Machete Cold Steel Bolo

K... Review confirmed by purchase

100%

11.08.2025

Review for model:

Nice equipment for the price, the machete comes fairly sharp and after more precise sharpening it's great for cutting grass and weeds. Because of the two straps with clips, it's a bit uncomfortable to put it back into the sheath.

W... Review confirmed by purchase

80%

25.11.2024

Review for model:

A very useful tool for clearing all kinds of grass, reeds, raspberry bushes, or other soft plants in the garden or outdoors. One star less because the grip is too narrow and thus not comfortable to hold.

P... Review confirmed by purchase

100%

13.11.2024

Review for model:

Great machete, made for Cold Steel in South Africa. It holds an edge remarkably and is indestructible. The balance of the machete and blade shape make it unlike any other for chopping and hacking.

M... Review confirmed by purchase

100%

28.09.2023

Review for model:

Just sharpen it and it's great, and carbon steel is not hard to sharpen. At this price, there is probably nothing better. It meets all my requirements.

The machete is well balanced, has a secure grip, and is very convenient to use. A big downside is its susceptibility to corrosion and tendency to chip in some places.

Nice machete, handy, durable. The quality you expect from Cold Steel. I recommend it.

After resharpening, the machete fought blackberries and twigs. Bolo - 1, blackberry - 0. The machete needs maintenance, sharpening; the sheath is decent. A tool worth its price.

Great machete, perfect for a collection. The blade in mine is painted, which is probably good since it won't rust. Overall, I recommend it.

It needs sharpening, but it's nice to swing. The handle is okay, but it's worth getting some tactical gloves for a better grip. Cuts very well. Perfect for a zombie attack :)

Well preserved. Definitely a product worth recommending!

10/10! A product worth recommending.

Very nice machete, useful on the plot :) Mine required sharpening before use and doesn't have a sheath, but at this price, it's worth considering.

The advantages of this machete are its length, low weight (compared to Ontario 18' or CS Jungle machetes), and price. Suitable for chopping branches with diameters up to a few cm. I worked mostly on birches, occasionally pines and spruces. I noticed the cutting edge at the end of the blade is durable, but roughly in the middle it can bend/chip—surprisingly on thinner branches. Of course, it needed sharpening initially. In summary—a budget product, but it gets the job done.

Generally, I haven't tested it yet, but just after unboxing, the product appears to be very well made (top quality). After reading opinions, I think I'll be very satisfied. I highly recommend it!!!!

I bought the machete for collection purposes—I didn't have anything like it yet. However, contrary to expectations, I quickly found intensive uses for the new blade at home, and if Dante had created a separate circle of hell for machetes, I'd have to be the host there. During work, I subjected the machete to brutal "crash tests"—it worked in very unfavorable conditions regarding humidity and the chemical composition of liquids poured on it (vegetable juices, which no steel likes). For almost a week, it was also exposed daily to stones that could chip the blade, and it was not always thoroughly dried after use, so rust had a chance to settle in exposed areas where the anti-corrosive black paint gradually disappeared. During several days of testing, the machete was not sharpened even once. Conclusions: Credit must be given to Cold Steel—Bolo Machete is not cheap Chinese-Korean junk, but a tool made (if you believe the hard-to-remove sticker on the blade) in South Africa. I assume African climates affect solid manufacturing. Cutting through jungles, killing lions and elephants or other mammoths, civil wars, cartel fights—all influence weapon improvement while minimizing costs. And those are indeed not high for this quality. After such intense tests, the blade didn't look its best, and initial washing in water showed that the unpainted parts started to rust—just spots on the surface, but quite numerous and concerning. Two chips and significant, though explainable, dulling were visible. However, importantly, thanks to its weight, the machete was still effective even after wear. After washing and sharpening, I tried to remove the rust with Brunox, but only cola proved truly effective. Final report: Cold Steel Bolo Machete (97BM) is a durable and effective tool, and very comfortable, although it requires thorough maintenance because the steel used is prone to rusting (which makes sense, as more flexible, less brittle material is needed). If someone finds use for an axe or a chainsaw at home, they won't turn up their nose at the machete either.