other notableKatipuneros, depict him holding a bolo in one hand and the Katipunan flag in the other.^[15][21]

In theUnited States Military, theslang term "to bolo" – to fail a test, exam or evaluation, originated from the combined Philippine-American military forces including recognized guerrillas during theSpanish–American War and thePhilippine Insurrection; those local soldiers and guerrillas who failed to demonstrate proficiency in marksmanship were issued bolos instead of firearms so as not to waste scarce ammunition. The lowest level of qualification for the Army Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Marksmanship badges (United States)), ‘marksman’, is unofficially known as a ‘bolo’ badge.^[22]

In hand-to-handcombat sports, especiallyboxing, the term "bolo punch" is used to describe an uppercut thrown in a manner mimicking the arcing motion of a bolo while in use.^[23]

• 
  TheBonifacio Monument inCaloocan depicting theKatipunan and thePhilippine Revolution
• 
  Bolo given to Captain Lewis A. Kimberly, Commander of USSBeneica by the Governor of Cebu
• 
  Apinahig utility bolo of theIfugao people
• 
  A modern bolo
• 
  Traditional blacksmiths forging a bolo
• 
  War bolos fromBasilan, includinggunong (center) andpirah (right)
• 
  A sinungot hipon fromRizal (province), a common traditional bolo oritak of theTagalog people

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• Operation: BOLO, An American military operation during the Vietnam War
• Parang

• Edged and bladed weapons
• Knives
• Military knives
• Single-edged swords
• Filipino swords
• Philippine martial arts
• Weapons of the Philippines
• Weapons of the Philippine Army
• Philippine Revolution
• Philippine–American War
• World War II infantry weapons

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