The bola is a primitive hunting tool that was originally used by the Chinese, Eskimos and South American Indians. Bolas are a throwing device made of weights that are attached to the ends of interconnected cords, designed to capture animals by entangling their legs. They are most famously used by the South American gauchos. Gauchos used bolas to capture running cattle or game.

For detailed information about bolas from different cultures, please visit the flight-toys bola web page.

This bola is a good example of a functional bola with braided leather cords. Each of the balls has a solid interior that is surrounded by a leather pouch. One of the balls is slightly smaller than the other two balls, as expected. The leather is soft and not of the type that is usually used for bola construction. This one was most likely made for the tourist industry. The cord is less robust (but still strong) and has a lighter weight than the others so it is probably the better choice if you feel the need to actual throw your bola instead of hanging it on the wall for display. Cord length = 50 -> 62 cm ; Ball diameters = 5.0 -> 6.0 cm ; Weight = 286 gm