Parangs, Barongs?

Yvsa, I had my speakers turned up when I first went to this website, and I was on my work computer. Nothing like having all the sheeple look over at your screen and say " what are you doing looking at swords? Are you going to chop someone?":o :mad:

Mr. Ferguson, I have a Batangas bolo of each size on order now. I hope they get here before the weekend; I'll give a report! I spoke to Jun who owns the store, and he has more of the Ilocos bolos coming in April.
 
bwray said:
Yup, I like the Golok 2 as well. It also has a distal taper which improves blade speed. For my money, it beats the 12" blade Ontario Survival Machete hands down.

I also have the Martindale Jungle Knife. It has an unusual blade and has worked very well for me. A few strokes with the file that comes with the knife and it's ready to go to work again.

It chops, digs and works as a draw knife. But it is a bugger to create a sheath for. I just tend to carry mine. If I brought it I probably will be chopping with it anyway.

Steve, I just saw your post. That's the jungle knife I have. It's every bit as supurb a knife in it's own right as the HI kuks are in theirs.
 
stevomiller said:
Yvsa, I had my speakers turned up when I first went to this website, and I was on my work computer. Nothing like having all the sheeple look over at your screen and say " what are you doing looking at swords? Are you going to chop someone?":o :mad:

I know what you mean Steve.
One day in another life when I went to work faithfully every day I had to go to the shop office.
I carried a little 3" fixed blade file knife that my cousin had bought for me in a sheath on my belt. It came in very handy when I needed a knife and my hands were covered in cutting oil or some other mess.
The gal in the office spotted the little knife on my belt and exclaimed, "IS THAT A LETHAL WEAPON?!?!?!?!?" :eek:
I started laughing and rolled my eyes at her, pissed her off even more, and said, "Becky that little 3" blade knife isn't nearly as LETHAL as this 14"-16" long Phillip's Screwdriver I'm carrying in my hand!!!!":rolleyes:
Becky then looked at the long screwdriver and then back at me and then back to the little file knife and then back to me with a glare.
The company was just tolerating my prescence then as I had filed a workers comp claim on them on account of my back.
Becky thought she had found a way to get my ass fired with no recourse and when she realized she didn't have a leg to stand on because of the big screwdriver it really pissed her off.:D
Liberals and so-called Lethal Weapons be damned!!!!;) :D
 
I'm lucky at my work. There are only three full time employees, all men. I receive all my knives here, and they can't wait to get a peek. Often the first chops I make with a Khuk are into a 2x4 scrap in the warehouse. I can't imagine even having a knife website open at another job. I do keep my little pukko in my pocket though, just to be safe.
 
Astrodada said:
I wonder what that damascus steel is by valiant ? Looks cool but what is the composition ?

Sorry Astro, I overlooked your question. I don't know so I put the question to Suwandi. Will let you know what he says.
 
Yvsa: "I started laughing and rolled my eyes at her, pissed her off even more, and said, "Becky that little 3" blade knife isn't nearly as LETHAL as this 14"-16" long Phillip's Screwdriver I'm carrying in my hand!!!!"

Good answer Yvsa. Where I worked you could not have a knife with a blade longer than 2.5". Multi-tools were included. But screwdrivers?
 
aproy1101 said:
I'm lucky at my work. There are only three full time employees, all men. I receive all my knives here, and they can't wait to get a peek. Often the first chops I make with a Khuk are into a 2x4 scrap in the warehouse. I can't imagine even having a knife website open at another job. I do keep my little pukko in my pocket though, just to be safe.

I know what you mean, Andy. Getting knives at work is great for me because i'm never home to sign for packages. I pack whatever I want whenever I want. It's a perk of being the boss. It's not uncommon for me to pack a multitool and a SAK on my hip with a JKM or Sarge/KPH stuffed into my back pocket. They are all tools and all have a job to do. The multi is for fixing pumps, the SAK gets light cutting chores, and the fixed blade gets used for heavy rope cutting or if I am too lazy to unfold a knife. The customers never notice my tools except when I am fixing something for them, then obviously it is a tool and not a threat.
I do like to mess with sales people that come in to sell me insurance, or paint, or a security system, or advertising on a radio station no one has ever heard of, or some other BS that I don't have time for. I like to eye them up a bit before I let them know who i am. I don't have a whole lot of time to BS with someone about some crap I don't want or need. They always come in looking for someone older than myself, so they wait politely while watching this "kid" (me) rudely keep doing what he's doing instead of getting his boss from his office. Then they start in with the snippy chit chat.
"Is Jake around?"
"yeah, he's around somewhere I'm sure. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"I need to speak with Jake."
"What's this regarding?"
"I'm Blah, Blah, Blah from Some Radio Station. I need to speak with Jake." forced smile.
"Ok, just a minute."
I keep working for a few minutes while they grow more frustrated.
Then 1 out of 5 will make some snippy comment about the knife I am using or have on my work bench.
"Does Jake actually let you bring weapons to work?" talking about Sarge/KPH/Corporal and a large lock blade SAK
"Yeah, he thinks they're pretty cool, and it's not a weapon. I'm not killing this motor, I'm fixing it...like a doctor" flash a $h|7 eating grin.
"Oh." Short and snide
"Lemme go check on something." I go back to my office to grab some paper or a pen or something. "Hey, Jake is really busy. Can I take your information and any proposals you have?"
"Oh, really?" kind of mad that I wasted their time. "Well when do you think I'll be able to talk with him?"
"You just did. We're not interested. Thank you for your time."

It pi$$es them off, but if they want my money then they'll be back with a better offer. I just can't stand salespeople that 1) Don't think that a 25 year old guy could be running a store. 2) assume that I am "the help" 3) Make comments about my "weapons". 4) Waste my time because they have been so engrained with the "don't talk to the gatekeeper" montra.
If you think that might beautiful little Corporal knife, fitted and gifted to me by a very good friend, is a weapon and not a functional piece of art, then I don't think I need to be buying what you're selling. We ain't on the same wavelength, obviously.:rolleyes:

Jake
 
Jake you are cracking me up. My Chinese boss calls me the office bulldog. He has me handle all salespeople. He really enjoys giving me problems to dispute on the phone too.

One time he came into my office and I had just received a box. He was curious, but not asking, so I opened it up in front of him. It was a large cast steel chisel from the Ohio Tool Company. Very old and maybe 18" long and 2" wide. Beautiful piece. He was very impressed with it and said "Now the bulldog has teeth." I haven't ever showed him a khuk, but I keep that 16" villager GRS in my briefcase. I wonder what he'd think of it?:p
 
aproy1101 said:
I haven't ever showed him a khuk, but I keep that 16" villager GRS in my briefcase. I wonder what he'd think of it?:p

I don't know what he'd think, but I think you'd best steer clear of the law, and if you're going to do stuff like that, mum's the word. :rolleyes: :D

Sarge
 
aproy1101 said:
Jake you are cracking me up. My Chinese boss calls me the office bulldog. He has me handle all salespeople. He really enjoys giving me problems to dispute on the phone too.

One time he came into my office and I had just received a box. He was curious, but not asking, so I opened it up in front of him. It was a large cast steel chisel from the Ohio Tool Company. Very old and maybe 18" long and 2" wide. Beautiful piece. He was very impressed with it and said "Now the bulldog has teeth." I haven't ever showed him a khuk, but I keep that 16" villager GRS in my briefcase. I wonder what he'd think of it?:p

Ya know, Andy, the only people that have ever had a problem with my "weapons" is the people trying to sell me stuff. Normally, I don't act like an @$$ and jerk them around like that. I know they are just regular folks doing their job. It's how they put food on the table, but I have "played games" with them like that a few times. I guess my tools are just so much of a part of me that I take it as a double barrel insult that 1) the thought doesn't even pop into their head that they person they are talking to MIGHT just be the person that will sign on the dotted line. I mean our business even says " & Sons" on the sign on the store. Maybe just maybe I could be kin to the boss? 2) How dare they tell me what tools to use to do MY job! They should have been there the day i changed out a rusty motor with the aid of a Cold Steel Trail hawk:D That woulda turned their heads a bit;)
No other customer has a problem with my "bat belt" as my wife calls it. heck, i have half a dozen customers that are city or county LEO's and they think the khuks i have on my office walls are cool:D I think most of these sales people are trying to be progressive to be progressives sake. Ya know, being scared of edged tools makes you more civilized than the rest of the bumpkin idiots you are trying to sell to:rolleyes:

Jake
 
So Andy, I'm guessing the zombie problem has gotten so out of control in Atlanta, that people carry sixteen inch khukuris in their briefcase for "discreet" protection. Personally, I'd go with a bigger briefcase and a twenty inch Sirupati. ;)

Sarge
 
In Atlanta we have freaks that can't drive all over the interstate. I'd much rather zombies. No moral decision there. Like the new avatar by the way. I just keep that khuk in there so I can beat up 2x4's when I'm frustrated at work. Plus right now i'm sanding the handle and I do that during down times at work too.
 
aproy1101 said:
I'm lucky at my work. There are only three full time employees, all men.
I don't know if it's just me, but women seem to freak out less than men upon seeing me use one of my pocket knives. Maybe because it's because I'm so good looking...:cool:
 
Steve Poll said:
I also have the Martindale Jungle Knife. It has an unusual blade and has worked very well for me. A few strokes with the file that comes with the knife and it's ready to go to work again.

It chops, digs and works as a draw knife. But it is a bugger to create a sheath for. I just tend to carry mine. If I brought it I probably will be chopping with it anyway.

Steve, I just saw your post. That's the jungle knife I have. It's every bit as supurb a knife in it's own right as the HI kuks are in theirs.


Hey Steve, just for grins, check out the Indonesian equivalent, the Parang Bandol at http://www.valiantco.com/newproduct.html. This item comes with a sheath but is currently sold out.
 
Hi Bill:

i've looked at their producte many times over the years. I've wanted one of their parangs. Never got around to it though. I am also not sure what type construction they use, especially the handle. I wonder about their strength.
 
Ok, Yvsa:

I've got a lethal weapon story for you. One good leathal weapon story deserves another.

Several years ago I was in Newark, NJ airport picking up my (then) wife who was flying home. I'd just gotten off a surveillance and was wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt.

As we waited at the baggage carousel it got crowded and people started pushing. Finally her bag came around. When I reached for it my shoulder holster unsnapped and my Sig Sauer P226 fell out, right on the airport floor.

I picked it up, looked for damage and reholstered it.

We weren't pushed after that and when I turned to leave everybody got out of the way.

Not one guard or LEO came and questioned me about the incident!

How's that one?
 
Astrodada said:
I wonder what that damascus steel is by valiant ? Looks cool but what is the composition ?

Hey Astro, here is the response from Suwandi>Wandi>1D. I realize the third image is not legible here, but it is a jpeg file that you can copy and display elsewhere, say in "Preview".

Hi Bill,

This query is always asked by some and I did quite some explanation on this issue a long time ago somewhere in the forums.
A short version: Hand forged to shape 2 different kind of metal, soft and hard. The core is of hard spring steel (just like the 'regular' plain carbon steel range). Compostion*somehow looks like these images.
Some other infos on what "pamor" is included.
Hope this helps.

Cheers,
1D.

3f_1_sbl.JPG


04_1_sbl.JPG


56_1_sbl.JPG
 
Steve Poll said:
Hi Bill:

i've looked at their producte many times over the years. I've wanted one of their parangs. Never got around to it though. I am also not sure what type construction they use, especially the handle. I wonder about their strength.

All I know at this time Steve is that the tang is heated and forced into the buffalo horn handle, which has no external reinforcement. I have one small survival golok for personal use and have given it some pretty rough workouts without any problems. Still, I've only had it a couple of months, so have no personal data on long term durability.

I do know from older reviews that Valiant had some quality control problems in the early days and am told that those have been addressed and corrected. I also know that if I encounter anything more than rare instances of inadequate handles I will cease to market Valiant products. I would not want to be associated with an inferior product and just don't need the associated hassle. Suwandi has assured me that they stand behind their products. I will explore that issue more rigorously with him and see what sort of explicit guarantees I can offer. Meanwhile, any recent data from the field, good or bad, would be appreciated.:)
 
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