SOLD | USD 2,300.00
*International Shipping: USD 80.00
Blade: Damasteel
Thumb Stud: Gold Mother of Pearl
Pivot: Damasteel, Gold Mother of Pearl, Hex Petal Pivot
Pocket Clip: Damasteel
Frame: Blackened Titanium
SOLD | USD 1,800.00
*International Shipping: USD 80.00
Blade: CPM 154 High Carbon Stainless Steel
Thumb Stud: Titanium
Pivot: Titanium-Damascus, White Mother of Pearl, Hex Petal Pivot
Pocket Clip: Titanium Damascus
Backspacer: Titanium Damascus
Frame: Blackened Titanium
In the midst of constant technological advancement and streamlined processes, tradition often takes a backseat. Filipino bolos, once staples in households and daily happenings are being replaced by mass-produced gadgets attempting to serve the function of one. It’s ironic how, in a world obsessed with efficiency, we’ve ended up with a clutter of tools to do what a single bolo once did. And so, the bolo finds its way into the peripheral of our lives, silent in its place yet loud in all the ways we crave archipelagic design.
Despite this, I believe the bolo deserves a place in our lives. The bolo still finds its way into the corners of everyday life.
I noticed this happening and began to wonder how I could grow even a sliver of the bolo’s original significance. That question led me to the Ani 3.2, a framelock folding knife I had been quietly developing. The idea to create a compact folder that carried the form and soul of the bolo blade started to take shape.
The Ani 3.2 was already designed with a framelock mechanism—using the frame itself to secure the blade, deployed with a simple push of the thumb. That mechanical simplicity felt right; it echoed the practical ingenuity of the bolo. The wide edge offered by the bolo’s S-curve, paired with the straightforward structure of a framelock, gave me the space to really play with materials. I couldn’t decide on just one approach, so I didn’t. I made two. A twin set, each a counterpart to the other.
I settled on high-carbon stainless steel with Titanium-Damascus for one, and Damasteel for the other. To tie the set together, I incorporated the finest accents of mother of pearl.
The first knife plays with color, like the iridescence of oyster shells catching the sun. Deep purples and bright yellows shift with the light, all thanks to a blend of titanium and zirconium known as Titanium Damascus. These two elements sit side-by-side on the periodic table, sharing similar physical properties but producing dramatic color differences when treated properly.
To ground the color, I used CPM 154, a high-carbon stainless steel favored by bladesmiths for its toughness, edge retention, and clean polish. I especially like how it looks aesthetically, tying into the Titanium Damascus. At the pivot, a white mother of pearl collar brings it all together with a quiet elegance.
To balance the pair, I kept the second blade in monochrome. When closed, the knife looks deceptively simple, until you spot the subtle detail of the Damasteel peeking from the pocket clip. This particular Damascus made in Sweden was forged using two high-carbon stainless steels that reveal their differences after an acid bath.
What begins as a subtle pattern blooms into a bold, graphic mosaic against a matte titanium frame. For a final touch, I added gold mother of pearl at the pivot. It adds just enough warmth to give the piece a quiet sense of regality.
As someone who deeply values local materials, this set is a personal favorite. It brings together heritage and innovation in a way that feels honest and genuine. Through this knife, I wanted to bring the spirit of the bolo into a new context: another realm of tools. It’s a nice meeting point really; both blades were made for everyday use: the bolo in daily life, the pocket knife as a modern companion. And now in the Ani 3.2, Filipino ingenuity continues on.