USGI BOLO; if so what to do?

[TI-tick]

I found the above recently.
The wood is not hard but not rotten.
Per the finger grooves, and the heft, I'm thinking this might be USGI.
If so, I'd like to clean it up.

Any info on how to accomplish this is appreciated.

Or maybe leave it as is and retire it from wood chopping.

Peace.

 

[outrider58]

Wall hanger. Nice find.

 

[Brickman301]

looks like a bolo to me. I’ve cleaned a lot of rusty tools by soaking them in white vinegar for a few days. Pull it out of the vinegar and rinse it good with the pressure from the garden hose. I’ve never had anything with wood on it, but don’t think it will damage the wood. I clean all my wood cutting boards with white vinegar.
Worth a shot, and it’s easy.

 

[bbrown]

Evaporust may help, but dunno what to do about the wood grips first.

 

[Brickman301]

Maybe you should make a poll about how to clean this?

 

[mauser58]

Home Depot sells some stuff for removing rust from old rusty tools. I heard it works well.

 

[Bob A]

Vinegar is good. If you can submerge it up to the crosspiece, and use a bronze brush to remove the rust, it will eventually clean up pretty well. Once the rust is removed, you should neutralise the acid (vinegar) with a baking soda slurry, and rinse well with hot water. Then oil the blade, or use something like renaissance wax, to seal it off and prevent more rust.

I suppose you could drill out the rivets and clean the tang as well, then re-fasten the old handles, or replace with something new. I don't know that I'd bother, but it's not my knife. I'd say it's worth some effort.

Look here:

US Model 1917 Bolo Knife with Scabbard | Windlass Steelcrafts

Our military used the same basic bolo knife from the turn of the century through WWII. Manufactured from 1897 to 1918, it went through a number of changes during its production life. First issued to medical personnel in the field it was later issued to fighting troops and used to clear brush...

www.windlass.com

Thee's a bunch on ebay, worth taking a look. Someone is even selling one of the canvas/leather scabbards for 30 bucks or so.

 

[slsc98]

Home Depot sells some stuff for removing rust from old rusty tools. I heard it works well.

Phosphoric acid. In the paint supplies aisles.

The stuff is positively incredible. Brush it on, let it sit and work overnight, rinse in the morning with clear water, let dry and repeat. And repeat. And repeat …

A big equipment operator buddy pulled an original era correct rim for my wife’s ’66 GTO out of a hillside he was moving for new construction. He guesstimated the wheel had been buried in that mud and muck for decadeS.

A couple weeks later it was de-rusted, re-painted and looking showroom new in the trunk of her car with the trunk open for judging by car show officials.

It is also the 3rd or 4th ingredient (by quantity) in dark colored colas and soft drinks.

Sip on ^that^!

 

[6-Pack]

Maybe try soaking it in some CLR? That stuff takes the rust off all our faucets pretty well (we’re on well water).

 

[BFMIN]

'Stralian Machete bayonet?
Does it have a slot for attachment to a rifle?

 

[Bob A]

Phosphoric acid. In the paint supplies aisles.

The stuff is positively incredible. Brush it on, let it sit and work overnight, rinse in the morning with clear water, let dry and repeat. And repeat. And repeat …

A big equipment operator buddy pulled an original era correct rim for my wife’s ’66 GTO out of a hillside he was moving for new construction. He guesstimated the wheel had been buried in that mud and muck for decadeS.

A couple weeks later it was de-rusted, re-painted and looking showroom new in the trunk of her car with the trunk open for judging by car show officials.

It is also the 3rd or 4th ingredient (by quantity) in dark colored colas and soft drinks.

Sip on ^that^!

Vinegar is cheaper. I don't know how much of a disposal problem phosphoric acid might be; vinegar has no issues of that nature.

One of those plastic troughs used for paint rollers is a nice item for the purpose.

I don't recall how long it took for me to remove a few decades of black crud from a couple daggers I have, but I don't think it was an overnight issue. My memory is shot for anything that didn't happen decades ago.

 

[TI-tick]

I sprayed it all with PJ but the grip screws remained tight.

So I got some Rustoleum Rust Remover, put it in a paint roller tray, and let it sit overnight. As recommended by @BFMIN .

Som bitch the majority of the rust was gone! But it was coated with black slime.

I scrubbed it next with a cooking plastic sponge pad with faux brillo and a toothbrush.

Lots of pitting but on the right side up from the hilt is a US mark with a SN below.

On the left side up from the hilt there appears to be a SA, maybe with an ordenance bomb under with a 1913 (15,16,18,?).

The wood has changed from black to dark red.

With the rust off I can see where the button top aft of the hilt connects with a U plate of sorts coming under; kind of like a bayonet mount but IDK considering the but of the bolo. Likely a spring in there along with a lot of crud that prevents movement.

I have it soaking with PJ now and will see if I can get some pics that show the markings.

Also, the blade is ground on the right side, not the left, and has not been sharpened in some time. I'll leave that alone.

 

[BFMIN]

Err, Umm I actually recommended "Evap-o-Rust", but hey, if it worked that's kewl too!

 

[BFMIN]

Hows this for a match?

Springfield Armory U.S. Bolo KnifeModel 1910 w Scabbard Unconverted

Springfield Armory U.S. Bolo KnifeModel 1910 w Scabbard Unconverted for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[Brickman301]

I sprayed it all with PJ but the grip screws remained tight.

So I got some Rustoleum Rust Remover, put it in a paint roller tray, and let it sit overnight. As recommended by @BFMIN .

Som bitch the majority of the rust was gone! But it was coated with black slime.

I scrubbed it next with a cooking plastic sponge pad with faux brillo and a toothbrush.

Lots of pitting but on the right side up from the hilt is a US mark with a SN below.

On the left side up from the hilt there appears to be a SA, maybe with an ordenance bomb under with a 1913 (15,16,18,?).

The wood has changed from black to dark red.

With the rust off I can see where the button top aft of the hilt connects with a U plate of sorts coming under; kind of like a bayonet mount but IDK considering the but of the bolo. Likely a spring in there along with a lot of crud that prevents movement.

I have it soaking with PJ now and will see if I can get some pics that show the markings.

Also, the blade is ground on the right side, not the left, and has not been sharpened in some time. I'll leave that alone.

 

[BFMIN]

The "mystery catch" locked it into the scabbard!

US M1910 Bolo knife...

Here's a US M1910 Bolo knife and scabbard I recently acquired. The 1910's blades were made in the "white" with just the metal handle blued with the blue extending about a quarter inch onto the blade. The bolo locked to the scabbard by means of a spring latch in the handle that mates with a protru...

www.greatwarforum.org

 

[MaxVO2]

looks like a bolo to me. I’ve cleaned a lot of rusty tools by soaking them in white vinegar for a few days. Pull it out of the vinegar and rinse it good with the pressure from the garden hose. I’ve never had anything with wood on it, but don’t think it will damage the wood. I clean all my wood cutting boards with white vinegar.
Worth a shot, and it’s easy.

****Yup. That works well. Probably more professional ways of doing it, but worth a shot.

Could look almost new! (uhh.. mebbe..)

 

[Brickman301]

****Yup. That works well. Probably more professional ways of doing it, but worth a shot.

Could look almost new! (uhh.. mebbe..)

View attachment 437775 View attachment 437777

Very cool!

 

[TI-tick]

Hows this for a match?

Springfield Armory U.S. Bolo KnifeModel 1910 w Scabbard Unconverted

Springfield Armory U.S. Bolo KnifeModel 1910 w Scabbard Unconverted for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Yep, that's a match!

 

[TI-tick]

****Yup. That works well. Probably more professional ways of doing it, but worth a shot.

Could look almost new! (uhh.. mebbe..)

View attachment 437775 View attachment 437777

No plunger on this one.