Anyone know anything about this outfit?

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
Messages
15,395
I found this website while looking for a Filipino Barong. They look like they've got some decent bladed weapons.
They claim their Japanese Swords have 60 Rc edges with a 40 Rc back. Seems their Barongs are made in the Phillipines and wondering how they are. I emailed them for the specs.
With everyone's interest here in many different blade styles I thought y'all would at least like to look the website over.:D

Edit:
Here's a pic of one of their Barongs. http://www.mantisswords.com/barong5.jpg
 
Yvsa- I remember looking at this site long ago. Might want to ask in the sword forum here, or over at swordforum.com - lots of good info there.

That's a nice looking barong!
 
From what I have gathered over the years, they have a very good reputation. Never heard anyone say anything negative about their swords. No personal experience just anectdotal. I am considering buying a sword from them though.
 
You might try a serch at sword forums. I have seen them dicussed there.
Terry
 
I got caught over at sword forums. they say their Paul Chen/Hanwei katanas are good and often low priced (sometimes not). Folded steel ones are the best.
Their reputation is very good.
 
Actually, I'm very familiar with both.

I've done business with Mantis Swords and I have to say that I will never do business with them again.

A few years back I bought a cleaning kit and stands for my nihonto. The stands were advertised as real wood,but turned out to be particle board and plastic. The "uchiko" in the cleaning kit wasn't real uchiko, it was actually talcom powder.

Then things went downhill. They started spamming me with constant e-mails which to this day, I can't get off their list. Later on they started selling "antique nihonto" on their site. In reality these blades are poorly made chinese fakes.


As for the barong, these blades are manufactured in the Philippines and distributed by Cas Iberia.

http://www.casiberia.com/cas_website/catalog.asp

It just so happens that my Sifu, Rick Tucci is their consultant for this blade line.

http://www.casiberia.com/cas_website/product_details.asp?id=SR509

www.pamausa.com

They are very good training blades and are in fact hand made. They are not very robust though (1/8) and are designed as weapons, not utility work. The balance on them is great and they are very, very fast and lively in the hand.

The fittings and sheathe are a little rough though. If you get one, the first thing you'll want to do is remove the nails they have holding the leather belt loop to the sheathe. The nails sometimes poke through and scratch the blade in the scabbard.
 
If I were to buy a sword in this shape, and approximate length, I would buy a Celtic leaf shaped sword with an edge on both sides. Tho' some may not want a 20" blade, i think it's the perfect length and served the Celts and Roman legions quite well.

http://www.kriscutlery.com/Kris/medieval/celtic.html

And if your have your heart set on a barong, Kris Cutlery makes one for about the same price and have a, generally, good reputation.

http://www.kriscutlery.com/Kris/philippine/com_barong.html

Have fun!!

John in Boise who really wants this one: http://www.kriscutlery.com/Kris/chinese/darndao.html
 
The CAS-PI stuff may be OK now. The one I got maybe 5-6 years back was so poorly made it was heartbreaking.

The Marto swords were a gigantic step up even if they are stainless and only good for decorator use. Then I found MRI, which was at least tempered if not super quality. Then DelTin was the ultimate at the time for me, and well tempered though they are stock removal and not forged.

The HI stuff was what I really wanted all along. It's got the heart and soul for real use. It may not have the finish of the DelTin, nor be up to japanese standards, but it won't fall apart in real use. I've an Everest Katana, I had an HI Tarwar I traded off ( wouldn't mind another, though ).

I have 3 small Tibetan swords, and don't rule out buying another to get a truly matched pair. Do you need to ask which is my favorite?
 
With the recent Kohei pic thread, I was really afraid to open a thread where Yvsa asks about an outfit.... :barf: :D
 
I dunno, personally for the price, if you paid a little more you could probably find a decent real barong. Check out www.eriksedge.com I think he still has a couple of old ones at an affordable price.
 
They are real barongs...

Yes, you can get an antique piece for just a little bit more. Then you run the risk of damaging an antique or having it come apart on you.
 
Check out TherionArms...

Only one barong, but they've added "fitness models"!

thumb_therionarms_c470_model.jpg


Cheesecake, or just cheesy??
 
Cabbit they are replicas, but real barongs they are not. They are not made by traditional methods, nor do they follow the traditional motifs, nor are they meant for traditonal use.

They still make real barong in Sulu, and one can still find them here and there. Cecil Quirino of Kris Cutlery used to bring back real kris and barong from Sulu somewhat regularly in his Sandata catalog.

As for antiques falling apart, having dealt with quite a few antique barongs and other knives, they are not as fragile as you may think. Particularly ones bought from a reputable dealer. Ive known and dealt with Erik for about 5 years now. Besides being a dealer, he also is a martial artist, and would definitely know and disclose if a piece was on the verge of falling apart. And again, not all real barong are antique.
 
Thanks guys. I do want a "real" Barong and not something made by modern makers. I would prefer a barong made from a Willys Jeep spring back in the deep bush but I don't have that knid of money unless I just happened to run onto a good deal. Besides if the handle was going I know I can count on Fed to make me a new one that will be good for a hundred years!:D
 
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