other unique regional blades?

verax

verax

Joined
Apr 23, 2003
Messages
135
So now that I have discovered Khukuri's, I started looking around for other "regional blades". I guess that is the right way to describe it. Other blades that have evolved over the years by a society of people, that most others don't know about. (the blades that is)

I have stumbled accross the golok (have one on order now), which seems to be a similar story as the khuk. (e.i. a blade built by a society of people for specific need)

What else is out there. Anyone have any interesting, highly usefull, etc. blades styles out there? My thirst for knowledge keeps growing the more I learn. :D

God help me, I'm addicted to blades now! :eek:

thanks.

Verax
 
If you believe the mumbo jumbo about khukris having spirits you might start looking around for kris daggers. Infinite variations. Not too out of price range for some originals either. Federico ? Broken Arrow? Cecil Quirino at Kris Cutlery is a decent place to start.

PS: I don't believe in that mumbo jumbo. I know some blades have spirits beyond any doubt.
 
...and at a tempting price.

Valiant goes under every 6 months or so...kinda unstable. People who order their stuff really like it, and it's fairly well made. The shipping is slow and expensive, but we're used to that here.
 
Yes - "ethnic" blades, "regional" blades, "native" blades or whatever you call them - all have their own life-blood of creation. That's what makes them special.

Be sure to check out a Puukko or a Leukko. Both excellent Nordic knives - time tested design.

Brazil has a socorabana - N2S sold his before I could get my hands on it. :grumpy:

"Golok" is an even more generic word than "Bowie" and has come to mean nearly everything from a cleaver-type blade to a long thin sword.

Also check out a Parang and a Jambiya.

I'll post more - as I remember them.

Dan
 
This is not good... There are a ton of fascinating blades there...

bye bye paycheck. :(

Verax
 
I don't know about soul in blades or anything, but a truly handcrafted blade, made in the tradition of the makers ancestors, just feels right. As if it were made to use.

Well, looks like I am off to learn again.

Thanks for the tips =)

Verax
 
On the subject of N2S...sure wish he'd update us on this guy's knives:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207540

whew!...took awhile to find that thread!

Pic:

attachment.php
 
Thanks for sharing Ruel.

One question for you; do the blades seem like users or collector pieces. From thier site they look mainly as though they are gearing to mantle pieces. Have you ever tried any of your stuff in the field?

Thanks.

Verax
 
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I can't be absolutely sure of the origin; but, more then likely its American as in U.S of A. Probably a Navy or merchant marine midshipman's dirk dating to the mid or early 19th century.

Pen,
The Chammoro knives are still made on Guam, but they are very expensive. The smallers ones in that picture sell for around $250, while the larger examples run at $4-500.

n2s
 
verax,

Some folks that posted in the Wilderness and Survival Skills forum (under Tactics and Training) put some of these blades through a lot and seemed very impressed. Search there for Valiant or Suwandi (the owner) and you should find lots of information, including links to some other forums where there is considerable discusion of how some of the models fared in real use (on large and medium size plants, not people).
 
Reading now, after reading some of Cliff Stamp's posts, I actually just placed an order for a golok from Valiant. I figure I can't go to wrong for $40. ;)

Time to do some reading!

Verax
 
Verax, if you want to fill your house full of wierd looking metal, buy a copy of: A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and use of Arms and Armor in all Countries and in all Times by George Cameron Stone

Then you can just figure out how you can buy one of each, and where youll store all of it.:eek: :confused: :D
 
thanks federico, I'll check it out! =)

Pend - I wanted a Survival Golok, and the only one they have in stock until July is the small one. I figure it is a good blade to test, then I can see if I want more when others come in. They have a ton of interesting blades on that site. I'm gonna be a poor man by the end of this thing. (or is there ever really and end...) Basically I'm screwed. ;)

Verax
 
Verax,

They night before I got the VC "Kukri" and Klewang Timor, a storm knocked off some large tree limbs at a nearby park, which provided several branches of different sizes to cut. Needless to say, the temptation was irresistible. I'm glad to say that both proved excellent choppers, much better than I'd expected. I was originally concerned about the horn hilts cracking, but they turned out to be well cured and suffered no ill effects. I'm sure a major reason for their strength was the thickness of the spines, which were about 1/4" for most of their lengths.

I haven't done any heavy cutting with the damascus blades yet; I'm just waiting for the next big storm... ;)
 
Wow...that is a broad subject. almost every culture at one time or another has a style or many styles that were their unique take on the old favorites. For instance, axes are differetn the world round, with Tomahawks and Franciscas being very culture/location specific.

In knnives, the American Bowie or Saxon Seax perform the same functions, but were specific to a region or time period.

The Polynesians and Samoans worked in wood, bone, and coral, so there are some interesting wooden sword/clubs out there, many varieties.

The Chinese made a whole bunch of wushu weapons that varied accordinng to the practitioner's personal styles and build. The Gim and the Dao are the most commonly seen Chinese sword variants.

The Dirk is the Scotsmans Seax or Bowie, and often comes with a small knife and/or fork set, kinda like the khuk tools.

The shillelagh (Irish) and the knobkerrie (Africa) are club like weapons that are stylistically similar, but found in different regions.

This list could go on and on. I keep finding more and more. Check out The Book of the Sword, By sir Richard Burton. Still in prinnt after 120+ years, it lists the evolution of weapons an tools from the paleolithic on up. includes bits on axes, stones, sticks, swprds, spears, pole weapons, you name it, from all over the world and across time. Book goes on to explainn useful thinngs like edge geometry and grinds, point of balance, and center of percussion


Keith
 
It is a huge subject, but I aim to tackle it head on! ;)

I have been versing myself in Tomahawk mythos today, and I'll be grabbing one of them soon as well. I'll need to get them all together and do some serious chopping tests later this summer. =)

Ruel - I was concerned about that as well. I usually stick to full tang blades because I don't like that little demon in the back of my head that tells me to watch how hard I swing because the handle might give. Good to hear it's solid. Sounds like you had a nice opportunity to do some testing. ;)

Verax
 
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