The South-Indian Aruval(billhook)

G

goondasmani

Joined
Feb 25, 2015
Messages
50
Being south Indian having seen knives and tools to clear vegetation and such, "Aruval" a billhook famous in south-India mainly from Tamilnadu where i live made me to post this. I see more bush crafters and survival fellows keen on knives,machetes,kukris and such. Aruval is age old survival/bush craft/feld working knife. Aruval translates to ARU-cut val-sword.
wikki link-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruval
Tamil nadu aruval specialty is of its shape and curve more adapted to multitasking (if u know how to use) from bush clearing,chopping coconuts,slaughtering(both man and animal),etc
cutting coconuts
DSC_9247-1024x685.jpg

DSC_9253-1024x685.jpg

[video=youtube;z3HJbPqthKU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3HJbPqthKU[/video]
thanks for the video the amazing garden

the aruval can vary from size and shapes a typical south Indian one is this and medium size for all tasks

a large one called "veech aruvaal" large is size used in battle and for self defence
file.php

file.php

file.php

thanks mani for pics
10724659_1498735937041869_121484057_n.jpg

file.php

8b7b717d76c80378fb93d87acbfe2401.jpg

1600998_622496674452068_1975114321_n.jpg

Aruval and knife used for defence in a farm

The greatest King of Tamil nadu RAJA RAJA CHOLA armoury aruval
more to come
 
Who would a mess with this guy or this woman ? This takes self defense to a whole other level, isn't it ? Jokes aside, this billhook was my "go to" and "one and only" tool during my years on the road and in the sticks. I had a pocket knife (Opinel or Laguiole), of course, but the "day in, day out work" was all done with this ole' buddy. And he's done it all... That's why I have a sort of liking to the billhook, although I'm a straight blade lover, basically.

 
Nice ones.
In Kerala they have them too at least the medium size ones but made in China!
I'm glad to see that in Tamilnadu they still have originals from India.

I'm interested in Indian blades though they are nearly impossible to find in the Internet. The ones I can find are either made from milled steel or some soft folded steel.
Even travelling through India for weeks every year I have seen only one blacksmith so far and he didn't even make knives.

Would you know how to come by some authentic and useful blades? Even if they don't export I could simply pick them up at an address in UP in July.
 
jens the one i am mentioned is made in Tamilnadu as they are making from time of kings "thirupachethi" a place in Tamilnadu due to heavey negative impact of aruval even possession of one could lead to arrest hence authentic one are not made for everyone. you can buy fairly made one in kerala and other states too. they are made from spring steel so they are chea. the authentic ones are made from crucible "wootz" and railway irons. i am away from home town so i cant buy you one if time allows i will be in home town in july if so i wil get you one.
 
goondasmani said:
jens the one i am mentioned is made in Tamilnadu as they are making from time of kings "thirupachethi" a place in Tamilnadu due to heavey negative impact of aruval even possession of one could lead to arrest hence authentic one are not made for everyone. you can buy fairly made one in kerala and other states too. they are made from spring steel so they are chea. the authentic ones are made from crucible "wootz" and railway irons. i am away from home town so i cant buy you one if time allows i will be in home town in july if so i wil get you one.
Click to expand...

That's super kind of you to offer that.
I just don't want you to get in trouble over it. I wasn't aware that even posession can be punishable.
An address might be safer and then I could ask my sisters in law's husband to swing by the blade smith and see what he can get, preferably within the limits of the law :-)

If there are any blades you like from the North, especially UP, Lucknow and you know of a good bladesmith there then I can get some for you and myself :-p in July and sent them to your place in India.
 
goondasmani said:
Being south Indian having seen knives and tools to clear vegetation and such, "Aruval" a billhook famous in south-India mainly from Tamilnadu where i live made me to post this. I see more bush crafters and survival fellows keen on knives,machetes,kukris and such. Aruval is age old survival/bush craft/feld working knife. Aruval translates to ARU-cut val-sword.
wikki link-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruval
Tamil nadu aruval specialty is of its shape and curve more adapted to multitasking (if u know how to use) from bush clearing,chopping coconuts,slaughtering(both man and animal),etc
cutting coconuts

thanks for the video the amazing garden

the aruval can vary from size and shapes a typical south Indian one is this and medium size for all tasks

a large one called "veech aruvaal" large is size used in battle and for self defence

thanks mani for pics
Click to expand...

Interesting , here we called this ..... SOR..... some of them have from back side something like small hammer .Very versatile tool and I like them more then machete :thumbup:
 
my bad been busy jens if u come to India in july and if u have time please visit Tamil nadu and pm me im in chennai you can buy one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top