New Condor Parang

[AF]

The video was removed?

 

[Joezilla]

Yep, using the footage for a better review with more chopping.

 

[AF]

Any word on when the Kumunga will hit dealers?

 

[Joezilla]

I'll hopefully be taking out the Parang for more chopping in the next few days. It was really well received at PWYP (camping event) where people just could not put it down.
PM me for Kumunga stuff

 

[OrangeJoe]

Handled & chopped with one at PWYP - I will be getting one.

At first I said it looked too thin also. Tim & Joe pointed at a pile of wood & said have at it. It chopped through stuff a little easier than my Condor Golok & just as well as my Condor Puerto Rican machete. What was nice is that I felt no hand fatigue with the handle design.

I don't think Tim & Joe chopped any of their firewood the whole time?

Link?

 

[mohd]

What do you all think of this? They've started making some pretty cool stuff.

This is what Malaysian called as Parang lading.

... the Parang and Golok, similarly shaped, are both made from 1/4" steel ...

Yes, the thickness of the spine is about 1/4" at the ricasso and distal tapered up to about 1/8" near to the tip. The ricasso is thick but narrow (i.e. up to about 3/4") while the tip is thin but wide (i.e. up to about 2 1/4").

Personally, I think it should have been made shorter.

Yeah, the blade is narrow towards the base but at 1/4" thick I really doubt you'd have a problem. It's a nice design.

Practically agreed with you AF. I've been using it in my village when I was a teen. Actually there are 3 types of length for Parang Lading which is the short one called as Parang Lading Pendek (i.e. about 13" - 15" OAL), the medium one called as Parang Lading Tanggung (i.e. about 18" - 23" OAL), and the long one called as Parang Lading Panjang (i.e. about 25" - 30" OAL). Each length is meant for different functions. The long one is meant for cutting lalang (i.e. long grass) and weed. The medium one is meant for cutting short grass and small trees (i.e. up to 4" diameter). While the short one is more meant for household and gardening works.

A parang lading... very interesting. I'm a fan of the shape, and I'd bet this condor would make a good beater.

Hi Graves, I'm sure we've already discussed this Parang Lading subject in the other forums

In terms of definitions and cultural contexts, here in the Philippines (not sure about Malaysia and Indonesia, though the term does come from them), words for bladeware and cutlery sometimes get interchanged or vary from region to region, loosely speaking, gulok is usually a catch-all term for a long-ish blade used for a lot of tasks.

Hi Untamed, nice to have a SEA pal here The word Golok and Parang are used widely in SEA since few centuries ago. Slight variation in shape and detail characteristics of Golok and Parang from region to region do exist. Even the naming convention got mixed up here and there.

This is called as Parang Lading Tanggung in Peninsular Malaysia. Anyhow it is called as Parang Candung in East Malaysia (i.e. Sarawak). And it is called as Parang Bandul in Indonesia (i.e. Java).

This is also called according to the above terminologies.

This and this are called as Parang Lading Pendek in Peninsular Malaysia. It is called as Duku Candung in East Malaysia (i.e. Sarawak). In Indonesia especially in Java it is called as Parang Bandul.

If I'm not mistaken, that more squat pattern is called a parang candung. I'm just parroting info a forumite posted elsewhere.

You have a good memory Graves :thumbup:

And that pic of one on a sundial reminds me of a photo W. Kroncke posted once... I wonder if it might even be his? Maybe he'll find this thread and chime in.

It sure is That's a very nice looking Parang Lading Tanggung, Graves :thumbup:

SE Asian parang are typically thicker than western machetes. That narrow portion leading to the hilt serves as an extended grip for fine work (versatility is apparently an asset for jungle tools in the culture). It also puts more of the existing weight of the thing towards the end for better chopping power per ounce. At least, that's my non-expert appraisal. I'm simply a fan of these blades, not a scholar.

I'm a user Graves! So I would like to confirm that you're correct about it!

Saw a youtube clip of a fellow using one to hack open a tree to extract some kind of edible pith from the center... it was impressive watching him go, like a cross between a lumberjack and a surgeon.

Anyhow I've confirmed with the friend who upload that clip that it is actually a Parang Ilang of the Dayak tribe (i.e. Penan) in East Malaysia (i.e. Sarawak). And Parang Ilang looks just like a Parang Lading Tanggung IMVHO all this people in SEA might shared the design of Parang Lading and started customizing it to suit the needs of their works in their own surrounding. Then the design in each place started to change as enhancement over the time and they started calling it with different names. Now there are wide variations with different names for these blades which might started from one.

I've similar type of Machete....its cheap.... not so hard steel....but very good in the Jungle. Very good in chopping... harder steel always chipped off when chopping a harder wood.

Hi Azamie, nice to have a fellow Malaysian here Most jungle purpose Parang and Golok are made from spring steel (i.e. 5160 I think) and it's hardened to about 56 to 58 HRC (i.e. IMVHO) by blade smithing experience judging from color of forged steel. I found out that the bladesmiths in Malaysia are using the full hardening and zone hardening as well depending on the purpose of the blade. The jungle purpose blades are normally zone hardened while those blades used for household and farming are normally full hardened.

I just received my Parang Lading Tanggung made of San Mai Damascus from Indonesia on 4/30/10. It's 22 1/2" OAL, 6" handle, 16 1/2" blade, 1 1/4" width at ricasso, 2" width near to the tip, 5/16" thick at ricasso and 1/8" near to the tip. Unluckily I never have a digital camera Anyhow I'll try to get shots of it maybe next week so that I could post them in here .. hope I could do it sooner .. I'm really a forgetful old timer

mohd.

 

[C.S. Graves]

Hi Graves, I'm sure we've already discussed this Parang Lading subject in the other forums

And how! :thumbup:

Anyhow I've confirmed with the friend who upload that clip that it is actually a Parang Ilang of the Dayak tribe (i.e. Penan) in East Malaysia (i.e. Sarawak). And Parang Ilang looks just like a Parang Lading Tanggung IMVHO all this people in SEA might shared the design of Parang Lading and started customizing it to suit the needs of their works in their own surrounding. Then the design in each place started to change as enhancement over the time and they started calling it with different names. Now there are wide variations with different names for these blades which might started from one.

Ahh, many regional names for minor variations on a basic pattern. Certainly a source of confusion for the casual outsider!

 

[Halfneck]

Link?

http://www.condortk.com/productsdetail.php?prodid=811

There you go.

 

[topher]

Great thread. I'm a huge fan of the Parang Lading. I first saw a picture of one from a review of a Valiant Co. Parang, and fell in love with it. Ended up picking up one, and it lives up to every expectation I had:

Love that thing. ;-)

I'm really tempted to pick up one of those Condor's to add to the collection now.

 

[C.S. Graves]

Great thread. I'm a huge fan of the Parang Lading. I first saw a picture of one from a review of a Valiant Co. Parang, and fell in love with it. Ended up picking up one, and it lives up to every expectation I had:

I love mine too, but admittedly I baby it and pretty much just have it for bein' such a looker... I beat on my Valiant SGL instead.

 

[mohd]

I just received my Parang Lading Tanggung made of San Mai Damascus from Indonesia on 4/30/10. It's 22 1/2" OAL, 6" handle, 16 1/2" blade, 1 1/4" width at ricasso, 2" width near to the tip, 5/16" thick at ricasso and 1/8" near to the tip. Unluckily I never have a digital camera Anyhow I'll try to get shots of it maybe next week so that I could post them in here .. hope I could do it sooner .. I'm really a forgetful old timer

Here is the picture of my newly received Parang Lading:

The core of the blade is made from chainsaw bar while the sandwiching damascus is made from various steels including saw steel.

It feels real solid in hand :thumbup:

mohd.

 

[C.S. Graves]

Here is the picture of my newly received Parang Lading:

That's a beaut, Mohd! Who'd you get it from?

Apologies to all for the thread drift.

 

[rainforest]

^ Yep. A machete with a parang flavor. You can definitely see the influence -

That last one is very similar to what Ray Mears uses in a lot in his shows.

In terms of definitions and cultural contexts, here in the Philippines (not sure about Malaysia and Indonesia, though the term does come from them), words for bladeware and cutlery sometimes get interchanged or vary from region to region, loosely speaking, gulok is usually a catch-all term for a long-ish blade used for a lot of tasks.

the third parang picture taken from my site at http://rainforestoutdoor.blogspot.com . I bought one at Tamu Kota Belud Market, Sabah during my expedition to Mount Tambuyukon Sabah Malaysia in November 2010. very good and sharp parang indeed for camping and outdoor activities...

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Apologies to all for the thread drift.

This isn't thread drift. It's thread expansion. These are some of the most beautiful blades I've seen in a while.

 

[naturalist]

Here is the picture of my newly received Parang Lading:

The core of the blade is made from chainsaw bar while the sandwiching damascus is made from various steels including saw steel.

It feels real solid in hand :thumbup:

mohd.

Hi Pak Mohd, finally this beautiful blade fits in your arm..
Just realized that you remove the "patina"..

 

[mohd]

That's a beaut, Mohd! Who'd you get it from?

Thanks Draves for appreciating Mang Ako's Parang Lading. And yes, this Parang Lading was made by Mang Ako, a knife maker from Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. I commissioned him this Parang Lading through Anton aka Naturalist.

Hi Pak Mohd, finally this beautiful blade fits in your arm..
Just realized that you remove the "patina"..

Hi Anton, Mang Ako makes great parang indeed. Regarding the patina, actually I'm trying to make the san mai damascus pattern to appear in a more uniform manner along the blade. Anyhow it end up with the removal of the patina

How's your 27cm blade length golok made by Mang Ako?

mohd.

 

[C.S. Graves]

These are some of the most beautiful blades I've seen in a while.

On a blade-oriented forum, that's saying a lot... and I must agree. :thumbup:

Thanks Draves for appreciating Mang Ako's Parang Lading. And yes, this Parang Lading was made by Mang Ako, a knife maker from Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. I commissioned him this Parang Lading through Anton aka Naturalist.

My hat's off to Mang Ako then! Keep us posted with your efforts to increase the contrast in the pamor/patina.

I seem to recall there were a few different terms for such blades where a core of steel is sandwiched between the pattern welded steel, depending on the size of the core and the exact configuration of the layers... something-something-pamor, that's all I can remember.

 

[spyken]

nice parang, Mohd

 

[woodsroamer]

Visit Southeast Asia and you'll see so many variations in what people call a "parang" that you'll understand there is no one specific design, only a specific ergonomic engineering concept. That concept is the sweeping or lowering of the blade edge angle in relation to the handle which is usually at from 35 degrees to 40 degrees angled upward in relation to the angle of the blade. Hope that made sense. The blade thickness is usually from 4mm to 5mm thickness or about 1/4 inch. As far as the width of the blade is concerned there is great variation. Some parangs I've seen are only about 1.5 inches wide at the tip while others are nearly 2.0 inches wide at the tip. The point of entry into the handle is usually not very wide in order that the user can easily grip the blade for close-in work. Most blades are convexed edged but others have a near Scandi grind near the handle section allowing fine woodworking tasks. A ricasso of about 2 inches might be present, sometimes a bit longer or a bit shorter. These, like all machetes (a parang is a form of machete)...these are serious bushcraft and working tools. Often these are the only blades a man will own. In Latin America I've seen men use machetes for everything from clearing brush and making brechas (long trails) to building furniture to making bows and arrows to chopping heads off in a brawl. Once I saw an old man walking down a mountain road carrying a machete with about a 30 inch blade. He was old but gave us a look of "don't mess with me, boys" and guess what: We kept our distance.

 

[untamed]

Hi Untamed, nice to have a SEA pal here The word Golok and Parang are used widely in SEA since few centuries ago. Slight variation in shape and detail characteristics of Golok and Parang from region to region do exist. Even the naming convention got mixed up here and there.

Damn! Only saw this now! Salamat Mohd for the additional insights. Yep, bladeware names do tend to vary from region to region.

LOL! You guys also use the word "mang" as term of respect for older men? Come to Bladeforums and learn something new everyday!

Visit Southeast Asia and you'll see so many variations in what people call a "parang" that you'll understand there is no one specific design, only a specific ergonomic engineering concept. That concept is the sweeping or lowering of the blade edge angle in relation to the handle which is usually at from 35 degrees to 40 degrees angled upward in relation to the angle of the blade. Hope that made sense.

Thank you for your thoughts as well :thumbup: