Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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The Finest Bentenueves.
All five of these beautiful balisongs were made by the most gifted Batanguenyo craftsmen: they are still making bente nueves the way their fathers and grandfathers did, albeit with a few upgrades.
1. This 36.2 cm balisong is a monster. At 14 1/4”, this is an exceptionally large knife. The blade is hand forged 5160 spring steel that was then expertly hand ground down to the WWII-style bayonet profile. The quality of this ground is exceptional by any knifemaker’s standards. The bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless, which has outstanding corrosion resistance. The latch is thin and fileworked by the craftsman responsible for making the handles.
The inserts are outstanding Brazilian kingwood that I personally hand finished to 2000 grit before rubbing down the entire knife with Renaissance Wax. This prevents the handles from becoming too slick and also protects the blade and pins from corrosion. I highly recommend it for your carbon steel knives!
The scales and bolsters have been ground flat (the eight-sided style which is now a classic pattern, and which was first offered to the world here at Pinoy Steel).
The top bolsters are double pinned for durability, and the two extra thick tang pins also ensure better lockup and longevity.
The swedge is nice and thin (but not sharpened).
There is a tiny spot on the blade which I buffed clean before polishing, waxing and oiling the blade.
This is an exceptionally nice bali and part of a pair. 7.2 oz. $199, or $189 if you’re taking both.
2. This bente nueve is really a 29 at precisely 29 cm in length. It features the very popular (both in the Philippines and overseas) fully hollowground labaha (straight razor) profile. These make mean slicers and are often sharpened to zero edges. This one has a secondary bevel, but could be sharpened up to a razor edge if desired.
The inserts on this knife are nicely figured (and chatoyant) African bubinga that i personally hand finished to 2000 grit, before buffing Renaissance Wax into the wood and the blade. Renaissance Wax is a museum grade finish that is used to protect antiques. It also works well on protecting wood and carbon steel from the elements. I highly recommend the stuff: a large can will last you a long, long time.
The blade has some light surface discoloration from storage: I buffed it off as best as I could before hand polishing and waxing the blade.
There are also some tiny pits near the ricasso end of the blade.
The housing, bolsters and latch are all stainless on this balisong. The top bolsters are double pinned for extra durability. Discounted at $155.
3. Here’s another textbook bente nueve with a twist: 29 cm long with stainless bolsters, housing and latch. The blade is expertly forged 5160 spring steel that has been hardened for reliable penetration. The inserts are beautiful hand finished zebrawood, which will soon be in short supply due to overharvesting in Africa.
Each of the bolsters on this knife are double pinned. The inserts have great color and figuring. I hand finished them to 2000 grit before applying Renaissance Wax to the wood, bolsters and blade to protect them from the atmosphere. I strongly recommend applying Renaissance Wax to your carbon steel knives a few times a year, as well as oiling the pivots for smooth operation and protection against corrosion.
There is a tiny amount of buffing compound from when the balisong makers polished the bolsters and housing trapped in the wood. I removed the vast majority of it and then hand finished the inserts, which substantially improves the fit and finish of the wood over anything else you will find coming out of Batangas today.
The blade is the modern buyod (bowie) grind. Unfortunately it has a line of tiny pits on the right side from less than ideal storage conditions in the Philippines.
I have buffed the pits clean, so there is no active rust.
There is also a tiny forging mark on the ricasso.
Two more pits on the left side of the blade as well.
This is a beautiful bali that unfortunately has a few imperfections, but they could be ground off if desired. 5.3 oz. Ready to flip too! Discounted at $149.
4. This beautiful balisong was not made specifically for Pinoy Steel, so it only has a single tang pin in standard thickness. It has a carbon spring steel kris blade and measures in at 28.7 cm long. The bolsters, liners and latch are all solid stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability.
The inserts are smooth horse bone, a classic (and economical) choice. This bone has great uniform color, aside from a darker area on the other side.
The blade was nicely ground. I have hand polished and waxed all the metal and bone on this knife to protect it from the elements. I recommend touching up the Renaissance Wax finish a few times a year to help keep your bali pristine.
The darker area toward the end of the insert is naturally occurring.
This is a beautiful and simple bente nueve that is seldom available in this exact combination of materials and blade grind. 5.6 oz. $105.
5. This smaller balisong measures in at 23.2 cm, a little shorter than standard for this class. It is however a great width and beautifully made. It features a hand forged carbon steel bowie blade with a nice swedge and two extra thick tang pins. The bolsters, housing and latch are stainless steel. The inserts are ivory G-10 sandwiched between absolutely jet black kamagong ebony heartwood.
The inserts were hand finished to 1000 grit before being oiled and finished with Renaissance Wax. This will protect the kamagong against the elements for quite a while, but I do recommend touching up the finish a few times a year to keep your knife pristine. There is a thin line in the G-10 that looks like a naturally occurring inclusion in ivory: I’m not sure how this happened, but it does make the G-10 look more realistic.
The blade is really beautiful. It has a tiny pit near the ricasso.
There are also some darker lines on the G-10 on the other side of the knife. They look like hairline cracks, but are barely detectable by touch.
This is an exceptionally rare balisong and the contrast between the ivory G-10 and kamagong is stunning. 4.9 oz. Discounted at $159.
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Kamagong Batutas.
These 27 7/8” arnis sticks are made of beautiful unvarnished kamagong (Philippines ebony). The only finish I have applied to these sticks is pure mineral oil to protect the wood from drying out and a few light layers of Renaissance Wax. This could very easily be sanded off. These sticks are solid dark kamagong heartwood. the sticks taper perfectly and the handles were professionally turned. I haven’t seen these sticks for sale anywhere else! I personally hand picked and matched these sticks in the Philippines.
There are a lot of fake kamagong sticks on the market. I guarantee these are the real deal. I use a pair of these myself. Comparing the weight is one good way to make sure you’re getting genuine kamagong sticks: these 27 7/8” sticks are around 1” in diameter at the top and they taper, and each stick is over 350g! The tapering on these sticks means the balance points are further forward: this increases the amount of force you can deliver with these sticks!
Kamagong is extremely tough and dense, which is why it is sometimes referred to as ironwood, making it perfect for arnis sticks. These sticks would be good for solo training or for working with a partner (ouch!), and would also be very usable for self defense. These are definitely bone breakers. The abaca twine lanyards also ensure they stay in your hands.
Please note as with all unvarnished sticks, these sticks should be oiled or kept in a humid environment or they can crack or warp. Alternatively, you could apply a lacquer, wax or oil-based finish of your choice. These are the only kamagong sticks on eBay that have not been lacquered or varnished.
There are a few voids and epoxy fills on these sticks: ebony often has voids in its heartwood. This will not affect performance one bit, however.
The handles are slim and the pointed ends are excellent for punyo strikes.
The custom case is also the nicest arnis stick case I have seen. It is beautifully stitched with white thread and is nice and sturdy. There is, however, some wear to the case from storage.
You can see the very minor scuffs on the top of the case in this picture.
The sticks weigh around 1.68 lb together, or 1.9 lbs with the custom PVC case. $95.
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Sundangs.
The pinutes and sansibar are available: the bolo is sold.
These sundangs (Bisaya/Cebuano for large blades) are all from the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. The first Three are from Cebu and the last one is from the neighboring island of Leyte, although it was made by a Cebuano family who has been on Leyte for several generations. All of them are excellent blades for utility or combat use, and they all have a great deal of history behind them.
1. The pinuti is a classic Cebuano blade. It was originally used in the fields and they are long and thin, much like machetes. They were expedient weapons when needed. The term ‘pinuti’ is Cebuano for white. When sharpened up, the blade would no longer be stained from use, and would therefore be ready to fight with. Pinutis are still used for slicing, but even the name ‘pinuti’ strikes fear into the heart of many Cebuanos due to the reputation that precedes these swords.
This pinuti was hand forged on the island of Cebu by some of the best blacksmiths on the entire island. Several of these pinutis were ground right in front of me. The blades are chisel ground, like many Visayan blades. The handles are cast aluminum, a modern twist on the classic design that really helps the balance of these pinutis.
The balance point on this pinuti is 4 3/4” in front of the guard. It measures in at 25 1/8”, a little shorter than an arnis stick. These blades are very popular on the island of Cebu, even today, and these are the go to blades for many eskrima masters.
This pinuti weighs in at 1 lb 4.6 oz, or 1 lb 9.6 oz in the 5 oz scabbard. I believe the scabbard was crafted from jackfruit wood. Cebuano blades (and many other working blades from the Visayas, Indonesia and Malaysia) usually have scabbards that are shellacked for protection from the elements. This greatly increases their durability, but the orange shellac isn’t very attractive to most people. These custom-ordered pinutis have plain scabbards, so you can refinish them and apply the finish of your choice!
The handle measures in at 5 1/8”, including the guard. The blade is 20”, for a total length of 25 1/8”. The blade is between 3/32” and 3/16” at the tang with a distal taper all the way up to the perfectly ground tip.
The two halves of the scabbard are nailed together and then wrapped in rattan in three places. These scabbards are wrapped in a small town high in the mountains of Cebu. Whether or not this skill is carried on by the current craftsmen’s children remains to be seen. These scabbards are not a tight fit: the pinuti can move about 1” up and down in the scabbard. This allows for a fast, smooth draw.
The tip is perfectly ground.
There is some very minor surface spotting on the blade from storage: these swords are excellent hand forged spring steel, so they must be kept oiled at all times to keep corrosion at bay. The handles aren’t perfectly finished either, but are still comfortable.The handle is just a little snug for my large hands. You could of course substantially improve the overall finishing with a little sandpaper and dedication.
The blade is right side chisel ground, as many Cebuano blades are.
These pinutis have always been popular items here at Pinoy Steel: I haven’t offered them in several months, but I have a few for sale! These are not currently available anywhere else. $125 including shipping.
2. The pinuti is a classic Cebuano blade. It was originally used in the fields and they are long and thin, much like machetes. They were expedient weapons when needed. The term ‘pinuti’ is Cebuano for white. When sharpened up, the blade would no longer be stained from use, and would therefore be ready to fight with. Pinutis are still used for slicing, but even the name ‘pinuti’ strikes fear into the heart of many Cebuanos due to the reputation that precedes these swords.
This pinuti was hand forged on the island of Cebu by some of the best blacksmiths on the entire island. Several of these pinutis were ground right in front of me. The blades are chisel ground, like many Visayan blades. The handles are cast aluminum, a modern twist on the classic design that really helps the balance of these pinutis.
The balance point on this pinuti is 6 1/4” in front of the guard, further forward than any of the other pinutis from this forge that I have previously offered. It measures in at 25 1/8”, a little shorter than an arnis stick. These blades are very popular on the island of Cebu, even today, and these are the go to blades for many eskrima masters.
This pinuti weighs in at 1 lb 2.5 oz, or 1 lb 7.2 oz in the 4.7 oz scabbard. I believe the scabbard was crafted from jackfruit wood. Cebuano blades (and many other working blades from the Visayas, Indonesia and Malaysia) usually have scabbards that are shellacked for protection from the elements. This greatly increases their durability, but the orange shellac isn’t very attractive to most people. These custom-ordered pinutis have plain scabbards, so you can refinish them and apply the finish of your choice!
The handle measures in at 5”, including the guard. The blade is 20 1/8”, for a total length of 25 1/8”. The blade is between 3/32” and 3/16” at the tang with a distal taper all the way up to the perfectly ground tip. The handle on this one is nicely done, but would benefit from a little refinishing to soften the rougher spots.
These handles are a tiny bit snug for my large hands.
The two halves of the scabbard are nailed together and then wrapped in rattan in three places. These scabbards are wrapped in a small town high in the mountains of Cebu. Whether or not this skill is carried on by the current craftsmen’s children remains to be seen. These scabbards are not a tight fit: the pinuti can move about 1” up and down in the scabbard. This allows for a fast, smooth draw.
$125 including shipping.
3. This is a Cebuano native bolo. This kind of bolo was around before the arrival of the Spanish on the island and is still in use today, with good reason. This is the nicest example of a classic Cebuano bolo you’re likely to find today, and these aren’t available anywhere else. The curve, chisel ground edge and weight forward balance make these very efficient choppers that bite nice and deep.
The handle and scabbard are both jackfruit wood and have been traditionally wrapped in rattan up in the mountains of Cebu before being shellacked for increased durability. The handle is 6 1/4” long. The rattan wrap allows for fast indexing and also provides grip where you need it most. The traditionally shaped handle is excellent for preventing the bolo from slipping out of your grip during heavy chopping. The pointed end would also be excellent for punyo strikes.
There is a rough mark from the forge on the tang.
The scabbard has a hole drilled through it to allow it to be attached to a belt in the field.
The blade has some very light surface spotting from storage: nothing that couldn’t be buffed off, of course. The blade is 12 15/16” long. The balance point is 3 1/4” in front of the handle. You have to hold this in your hands to really feel the potential in this bolo, however.
This bolo fits my hands very well indeed.
The lowered section at the base of the spine allows you to choke up on the blade if need be.
This bolo is 16 11/16” overall. It weighs a solid 1 lb 5 oz (1 lb 10.5 oz in the scabbard).
The wood scabbard has a few voids.
this is an excellent bolo for the collection or for actual use. SOLD.
4. Finally we have a rare left handed sansibar from the island of Leyte. This is the first sansibar I purchased on the island. It features a binatangas style blade. Some say this style of blade was inspired by the once ubiquitous balisong, which is simply known as a “Batangas” in the Visayas. The handle is jackfruit wood and has been carved in the traditional manner. The handle is very comfortable, but of course, could be improved by hand finishing with sandpaper.
The handle measures in at 5 1/16”. With the finger grooves, it is extremely comfortable and the end ensures it will not slip out of your grip in use.
The scabbards have the characteristic aluminum banding, which holds the two halves together. It is also extremely attractive.
The attachment for the belt loop is kalabaw (water buffalo) horn.
While a little short for my hands, this is still a very comfortable handle.
The blade was hand forged entirely by hand and ground to shape on a wet stone. No power tools are used at any stage in the crafting of these sansibars. This is an excellent quality working blade. It is not razor sharp, but being convex ground by hand by the blacksmith, it will cut much, much deeper than you would expect. The blade is 12 9/16” long and the balance point is at 3 9/16” in front of the handle. This sansibar is light and fast.
The sansibar weighs in at 8 oz, or 10.1 oz with the scabbard. Great deal at $89.
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Ginuntings and a Tracker Knife.
Three very nice fixed blades for your viewing pleasure today: all three are excellent and ready to be used! I know these are going to move fast.
From top to bottom:
1. This ginunting is the Bicolano version: it is significantly different from the more commonly seen style from Panay as the blade has a belly to it. It does have the same type of curvature along the spine, however. This is a working blade from the town of Tabaco City in Albay, which has long been famous for its tabaks, or bolos.
The name of the city actually comes from the tabak. When the Spanish first entered the city, they asked a local man what the name of the city was. Obviously not being a Spanish speaker, he feared the men had come to take his daughter away. He yelled, out, “Tabak ko! Tabak ko!” (my bolo) to his daughter, as he was ready to fight to the death to protect her. The Spanish guys probably went, “Muchas gracias!” and recorded the name of the city down as Tabaco. As far fetched as this might sound, similar stories are in the oral histories of many towns and cities around the Philippines (which actually means King Phillip’s Pines!).
This ginunting measures in at 23 3/4”. It is hand forged and well hardened carbon spring steel. It is convex ground: definitely the toughest choice for a working blade.
The handle is local hardwood. It has one very minor check from drying out since the wood is left unsealed. Having been stored in a dry environment for the last year, this check may close up in areas with higher moisture, or you could epoxy and fill it. Traditionally, the wood would fill up with plant and animal residue from use and be sealed off naturally. The wood portion of the handle is 5.5” long, or 6” with the painted carbon steel bolster.
The scabbard is shellacked. This is a lighter wood (both in color and weight) and it has been bound with synthetic twine and carved with traditional motifs indigenous to the area. The shellac protects it from the elements. Shellac is used throughout Southeast Asia and works very well at sealing and protecting tools and even furniture.
The scabbard also has a hole to allow it to be lashed to your belt. There are a few minor darker burned areas on the scabbard. The scabbard is a loose fit which allows for an easy draw: the top of the scabbard holds the bolster quite securely, however.
The blade is 17 3/4”. The blades from Tabaco are renowned for their hardness and durability: often they are tested for hardness by using them to shave metal off inferior bolos. There are some minor forge marks and pitting on the blade, but this is purely cosmetic.
The tip was nicely ground. The blade of course needs final sharpening before use: this is common to almost all working blades in Southeast Asia.
You can see the check below.
The tang is secured at the end of the handle through a rough steel washer. It is peened to prevent movement: a nice feature you don’t find everywhere in the Philippines.
The balance point is 4 3/4” in front of the bolster: this is definitely a weight forward chopper. The blade is 3/16” thick with a distal taper.
There is a maker’s mark on this bolo (EBC TABACO).
Much like the ginunting above (and many blades from this part of the world), the shape of the handle ensures a secure hold when swinging hard.
This ginunting weighs 13 oz, or 1 lb 0.5 oz in the scabbard. $85.
2. In many Filipino languages, gunting are scissors. The ginunting is meant to resemble one of the blades you’d find on a pair of scissors.
This ginunting is from a forge in Northern Luzon that produces excellent quality blades. The fit and finish is great and the carbon spring steel is well hardened and ground. The hilt on this one is traditional Western Visayan style, aside from the aluminum pins, and the handle was made in two halves rather than being attached through hot insertion. The aluminum bolster and guard are also modern twists, as is the hollowground double beveled blade and the swedge.
This ginunting measures in at 23 1/8” overall. This makes it just a little shorter than a regular arnis stick, making it fit in seamlessly with arnis forms. While the ginunting is commonly used in Pekiti Tirsia Kali (this design was commissioned by PKT practitioners in Manila), it is a traditional working blade in the Western Visayas, and could of course be used with any system anywhere.
The handle is beautiful molave hardwood with amazing chatoyancy. It is 5.5”, or 6 1/4” with the bolster and guard.
The blade is 16 7/8” with a 3” unsharpened swedge.
The design of the handle means your hand is locked in when you swing full force, and the handle pins ensure the blade stays put. The balance point is 3 3/4” in front of the guard, meaning it is weight forward, but still feels light and well balanced.
Please note the pins on the right side of the handle are slightly raised.
1 lb 0.5 oz, or 1 lb 6 oz in the scabbard. $169.
3. This tracker knife was made at the same forge as the molave ginunting above. This forge is renowned for the quality of its products and they are rock solid and very well forged and ground. These tracker knives are available elsewhere, but most stocking dealers don’t show you exactly what you’re going to get, and versions like this one with molave scabbards are much rarer. Molave is not a protected species and is also slightly lighter and significantly more durable than the kamagong which is often used today.
This tracker knife measures in at around 11.5”. It is full tang construction and the kamagong ebony slabs are secured to the tang with three aluminum pins. There is a lanyard hole: at present there is a short length of red nylon cord woven through it.
The blade and tang are solid hand forged 5160 steel and the front edge is absolutely hair popping sharp. The handle measures in at 5.5” and the blade at just under 6”. Overall, it measures in at just under 11.5”.
The tang is very slightly proud, but not enough to create hot spots.
Tracker knives have separate edges for different cutting tasks. They are ergonomically designed and excellent for field use. These tracker knives have been extensively tested in the Philippines and have passed the tests with flying colors.
The jimping allows for a secure hold and the choil allows you to choke up on the blade comfortably and securely.
This tracker knife has one solid tang!
This knife fits my large mitts perfectly.
The scabbard is beautiful molave with amazing chatoyancy and figuring: molave is really underrated. The belt loop is thick leather and has been secured to the scabbard through an aluminum plate with four pins.
The tracker knife fits in the sheath a little loosely, but this allows for a faster and easier draw. Inverting the knife will allow it to slip downward around an inch, but the snap will hold it in place.
This is a really top quality hand forged tracker knife: definitely a good investment if you’re the outdoors type. There are all kinds of versions of these knives being made today, but the craftsmen who made this one really know what they’re doing. The blade is excellent and the entire package is both practical and beautiful. The balance point is 1” behind the front of the handle, thanks to the very solid 1/4” thick tang. 13 oz, or 1 lb 5 oz with the sheath. $109.
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Kalimantan Dayak Mandau / Parang Iban.
This mandau is from the eastern portion of the island of Borneo, which is also known as Kalimantan by Indonesians. The island is divided between Indonesia and Malaysia, and the tiny Sultanate of Brunei also occupies a small area on the northern coast.
Mandaus were (and occasionally, still are) used in headhunting, which is a tradition with a long history on the massive, wild island. Heads were taken to settle disputes between and within Dayak tribes and also to control population. The Dayak tribes have been forced to adapt to the changes implemented by the governments that have divided up their land, but many of these tribespeople have stuck to their guns and occasionally lopped more than a few heads off to try and preserve their way of life. Tribesmen from what is now the Visayas and Mindanao also incurred losses when attempting to raid the coast of Borneo.
Many mandaus are exquisitely carved and decorated with natural materials from the resource-rich jungles and mountains of Borneo. Simpler ones are used for agriculture. This is a modern-made mandau and lacks the finesse of the finest mandaus used by tribesmen, but it is definitely not a standard working version by any means. While it has a few modern touches, this is one, thick, solid chisel-ground blade that was made by skilled traditional blacksmiths. This mandau is very capable of removing someone’s head from their shoulders.
The blade is around 1/4” thick at its base. The blade is 16 3/4” long. The balance point is 6.5” in front of the handle, meaning this is a blade heavy chopper (as it should be). The scabbard is crafted from a fragrant local wood and is carved with traditional motifs and shellacked. The scabbard also has nicely done rattan wrap in several places to hold it together, as well as a rattan loop to allow it to be attached to ones’ waist or carried or hung on a wall.
The blade features a beautiful dragon, which of course is a powerful symbol throughout Asia and much of Europe. This dragon was done entirely by hand and the contrast between the forge scale and polished metal is striking.
The handle has rattan wrap and what I believe to be plant fibers. Traditionally these fibers would be animal or human (!) hair. There are a few holes from pests in the handle.
This mandau comes with a small knife, which the Dayak headhunting tribes consider even more important than the large blade. While this is not a fancy blade by any means (I’m not sure what kind of metal was used for it), they were traditionally used to extricate the brains from victims. While these practices are far less common nowadays, it is believed that they still continue in areas of Borneo where vehicles cannot go. The small knife has a simple handle that is 5 9/16” long with a 2 7/8” blade. 0.4 oz.
The blade is definitely nicely done and made for real use.
The blde is sharp and the tip is nicely ground. There is a traditional twisted portion on the spine.
Being chisel ground, this is one effective chopper and will cut nice and deep.
The anthromorphic carvings are of traditional motifs and have religious significance.
The back of the scabbard has a small sheath for the brain knife to slip into.
There are forge marks and color on the blade from quenching.
These modern mandaus do come up from time to time, but are rarely described or photographed as thoroughly: if you’d like one for the collection or as a user, this one would serve you well. 22 5/16” overall with a 5 9/16” handle. Nice and solid at 14.3 oz, or 19.2 oz with the scabbard and small knife. $85.
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Indonesia.
Here are some beautiful silver and gold-plated items from Indonesia. These items celebrate the history and culture of a truly incredible country.
1. This letter opener features Javanese shadow puppet-style depictions of Rama and Shinta, two characters from the Hindu epic the Ramayana. Although the island of Java is predominately Muslim now, there is still a great deal of respect for Hindu culture on the island. The body of the opener resembles a Javanese keris, and it comes in a box that has been hand wrapped with Javanese-batik printed paper. Together these embody some of the best of Indonesian history and culture. I have a Javanese keris at the entrance to my home, along with two wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and some great batik shirts from around Java.
This would be a great present for a pencak silat practitioner or anyone who is a fan of Indonesian culture and history, or even someone who enjoys the Ramayana. I have not yet had a chance to watch a live shadow puppet show in Indonesia, but it is definitely one of my goals!
The opener comes with English and Bahasa Indonesia descriptions of both Rama and Shinta.
There is a great deal of detail on these openers borrowed from the actual handmade and painted leather shadow puppets that are still in use today in Indonesia.
This opener is not available outside Indonesia, and even within Indonesia is only available in a few select locations. It is 6 3/4” long and nice and light at only half an ounce. $35.
2. This is a bookmark depicting the Javanese shadow puppet version of Rama, the chief character in the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana. It is plated in genuine silver and is beautifully presented in a batik paper-wrapped box with a short description of Rama’s significance in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
The back of the bookmark is plain.
This is a great item and beautifully made: you won’t find one of these anywhere else outside Indonesia! 3”. 0.2 oz. $35.
3. This is a gold-plated kujang keychain. The kujang is revered by the Sundanese of West Java as much as the keris is revered in much of Central and Eastern Java. Aside from being an excellent weapon, it is also a religious symbol. The three holes on the top are thought to be representative of the trimurti, or the three central gods in Hinduism. Modern versions now sometimes have five holes since Islam is now the predominant religion in Indonesia. It was originally an agricultural tool (much like a small scythe), but it has far more symbolism now.
Standing between two wall-mounted kujangs is thought to mean death!
This beautiful keychain is great for the silat aficionado, especially those that practice West Javanese styles such as mande muda. This is not an item you’ll find anywhere else! Packed in a beautiful batik-paper wrapped box. 2”. 0.1 oz. $35.
4. This is a gold-plated keychain representing the golok, which is both an agricultural tool and a revered weapon in West Java, Indonesia. I own several goloks myself and train with them frequently. They are absolutely devastating blades.
The keychain comes in a batik-paper wrapped box.
This would be a great present for a silat practitioner or anyone who collects West Javanese weapons.
This absolutely represents a typical West Javanese golok to a T: I own one much like it! If it was silver plated, I’d wear it as a pendant! 2”. 0.2 oz. $35.
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Handmade African Wenge and Hand Forged Carbon Steel Sword Cane.
This beautiful cane was made in a town in China that has long been renowned for sword making. It is beautifully crafted and absolutely usable. I will not, however, be offering one of these again. I was told it was rosewood, but upon closer inspection I can see that it is wenge, which is endangered due to the strong demand for the species’ timber. The Chinese are responsible for widespread deforestation and promotion of unsustainable logging throughout Africa, so I will not be offering any items made with African wood in China as I cannot be sure how the wood was sourced. The Chinese government simply do not enforce CITES laws, so it’s pretty much a free for all there, and here at Pinoy Steel I want no part of that.
This cane is around 96.5 cm long, or around 38”, meaning it is too long to use for support if you are shorter. I don’t think this cane was really meant to be used as a mobility aid, although the construction is certainly sturdy enough for that. This sword cane comes with a thin cotton-lined case to protect it when in storage.
The handle is beautiful wenge and is definitely comfortable: this is the preferred style of handle for many. The fittings are cast antiqued copper with floral motifs.
There is a tiny bit of excess epoxy around the larger fitting in the pics: I cleaned all of this off shortly after.
There is also a copper ferrule and rubber foot on this cane, which is secured with a nail.
The blade is hand forged carbon steel, which is really what you want for a usable blade. It is not edge sharp, but of course, could be sharpened if desired: this is a rapier / stiletto style blade made for thrusting. The handle is 20.5 cm long (around 8”) and the blade is 44.3 cm long (17.4”). It is 1/8” thick and fast and light. The balance point is right at the bolster.
The rapier screws into the sheath: it screws in clockwise and unscrews anti-clockwise.
This is an excellent sword cane you won’t find anywhere else, and it’s being offered at a great price considering it is entirely handmade and absolutely made for real use. The sword is 13 oz and the scabbard is 12 oz, for a combined weight of 25 oz, or 1 lb 9 oz. $169.
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Stainless beauties.
These four bente nueves have blades that were exceptionally well ground: some of the most equal grinds I’ve ever seen. They were all ground at around the same time and all four are real beauties. All four have been hand finished and I knocked down the edges on the liners with a fine file and high grit sandpaper.
1. This balisong is longer than normal. It measures in at 33.1 cm, which is a length a few of my buyers prefer. The blade is the modern version of the classic buyod, which in turn was inspired by the Arab-style grind that was common on the Spanish navajas (folding knives) that were ubiquitous in the Philippines and Europe. The modern buyod is of course ground on belts and wheels rather than on a bench stone.
The inserts on this bali are beautiful. Bloodwood will darken over time, much like blood, and this is from an absolute top-grade batch of timber. The wood has subtle chatoyancy and very even grain and color throughout. Bloodwood is good, hard wood, but not so hard that it is excessively brittle: this is a great wood for knife handles. I personally hand finished this wood to 2000 grit and it was well worth the hours it took me!
The blade is double pinned for durability and better lockup in both the open and closed positions. The top bolsters are double pinned for durability. The bolsters, liners and latch are all 300-series stainless steel.
There are 5-10 tiny pits on each side of the blade, but all of them have been buffed clean.
This is a really nicely ground bali, especially for its length, and the wood is absolutely stunning. Discounted because of the pits. 5.9 oz. $185.
2. This bali is a very unique piece with some very special inserts. It measures in at 28.9 cm (just under textbook bente nueve length). It features a hand forged carbon spring steel tari blade (hollowground and shaped like the spur used in cockfighting in the Philippines). This tari curves downward more than usual: I really like the way this grind turned out.
The inserts are a modern black weatherproof matrix that has been molded with an alligator skin pattern. The matrix has been left flat to preserve the pattern, which is sometimes done with stag and wood to preserve the texture or for a slightly different feel.
There was a hairline crack in one of the inserts (on the other side) that I filled with JB Epoxy. Since the epoxy was a little lighter in color than the scales, I rubbed some into the surface of the alligator textured-matrix to even out the color. It really helped highlight the pattern and helped the filled crack blend right in. The matrix is sandwiched between beautiful, dark Central American cocobolo that I hand finished to 2000 grit.
Each of the solid stainless bolsters is double pinned for durability. The liners and latch are also stainless steel.
The blade has a 3/8” long scratch from when a little grit from the sandpaper accidentally rubbed on it. I have polished most of the scratch out, but it needs a little more elbow grease to get it out completely.
You may be able to make out the thin crack on the lower scale in the pictures below.
The matrix was turned slightly blue by grinding and buffing because of the heat generated, but this is only visible in direct sunlight.
Excellent piece with a few very minor imperfections. 4.6 oz. Discounted at $175.
3. This bente nueve is one of the first the craftsmen really got creative on the spines on. These are becoming more common after I voiced my appreciation for the original piece that featured what we now call the bulaklak (flower) grind: it was originally an attempt to cover up a mistake in grinding and it actually turned out to be very attractive. I have the first piece that was ‘messed up’ in my collection and I will never part with it! :)
This balisong measures in at 28.9 cm (just under textbook bente nueve length).
The inserts are South American purpleheart with great color. I hand finished the wood to 2000 grit, but due to the nature of the wood, some buffing compound from finishing by the makers still remains. The inserts are triple pinned, which greatly aids durability. The top bolsters are also double pinned. The bolsters, liners and latch are all stainless steel: the latch on this one has been beautifully fileworked by the craftsman.
This blade is a real work of art! There is a tiny forge mark on the ricasso, which is very common on traditionally hand forged carbon steel blades.
This grind is extremely attractive and also has certain advantages in use that some of you may be able to figure out.
This is an incredible piece that you absolutely will not find anywhere else. it is very much a one of a kind and worthy of any collection of modern FHMs. 5.6 oz. $175.
4. Here’s a more classic-looking FHM, but with a few Pinoy Steel upgrades over the standard offerings from these craftsmen. The blade strongly resembles the classic buyod (bowie) grind, but has been ground slimmer so it doesn’t hit the liners when closed. There are two tang pins which alleviate movement of the blade in the closed position. The inserts are tripled pinned kamagong ebony heartwood that I personally hand finished to 2000 grit. This is absolutely beautiful kamagong as you can see, and it has very nice, tight grain. This one measures in at 27.6 cm, which to me is the perfect size for my hands.
Each of the solid stainless bolsters has been double pinned for durability. The liners and latch are also stainless steel.
This is a subtle bali all around: the swedge is of classic proportions.
While this may look like a run of the mill balisong, it is ground slimmer so it can be flipped closed and each of the bolsters is double pinned. It was also carefully and painstakingly hand finished by yours truly, which no other Batangas balisong dealer takes the time to do. Excellent bali with a very nice grind. 5.3 oz. $129.
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Balicombs.
Here are four balicombs made by the handful of master balisong craftsmen still making balisongs much the way their fathers and grandfathers did. These balisong combs are definitely the best you’ll find: you won’t find any of these anywhere else as they were made exclusively for Pinoy Steel. Modern ‘fun’ flippers they’re not. Flipping for fun has only recently become popular in the Philippines. For much of the 20th century, flipping your balisong open on someone (or more commonly, opening and latching one open with both hands) meant you were prepared to fight to the death, and no self-respecting Batanguenyo would back down or he’d live the rest of his life in ridicule.
Combs obviously don’t count, but be careful where you flip these open. Any time I’ve flipped one open, people have assumed I had a knife in my hand, so I open them slowly and discreetly!
Batangas balisongs are made the traditional way: the blade is made as large as possible for a given set of channels for a precise fit, somewhat negating the need for a second tang pin. Flipping them closed means the blade (or in this case, comb) will hit the liners, which in time will damage the housing. This is not advisable if you want your comb to last: I recommend only flipping these open for use or practice, and then closing them carefully. If properly cared for, these combs will outlast you and me!
From top to bottom:
1. This balicomb is in the rare 9.5” range: up until I had them made in this size as a special request, it had never been done. The craftsmen were somewhat relucant to do so as it had never been done before, but they have been very popular. The larger size makes them much easier to flip open and use than the smaller ones, particularly for those of us with larger hands. This is an exceptionally beautiful balicomb with very nice smooth horse bone inserts I polished up to a gleam by hand. It measures in at 22.3 cm.
Unlike the cheaper Batangas balicombs you may find elsewhere, the bone on this one is pristine: no dark areas. The comb is solid 3/16” thick stainless, which is much thicker than what you’d find on lower grade balisong combs. The bolsters are beautifully done and the comb is sawed and ground with the type of skill only a master craftsman possesses.
The bolsters and latch are thick, solid brass, and the housing is hand formed 300-series stainless, which is light and durable. The comb itself is the same type of stainless steel and each tooth was carefully (and very evenly) sawed into the comb by hand. These combs take a great deal of time to make since every last part is shaped, ground and polished by hand.
Each of the bolsters is secured with one copper pin: this is standard on Filipino balisongs.
The comb was really beautifully done. I have one of these in stainless and bone myself, but in the smaller size.
The bone inserts are also the nicest you’ll find: they have everything from pure white to warm caramel tones.
This is a great balicomb in a classic combination I’m sure you’d be proud to own. Take care of it: ten years down the line, there may no longer be any craftsmen capable of making one of these with this degree of skill. I’m proud to be able to help support the industry and hope our efforts will help keep the tradition of balisong making alive. 5 oz. SOLD.
2. This balicomb was from one of the first batches I ever had custom made with imported materials: the inserts on this one are stunning purpleheart. This purpleheart is the most purple I’ve ever seen. All the purpleheart I’ve purchased since is much paler in comparison. I believe this is my last one, so if you want it, don’t hesitate as getting purpleheart of this quality appears to be very difficult at this time.
This comb measures in at 18.7 cm. The comb, bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless, the most durable choice for classic Batangas FHMs at this time. The purpleheart was painstakingly hand finished to 2000 grit, a process which took me over two hours. This substantially improved its appearance and the fit and finish of the wood. After refinishing, I gave the wood several coats of natural beeswax and linseed oil to protect it.
The fit of the inserts to the bolsters and housing is much, much better after careful hand sanding. There is a slightly scuffed area on one of the bolsters, but nothing that couldn’t be polished smooth with a little elbow grease.
There are a few dark spots in the wood from buffing in the Philippines, but the vast majority has been completely removed. This allows the incredible color of this wood to shine through.
Each of the bolsters is single pinned with iron pins: the classic way. The comb only has one tang pin.
This stunningly beautiful balicomb is the last of a batch that has been exceedingly popular: please do not hesitate if you like this comb as I may never be able to offer purpleheart this nice again! 3.9 oz. $159.
3. Here’s a balicomb that features exceptional African bubinga sandwiched between classic brass: definitely something you won’t find anywhere else. This Batangas beauty measures in at 18.7 cm. The comb and housing are 300-series stainless. The latch is hand crafted from brass to match the bolsters.
The bubinga has been hand finished to 2000 grit, a process that takes me over two hours. Doing so substantially improves the appearance of the wood and the fit and finish of the comb overall. The transition between the wood, bolsters and housing is much smoother and the color and figuring of this incredible bubinga shine through. This bubinga was sourced a few years ago and the bubinga I’ve sourced since isn’t quite as nice. I’m glad I waited to list this comb as I’ve learned a thing or two about finishing wood over the last few years. This comb was giving a hand buffed beeswax and linseed oil finish.
Each of the bolsters features a single copper pin, and each insert is secured with two. The copper contrasts beautifully with the warm brown tones of the bubinga and the bright brass.
This is a very nice balicomb indeed, and one any true balisong aficionado should be proud to own. 3.3 oz. $149.
4. This balicomb features all-American white holly inserts. White holly is notoriously hard to keep white, which many seem to be obsessed with: it actually has subtle figuring of its own that few are considered with showing off. This wood has gray and green tones deep down that are actually very attractive.
This comb was made at a time when I didn’t know how to hand finish the wood on my offerings the way I now do. Doing so substantially improves the appearance of the wood, as well as the fit of the wood to the bolsters and housing.
This comb is 18.2 cm long. The comb and housing are both 300-series stainless. The bolsters and latch are hand crafted out of solid brass. Each of the bolsters features a single copper pin.
This holly was hand finished to 2000 grit: the faint green was actually a major surprise to me and I actually quite like it. This wood was given the beeswax and linseed oil finish. You may want to seal this wood to prevent staining as holly is notoriously absorbent.
The figuring on this side of the comb is even nicer!
This comb weighs in at 4 oz. $149.
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Bahi, Zebrawood, Cocobolo and Mun Ebony.
Four beautiful balisongs from the most skilled craftsmen making balisongs in the Philippines today. This skill has been handed down for generations: sadly, the current crop of makers may not be passing these skills down to their sons. These balisongs have evolved into their present form, but in many ways, are much like the first balisongs that were made in the 1900s.
1. This balisong measures in at exactly 29 cm: a true, textbook bente nueve. It features a carbon steel kris blade with two extra thick tang pins. The housing, bolsters and latch are all solid stainless steel, and the top bolsters are double pinned for extra durability.
The inserts on this one are beautiful Filipino bahi (palm wood). This is some of the nicest bahi I’ve ever seen. Up until last year, bahi had never been used on Filipino balisongs. This wood has been painstakingly hand finished to 2000 grit, which significantly improved its appearance and the fit of the wood to the bolsters and housing. A little dark buffing compound is still trapped in the grain of the wood, but I have removed almost all of it as you can see.
The blade has a handful of tiny pits that I have buffed clean. It is discounted because of this.
This is an exceptionally nice bente nueve and the palm wood is really incredible! Bahi is durable, heavy wood, and what my favorite arnis sticks are made of. 5.1 oz. $165.
2. This balisong features the now classic bayonet grind. This grind was first seen on balisongs around WWII and it is heavily inspired by the US Army bayonets that were prevalent at the time. The first bayonet bente nueve may have been made for a returning US troop. This one measures in at 28.9 cm: just under textbook bente nueve length. In actuality, most bente nueves are a little under or over 29 cm.
The blade has a nice, thin swedge, and two extra thick tang pins: what I like to call a real Pinoy Steel piece.
The inserts are African zebrawood which I hand finished to 1200 grit. The softness of this wood and the grain mean there is a little buffing compounded trapped in the wood. I removed almost all of it and then finished the wood with beeswax and linseed oil.
The bolsters, housing and latch on this knife are all solid 300-series stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is double pinned for durability.
This is a great bente nueve I know many of you will like: the warm, caramel-colored zebrawood contrasts nicely with the cold steel. 5.3 oz. $169.
3. This is an exceptionally nice bente nueve. It features blood red Central American cocobolo that I personally hand finished to 2000 grit, which brings out subtle figuring and color that simply isn’t visible at the 400 grit most knifemakers finish their wood to. This knife measures in at 29.1 cm in length.
This wood is a beautiful, dark, rich red.
The blade is 5160 spring steel that was hand forged the traditional way. It features the now classic kris grind. The tip is a little straighter (like some Maranao kris), which allows for easier insertion before the waves increase the size of the wound channel.
The blade features two extra thick tang pins. There are a couple of tiny forging marks on the ricasso.
The bolsters, housing and latch are all solid stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is double pinned for durability.
This is an exceptionally nice piece, and it’s a nice weight at 4.9 oz. $165.
4. This bente nueve is a beauty. It features mun ebony from Laos, which is increasingly hard to find. This wood may look like kamagong, but it has much tighter grain and different figuring from Filipino ebony. I really like this wood and would love one of these buyods for the collection! This one measures in at exactly 29 cm.
This balisong is built slimmer than usual: great for carry, and for those who like a more slender knife. The bolsters, liners and latch are all solid stainless steel, and all of the bolsters are double pinned.
The blade is hand forged 5160 and features a very nice buyod (bowie) grind. The swedge and clip are beautifully done.
The ebony has been hand finished to 1000 grit: I chose not to go higher since ebony becomes very smooth at high grits and won’t hold oil if it’s too smooth. The ebony was then finished with a hand buffed linseed oil and beeswax coat.
This is an especially nicely ground bente nueve. 4.6 oz. $179.
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Ifugao Riding Crop.
This Ifugao riding crop was entirely handmade in the Cordillera region of the Northern Philippines. The Ifugao are known for their simple, traditional existences. Of course, recent events and terrible natural disasters have shaken things up.
I was surprised that the Ifugao would make a riding crop with a concealed dagger: a friend recently told me items such as this were popular in the Second World War with US army officers. This style of riding crop may have first been commissioned by an American officer, and made continuously since then!
The crop is finished in black liquid polish, as many leather sheaths in this part of the world often are. This may chip and flake, but it is easily touched up with some liquid Kiwi.
The leather loops on the top of the crop are expertly braided: braiding natural fibers is something the Ifugao excel at. The top portion of the crop measures in at 4 3/4”. The overall length, including the strap, is 16 3/4”.
The hand loop on the bottom of the crop is 5” long and is embossed with three stars.
The body of the crop is 7” long and is expertly stitched. It is lined with a carbon steel to keep its shape and prevent the spike from penetrating through the leather.
The spike is 1/4” thick hand forged carbon steel. The tip isn’t perfectly sharp, but it doesn’t need to be for its intended purpose! It has some surface corrosion that I have buffed to remove the active rust. This could of course be further cleaned up with sandpaper if desired.
The spike is 7 9/16” and the handle is 4.5” (12.1” overall). It balances perfectly right where the handle meets the spike.
The spike weighs in at 3.5 oz: 4.3 oz overall when in the crop.
$39 including shipping.
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Classic Kamagong.
The brass and kamagong comb is sold and the stainless and kamagong comb is reserved. The rest of the items are still available.
Five items for you today: they all feature Filipino hardwood and the fork has classic Batangas jigged horse bone.
1. These eagle kris bente nueves are always popular. They aren’t made by the best makers, but they are still great knives, if a little rough around the edges. I personally picked this one from a small batch of eagle krises I was presented with and I only accepted one or two—the commercially produced balisongs aren’t made with the same degree of care and often have issues I can’t live with and don’t feel are worthy of being offered here at Pinoy Steel.
This kris measures in at 28 cm. It has a few forge marks on the ricasso and eagle tang: since the blades are hand forged the traditional way, using charcoal and an anvil, this is pretty much inevitable. The forge marks definitely lend the blade character you won’t find on a modern machine ground and electric oven-treated balisong produced in a sterile factory!
The inserts are beautiful red narra heartwood with great chatoyancy. The brass overlay was very nicely done. Brass overlay has been seen on bente nueves since at least the ’40s (I have one from back then I will never part with)! The inserts, housing and latch are all solid brass (no stainless liners on this one).
The entire handle is buffed after grinding, and the wood usually has dark compound and dust trapped in it. I have removed the vast majority of the compound, which really allows the color and chatoyancy to shine through, but some compound still remains around the brass overlay. No other dealer bothers with attempting to remove the buffing compound and steel dust, but I feel the wood is just too nice to leave covered up.
The blade features the kris grind, which is always a popular choice. The balisong I carry most often happens to be a brass and bone kris.
The top bolsters are double copper pinned for increased durability on this one.
This is an exceptionally nice eagle kris bali: you definitely don’t want to hesitate on this one if you like it, since they move fast. 7.5 oz (the brass housing and overlay really adds to the weight)! $115.
2. This bente nueve is a real beauty: I’d be happy to add this one to my collection of kamagong and stainless balisongs since the combination is just pure, simple beauty. The buyod blade was well ground and the clip and swedge just look perfect to me. This bali measures in at 28.8 cm.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel and only features a single tang pin (as is traditional).
The inserts are beautiful kamagong heartwood. I have removed the trapped buffing compound and metal dust from the wood, but I have not hand finished the ebony. It is at around 400 grit and has a few rough patches. I would be happy to refinish this balisong for you for an additional $15. I recommend taking it to 1000 grit if you’d like to try your hand at refinishing this one. At 1000 grit, ebony is very smooth, but still capable of holding oil to prevent checking.
The bolsters, liners and latch are all solid 300-series stainless. Each of the bolsters is pinned once. This bali is really pure simplicity.
5.9 oz. $115, or $129 with the optional hand finishing.
3. These stainless and kamagong balicombs are very popular. They are made by the best balisong makers still making bente nueves deep in the heart of Batangas, and it shows. These are difficult to make, and getting the teeth right takes a great deal of skill since each tooth is sawed into a stainless bar entirely by hand.
This comb measures in at 19 cm.
The comb has two extra thick tang pins: a Pinoy Steel comb through and through.
The inserts are beautiful kamagong heartwood with some subtle brown figuring. The bolsters, liners and latch are solid stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is double pinned: again, a Pinoy Steel hallmark.
The wood on this comb has been cleaned up to remove the excess buffing compound that you find on virtually all FHM balisongs. I would be happy to hand finish this comb for an extra $15. This significantly improves the fit of the insert to the liners and bolsters and also drastically improves the wood’s appearance and feel. RESERVED.
4. This balicomb is in classic brass and kamagong. This is a popular item here in Pinoy Steel and with good reason. Crafted by Batangas’ best balisong makers, it is lightweight, easy to carry and great for combing your hair with! As with the real balisongs, this one should not be flipped closed hard repeatedly or the comb will wear down the liners over time.
This comb measures in at 19.1 cm long. It features two extra thick tang pins for increased durability—this is only found on Pinoy Steel FHM balicombs.
The bolsters and thick latch are both solid brass: the liners on this one are 300-series stainless, which is durable and also helps keep the weight down.
Each of the bolsters is double pinned for increased durability: again, this one is all Pinoy Steel.
The inserts are beautiful kamagong heartwood with great black and brown color. This wood has been cleaned up to remove the excess buffing compound that is commonly found on FHM balisongs, but it has not been hand finished. I charge $15 extra for this. Hand finishing will significantly improve the feel and appearance of the wood while also improving the fit of the inserts to the bolsters and liners.
4.2 oz. SOLD.
This balifork is not from the best makers and is definitely a little rougher around the edges, but it is perfectly usable. It is also a great deal for someone who doesn’t want to spring for the best quality, but still wants a balifork for the collection or to use. I don’t often offer these because I feel the quality doesn’t quite meet my standards, but I accepted this one for Pinoy Steel, although I am offering it with a few caveats.This fork measures in at 18.3 cm open.
The fork is solid 300-series stainless, but is only 1/8” thick versus the 3/16” thick forks on the ones from the best makers. The finish isn’t as even and there is an ‘orange peel’ texture near the bolsters.
The bolsters and latch are aluminum. Each bolster features a single copper pin. While nice and light, aluminum does ding up easily. The liners are stainless. Each of the bolsters is pinned once. The inserts are jigged horse bone.
Due to the thinner fork, the liners have to be pressed down to hold the fork in place. The fork has a slight bend in it to make it more natural in use.
This fork is nice and light at 3 oz. $45 including shipping.
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Stainless Arnis, Trainers with Bushings and a Titanium Pocket Tool.
Both of the channel construction trainers are sold: the rest of the items are still available.
I got these items in a few days ago—I think you’ll like them!
First up are four arnis sticks made on a small scale for Chinese kung fu practitioners. The Chinese have been interested in arnis ever since they saw Dan Inosanto face off with Bruce Lee in the Game of Death. These sticks were custom ordered and are excellent for training and use. They are 1mm thick 300-series stainless tubing with laser engraving. There are stylized dragons and traditional Chinese motifs on the sticks.
They measure in at 22”, shorter than standard arnis sticks. This makes them faster in use, easier to carry and also keeps the weight down.
Each stick weighs 10.1 oz. They are around 13/16” thick overall.
The engraving is classy and also provides some grip to the handles. You could of course refinish these if need be—a little sandpaper would give them a satin finish on the raised areas.
The ends, like the rest of these sticks, are nicely finished.
These are very solid sticks and they balance perfectly right in the middle, where there is an area without any engraving. Perfect balance is not easily achievable with natural materials, but these are uniform throughout. $49 each, or $95 for a pair.
This titanium alloy skull is great for EDC: it is light, durable and can even be worn as a pendant on a breakaway bead chain. I believe it can also be used as a bottle opener, although I haven’t tried it.
The skull measures in at 3.75” long and 2 9/16” wide.
The skull is a solid 3/16” thick.
The eyes are large enough to fit my fingers and the grooves in the sides of the skull will allow your fingers or thumb to rest in them, so you can brace the skull for impact.
2.9 oz. $48 including shipping.
These trainers have significantly better fit and finish than the last trainer I offered, and they also lock up much better in the closed position.
These trainers are from the same guys who make the spring latch balicombs I offer: these are one of their newest products. Rather than sandwich construction, the handles are made of cast 400-series stainless that is welded together. The screws have been ground flush with the handles and there are bushings in the pivots. This drastically reduces the handle play and makes them flip incredibly smoothly.
The handles have been well finished and buffed.They are solid and durable. The spring latch is much easier to deploy than on the originals.
The blades are 1/8” thick. The bushings on these are a major upgrade! These also have latch gates that prevent the latch from hitting the ‘blade,’ although this is not really an issue since they have spring latches.
Bushings really take the handle play out. The blade is, however, large enough to hit the inside of the liners and rub on the channels, but being thick, solid stainless, this isn’t going to affect durability.
These measure in at 5.5” closed, or 9 3/16” when open. 5 oz. $80 each.
This trainer is from a different supplier: it has sandwich construction handles that have been screwed together before the heads were ground flush with the handles. It is also 400-series stainless and features a spring latch and bushings in the pivots. The fit and finish on this trainer is very good, and the skeletonized handles and the training blade have been nicely done. The edges of the handles are smooth, but aren’t perfectly even, as these were hand ground. The tang pockets were also done by hand. The trainer locks up perfectly.
This trainer features very thick tang pins for durability.
This trainer measures in at 5 7/16” closed, or 8 7/8” open (a little shorter than the channel construction trainers).
The spring latch works well and this would be a pleasure to flip. 5 oz. $70.
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Old School Japanese Taylors.
These are still being made in Seki City, Japan: the traditional heart of Japanese knife and sword making. Japanese Spydercos are still made there today. These balis were designed by Taylor in the 80s and are made exactly the same way today. They are heavily FHM influenced: brass channels, beautiful chatoyant rosewood inserts and a 1/8” thick hollowground labaha-style blade.
The blade, wood and the outside of the channels have all been buffed, exactly in the same way as FHMs. The brass channels are absolutely mirror polished on the outside.
The latch does flop around: you’d want to either accept that the blade would get dinged up if you intend on flipping this bali closed (I no longer flip any of my balisongs closed), or you could put a rubber band on the latch to prevent damage.
At the same time, these are precision-made as you would expect from the Japanese. There is a lot of play in the handles when open (intentional), but it locks up rock solid. The blade is razor sharp Japanese 440C. It measures in at precisely 9”, or 22.9 cm, and weighs 8 oz.
The nylon sheath is 0.9 oz and is a perfect fit for the bali. $85 including shipping.
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Maple Burl and Kamagong.
Two beautiful items I got done working on a few days ago: I think you guys will like them! Both are from some of the most talented craftsmen currently making bente nueves in Batangas and it shows.
This beautiful bente nueve measures in at 28.9 cm: just under classic bente nueve length. It features the WWII-style bayonet grind that inspired all feature bayonet and weehawk balisongs. This is a nicely ground bali with incredible maple burl inserts I personally hand finished to 2000 grit. There are five decorative pins in each insert. I believe the makers decided to pin the burl this way as it had lots of natural voids and they aren’t used to burl wood. I have filled all the voids with CA glue (which took me several hours of successive coats and fine sanding).
This is truly exceptional American maple burl. The CA finish isn’t 100% smooth all over, but it is better than I first thought it was and the checks are virtually undetectable now. It was an incredible amount of work.
The blade is shaving sharp along the edge: the guys really outdid themselves on this one!
Each of the solid brass bolsters is double pinned with classic copper. The rivets in the burl are copper and aluminum and actually pass through the liner rather than being purely decorative.
The CA near the top bolsters is slightly raised: this was inevitable as I had to fill the voids there.
This is truly an exceptional balisong and one I’d be happy to keep, especially since so much of my own time went into bringing this one to you. It has a nice, thick brass latch. This balisong will need breaking in. 5.6 oz. $165.
I also have a carbon steel bente nueve trainer for you today. I usually offer trainers in stainless, but the carbon steel trainers are tougher. You will of course have to maintain the ‘blade’ as you would on a real bente nueve. It measures in at 28.9 cm. Each of the brass bolsters is double pinned through the stainless housing.
The inserts are beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood. Kamagong is an ebony species entirely indigenous to the Philippines. I have hand finished the wood to 1200 grit, an extremely labor intensive process. I stopped at 1200 grit as going too high in the grits with ebony makes it slick and prevents it from absorbing oil. Ebony should be kept moist and oiled regularly or it is prone to checking.
This is a beautiful trainer: there is very subtle figuring in the wood.
The blade has a few very minor pits from storage.
Extra thick tang pins are definitely a good thing on a trainer. You do of course want to avoid allowing the blade to slam into the liners on most FHMs: they are not designed to be flipped like modern factory knives. FHMs are about getting open and putting to use.
This is a very nice trainer. The blade is 3/16” thick all the way to the tip, which means it is slightly weight forward. This trainer is of course not meant to be a toy: it is for those who carry FHM balisongs for personal protection and want to practice opening and using one by themselves or with a partner. 6.6 oz. $115.
