Filipino Bush Knives

[bearthedog]

A few months ago I was visiting the Philippines hiking, hunting for bolos, and doing some photography. As my sights were set on big choppers, I wasn’t expecting to find these very able small fixed blades. In some regions (Visayas region), knives of this size are called Slamingkos with a 5-7 inch-long blade that serves as an all around fishing/bush knife. It was explained to me that it’s also used as a pig sticker and a table knife. I just wanted to share a few of these hand forged bush knives with you guys.

This is how they started out. Old leaf springs, most likely 5160 steel.

The final product

A bush knife from the mountains of Banaue near the rice terraces.

With wooden sheath

This is what I look like melting in 42C

This is from a little further down south in the Visayas region, Bohol to be exact.
A pretty rough looking blade that cuts like a scalpel. Also with a convex edge.

 

[hiwa]

Thanks for the great pics :thumbup:
I've been to the Philippines twice ( got married there,my wife's Filipino)
Those guys sure know how to make homemade blades...and use them. I'm gonna go back there next year , and hope to bring some knives back with me.

My sig name hiwa is Filipino for " slice ".

 

[bearthedog]

Thanks for the great pics :thumbup:
I've been to the Philippines twice ( got married there,my wife's Filipino)
Those guys sure know how to make homemade blades...and use them. I'm gonna go back there next year , and hope to bring some knives back with me.

My sig name hiwa is Filipino for " slice ".

Nice! been there two time myself. Did you go up Taal Volcanoe in Tagaytay?
I will be there agin in March. Going down to Batangas to do a story on the Balisong.

-RB

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

That's cool. Thanks for posting

 

[hiwa]

I was way up north in Luzon ,in the Cagayan valley where my wife's village is. About 700km. North of Manila , near Tuguegarao.

I usually give some knives away when I'm there ,but want to bring some back next time ,especially bolos. Water buffalo horn makes great handles !

It was 45 c. on my wedding day. That place really cooks.

 

[bearthedog]

Dude used these stones for the convex

 

[bearthedog]

I was way up north in Luzon ,in the Cagayan valley where my wife's village is. About 700km. North of Manila , near Tuguegarao.

I usually give some knives away when I'm there ,but want to bring some back next time ,especially bolos. Water buffalo horn makes great handles !

It was 45 c. on my wedding day. That place really cooks.

Luzon got some of that hurricane a few days ago.

I bout a great buffalo horn handle and left in a trike in Tagbilaran (Bohol). That was the last I saw of it.

-RB

 

[brokeassp]

nice got more pics? I am filipino but never been back since I was 13 lol!

 

[solocanoe]

very nice pics!
Always cool to own many knives for different purposes....

but really, as you stated, a good blade in the 5-7inch range will really do just about everything in life from opening the mail and cutting the veggies...to building a shelter and cleaning fish and game.

 

[MikePerrin]

Excellent thread and photos but....where's the girl?

 

[TheGame]

I really like the look on those smaller blades. Very cool. Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:

 

[myowngod]

Awesome pics... I'm with Mike though... my ex is filipina.. good lord... that is all I'm saying on the subject.

 

[Colt6731]

I love Filipino blades, of course being a FMA guy makes me a little biased. It always surprises me how these crude hand made blades move so fast and cut so well.

 

[hooahmonster]

I was in some of the same areas last year when I was in the Philippines (fiancee is from there).

The Pinatubo area is great also. Definitley a must see if you haven't already.

Didn't get to see any of the local blades, I'll have to see about that next year when we go. Her brother is in the Philippine Air Force and I'm thinking of dropping him an ESEE as a gift - maybe start a trend - the SOG Powerlock I gave him just about made him a rockstar.

 

[bearthedog]

Awesome pics... I'm with Mike though... my ex is filipina.. good lord... that is all I'm saying on the subject.

I hear you man! If Mike only knew.

I love Filipino blades, of course being a FMA guy makes me a little biased. It always surprises me who these crude hand made blades move so fast and cut so well.

These small bushy blades were tucked into peoples wais bands. If I didn't mention it before, I meant to. These knives are super sharp. Think David Farmer sharp and then you get an idea. For looking so rough, the convex is dead on.

I was in some of the same areas last year when I was in the Philippines (fiancee is from there).

The Pinatubo area is great also. Definitley a must see if you haven't already.

Didn't get to see any of the local blades, I'll have to see about that next year when we go. Her brother is in the Philippine Air Force and I'm thinking of dropping him an ESEE as a gift - maybe start a trend - the SOG Powerlock I gave him just about made him a rockstar.

Where is located? Is it Clark? I am going to do some jungle survival up in Clark next time I am there. Maybe March.

Excellent thread and photos but....where's the girl?

I am trying to stay out of trouble here. Mike one of those big Golok looking blades was for you. I never left them with Jeff because we all know how crooked he is.

nice got more pics? I am filipino but never been back since I was 13 lol!

Where from? I've seen so much of that country I could live there. I met so many guys from Europe and the US there. I met this super-cute girl who is from Scotland. She married a Filipino and talks like Shrek!

 

[333rm]

Great thread! My grandpa was born in Bohol, but I've never had a chance to fly over there and check it out. They really make some great blades there, a lot of times out of leaf springs.

 

[bearthedog]

Size comparison.