Bolo Use

[Transport]

Ahoy!

Gentlemen, I was wondering if anyone could fill in the blank spots for me on the use of the M1910/M1917 Bolo knife. Who exactly was it issued to and in what quantities did it see service on the Western Front?

Then does anyone know if those metal scabbards made it to France and who used those?

As always thanks in advance.

Chuck

[oskar2ndchev]

I'll have to do some digging but going on memory here, I believe these were only issued to machine gun crews. At least that's how it was in the prewar Army. I'll see what I can find out.

[Transport]

Adam:

Thanks, there are darn few photos that I have seen bolo's on chaps, other than page 29 of the Osprey book- Over There! The American Soldier in WW1.

I knew MG crews had them but what about other units like regular Infantry, etc.

thanks in advance

Chuck

[CRMichaelis]

Chuck,

First off, thanks for the posts! Your enthusiasm is refreshing!

Regarding bolos, according to Hayes Otoupalik et al in The World War I Collectors' Handbook equipment was issued as follows:

For each squad:
1 Pick Mattock - #1 rear rank
3 Shovels - #1, 2, and 3, front rank
1 Wire Cutter - #2, rear rank
1 Bolo - #3, rear rank of each odd numbered squad of company
1 Hand Axe, #3, rear rank of each even numbered squad of company

Number 4 front rank was the corporal, and I've read elsewhere that they carried wire cutters and the squad cleaning rod. I will try to find the details in one of my manuals to confirm. Doesn't seem right that #4, rear rank is slacking off!

I have never seen a photo of a Doughboy with a metal scabbard so would assume (along with the fact that they keep finding unopened crates of unissued metal scabbards) that for the most part cloth-covered scabbards were used war-time.

For any Doughboys or those interesed in things WWI - US I would highly recommend the World War I Collectors' Handbook by Paul Schultz, Hayes Otoupalik and Dennis Gordon. This was literally the first book I got on WWI and the copy I have is completely dog-eared from use. It costs $20 and is well worth it. If anyone is interested PM me. These are the same guys that publish The Doughboy Journal quarterly, and I highly recommend subscribing to this as well.

Hope this helps and looking forward to meeting you in the trenches (your trenches, of course!!).

[Transport]

Rudolf:

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated!

I agree, that with all the metal scabbards being located in NOS condition this would indicate that perhaps they may have been planned to be used in the Spring 1919 campaign. However since none made it to France that explains why there are alot of them around.

I would be interested in any subscribing info you might have on the Doughboy Journal.

Take care and thanks again.

Chuck

[oskar2ndchev]

Rudolf beat me to it but I'd vaguely remembered that bolos were issued as part of the squad. Just wasn't sure where I'd seen that.