Interesting SE Asia Blades

ddean

ddean

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
3,397
A gallery of SE Asia blades.

Lots of interesting items.

www.valiantco.com

Valiant Trading Company

Anyone know anything about this Australian company?
 
:eek: :D Gotta calm down. Wonder how there QC rates? Anyone ever order from down under? Is customs a problem shipping to the US?
 
I recently ordered the damascus Greek kopis - arrived about ten days after I placed order, very well packed and insured. A beautiful piece, shaving sharp. The damascus blade is quite soft, however, probably no more than 52RC, possibly less. This is consistent with other modern damascus blades of Asian manufacture (Hanwei, Windlass) in my experience, and contributes to the sharp edge. Definitely not intended for heavy use on objects not composed primarily of protein.
 
Thanks Berk. Guess I'm going to get a Talibon. What were these for anyhow? Kinda light weight lookin' IMHO. Looks like it would primarily be a weapon.
 
Depending who you ask some people will tell you talibon's were fighting weapons others will say farm tool. Also depending who you ask they come from differing places, some say visaya others say Zambales. Im more inclined to think Zambales, and farm tool. Real talibons have pretty beefy blades, and can do some serious work. However theyre pretty common to find at reasonable prices, and relatively newer pieces (50 year old or newer) seem to flood the market. Havent seen the real old ones (turn of the century) too often for sale though, doesnt seem like too many can really identify the old ones from the new (dont ask me how theres a way but there is).
 
Anyone know how good the heat treat is on their spring steel blades?
I like afew of their designs, but I'd want something more than a wall hanger.
 
Thanks Federico. I just ordered the Talibon S from there website. Hope it turns out OK.
 
Id love to hear how it turns out. Ironically as the country gets more mechanized the newer blades that Ive seen come out from PI (aka this year, etc...) have been far inferior to the older work bolos that came out of hand forges just a few years back. More and more of the old pandays are dying off, and their children are moving to the cities. I fear in a few years traditional knives will dissappear except the tourist junk that circulates.
 
The website says these are working tools. I figured I'd take a chance. I'll let you know how it rates when it gets here.
 
India-Windlass Steelcrafts damascus kard; Indonesia-Valiant Greek kopis; China-Paul Chen/Hanwei forge "Godfred" Viking sword replica.
 
great pic Berk. Gotta love that Kopis! I'm looking forward to getting a piece in hand. Just have come to be cautious when folks offer alot of knife for little money. I'm sure everything will be great.
 
Fed, the same thing is happening in Nepal and all over the world for that matter. As I have predicted, in 100 years finding anything handmade is going to very tough and prices for such items I think will be prohibitively high. I view anything handmade as a very sound long term investment for grandkids and greatgrandkids.

"Aren't we lucky! Great grandfather Fed was a collector of these crazy things and now look what they're worth!"

There's worse ways to be remembered.
 
Traditional handcrafts are pretty unique. No school or academy, just accumulated knowledge and skill handed down from master to apprentice, father to son. These days, even in the poorer counteries not many people are willing to carry on the traditions.

Here in Malaysia we have been making the kris for several hundred years but there are very few genuine kris makers left. As the country grows more industrialized, kids wanna be doctors, accountants, and computer programmers. Nothing wrong with that, but its sad to see traditions die out.

If I am not mistaken, the formation of the ABS in the US was mostly due to the determination of a handful of bladesmiths who did not want to see their craft die out.

Andrew Limsk
 
It's the little one man village shop that's disappearing -- same story in any third world or semi-third world country. And the kids go to Kathmandu, Manila, or Bangkok to get rich.

Let's face it, pounding hot steel all day is not the most attractive occupation.
 
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