Remember these knives N2S posted?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
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Rather than bring up the old thread, I'll just repost the pics...




(this came up during the discussion of the "H.I. Cleaver"....:eek:



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Dan, if you took the top left blade, and filled in all the hollow, you would have close to the big Russian one I saw. Maybe even extend the width another inch. edit- make that another 3"
Most of the larger blades shown I'd have no interest in as a special project or anything else- without the gentle swell outwards on the edge, you can't rock and roll the blade back and forth over vegies and stuff.

If we ever get a HI cleaver, I want a usable one.


munk
 
OK, I can believe that those knives are used to chop up the dessicated monkey carcasses hanging in the picture, but you can't tell me they were used to carve the little model ships behind them on the table. :eek: :D ;)
 
pendentive said:
Remember these knives N2S posted?
Rather than bring up the old thread, I'll just repost the pics...

(this came up during the discussion of the "H.I. Cleaver"....!!:eek:
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The recent one? I don't recall the pic Dan, but that doesn't mean anything with my memory.:rolleyes: :grumpy: ;)
Anyway what's your point?:confused: :D N2S always has great knives and great knife pix!!!!

Edit:
I'm going to do what a lot of others have at one time or another....:rolleyes:
If it was me I had rather have a nice thin differentially hardened Ulu with about a 5"-6" blade, preferably a 6 inch, than I had a cleaver. An Ulu is maybe even more versatile in the kitchen than a cleaver in my book....
 
MacHete said:
OK, I can believe that those knives are used to chop up the dessicated monkey carcasses hanging in the picture, but you can't tell me they were used to carve the little model ships behind them on the table.
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These pictures are from a shop in Guam. The knives were forged by a traditional Chamorro knife maker from auto/truck springs.

As with everything else, the photos capture a passing era. When I posted these a couple of years back there were only 6 guys left making these knives on the island, and a couple of them were well into retirement age. Indeed when I caught up with one of these guys on vacation in Florida he was excited about the knifemaking techniques used here, and was actively looking to source modern materials for his knives. So this is one knife making tradition that is fading fast.

As with the HI kamis, the knife making skills were passed through generations of family craftmen. I first contacted the guys while reseaching the origins of the knives shown below. These are older examples; The larger and smaller knives probably date to around WWII, and the middle one with the replacement sheath is dated from 1921. The knife maker who provided the photos was very interested in the older knives, and asked for some pictures so he could show them to some of the other knifemakers. The knives were very likely made by their relatives, so these knives provided a glimpse into their own family history.

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n2s
 
Cheers Pen & N2S,
Thanks for sharing! Are they a development of the knife called a wedong? or some such?

cheers,
Spiral
 
Are they a development of the knife called a wedong?
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Not quite. The Wedong is a small ceremonial knife used in Java by notable members of the royal court, below the rank of prince. However, it was based on the design of their larger jungle knives. The Chamorro knives were also designed for use in the jungle. So both knives share a similar design intent/technology.

The Chamorro knives do differ in style. They have a Western European feel to their design and have definitely barrowed from The Spanish and Filipino influences which dominated the island for nearly 350 years (the US took over 100 years ago and these people are now US citizens).

n2s
 
I think we'll be seeing a few more of these type knives around here in the not-so-distant future......:D :eek:
 
Very, very cool! Still kind of sad in a way, though. With all of the advantages and efficiencies of modern manufacturing methods and equipment, it still seems that product integrity comes at the cost of personal integrity. :rolleyes:

N2S- I hope you know I meant no disrespect, but what are those reddish, irregular shaped things hanging in the photos? :confused: And how old were those pictures when you originally posted them?
 
Yvsa said:
...I had rather have a nice thin differentially hardened Ulu with about a 5"-6" blade
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Yvsa - like this one?

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Did you see the osbourne-style leather cutting knife Rene Roy just made? (for himself....:D)


Here's a pic:

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Different idea, but just thought I'd mention it....Yvsa - you need to get over to ShopTalk more often.....! :p



I started this thread because I absolutely love these chamorro blades. I have tried to do research on them, but the information is very limited.


N2S posted these a couple years back and they've been on my mind ever since.


The second on in N2S's pic looks a lot like the AK Bowie, don't you think?
 
MacHete said:
what are those reddish, irregular shaped things hanging in the photos?
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The pictures are rotated upside-down. And they're scanned pics, IIRC.....N2S - set me straight if needed.
 
pendentive said:
1- Yvsa - like this one?

2- Yvsa - you need to get over to ShopTalk more often.....! :p
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1- Sorta, I would like an open handle though in the form of a very shallow loop. I like the style of Renes blade better.:D

2- You're quite right, I do.:rolleyes: :p :o

I see, so you're gonna start making these knives a little further in the future so to speak?;) Kewl!!!!:cool:
 
re: loop

what about a "push dagger" type handle? That would be what I would want.
 
pendentive said:
re: loop

what about a "push dagger" type handle? That would be what I would want.
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That would work, didn't think about that.;)

Check out the post I made in the Shop Talk forum about cheap nickel silver. Don't know if the place I found is cheap or not but looked reasonable to me.:D
 
ddean - yes, I'd go for something will a little less curve than Rene's knife and more like that tabacky knife.
 
Pendentive-
if enough people want a working kitchen cleaver, than HI should make one if their voice is as great or greater as those of yours wanting a reproduction exotic.

Perhaps we could have two blades made. I could live without the moon curve on the edge, but for God's sake at least make the edge a flat, and not curved. Those curved blades do not have as much utility as the flats or partial moons (slight bow outwards) Those big curved blades would be wonderful the next time I butcher an elephant.

If you're going to make the cleaver blade 16" long or so it will also have limited utility in the kitchen. Many of the knives N2 has in the photo are simply too long to use much. The Russian I told you about was Deep and short enough to use.

I'm just a guy with a voice. If there aren't enough others who want a working cleaver- so be it.

I really would like a kitchen knife made by HI that could actually be used often and not just looked at, or pulled out once a year for some improbable task. If that's Yvsa's knife that's fine too- it doesn't have to be a cleaver.

You've made Kerambits- can't we have something more utilitarian?


munk
 
Here is a cleaver that I picked up from Bill Buxton...besides kitchen duty it has seen backyard overgrowth duty...something H.I might be able to do...

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