Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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Smooth Bone.
Only the last balisong in this post is available: the first two were custom ordered.
Smooth horse bone has been used on Batangas balisongs since the 1940s. It is a great choice for handle material. It comes from horses that have died of natural causes, so it is ecologically sound. Batangas and the provinces immediately around it have long been famous for their horses. Bone is easily worked, holds up well over the years and it can look absolutely beautiful. These three balisongs are a testament to seventy years of using this classic material.
The first two balisongs measure in at a whopping great 36 cm each. They were custom ordered at this length and they are both beautiful pieces.
1. The first balisong weighs in at 6.3 oz. It has two tang pins for improved lockup, and each of the brass bolsters is pinned twice. There are some very minor grind marks visible on the blade if you look at it just right. The bone on this balisong is exceptionally nice. It features a hollowground, hand forged carbon steel tari blade. The bolsters and custom beveled latch are solid brass. The housing is made of stainless to keep the weight down.
2. The second 36 cm balisong is much like the first one, but slightly lighter at 6.1 oz. It has two extra thick tang pins as well. The bottom bolsters, however, were pinned once rather than twice. The brass latch is thicker and was carefully file worked by the maker.
3. The third balisong, which looks tiny next to its big brothers, is 28.9 cm long. It features an exceptionally well ground carbon spring steel labaha (straight razor) blade. Two extra-thick tang pins for improved lockup. The bolsters, liners and latch are stainless steel. The top bolsters were pinned twice for increased durability.
The bone on this knife is something else. It has deeper contrast than usual, and makes me think of clouds or murals on cathedral ceilings. 5.4 oz. $105.
The spine on the third knife.
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South American Rosewood Hexagon Chako & Kalabaw Horn Dulo-Dulo.
All sold.
These nunchaku were custom made for a buyer: he liked my pair, and asked me to get him some. He also purchased two kalabaw (Filipino water buffalo horn) dulo-dulo, so he got first pick! Kalabaw are the national animal of the Philippines. The dulo-dulo are $35 each including shipping. Dulo-dulo, or palm sticks, are used in arnis much like kubotan. I often carry one. These are the nicest kalabaw dulo-dulo I’ve seen in the Philippines and they are really well made and contoured.
From left to right:
1. 3.5 oz, 6.8” SOLD.
2. 3.2 oz, 7” SOLD.
3. 3.6 oz, 7.1” SOLD.
4. 3.4 oz, 7 3/16” TRADED.
5. 4 oz, 7 5/16” SOLD.
6. 4.8 oz, 7 9/16” SOLD.
The chako measure in at 9 3/8” and weigh 9.5 oz overall. The extra diamond-knotted paracord is included
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Zamboanga and Basilan Police Patches!
No knives tonight: lots of orders to get out today before the new blades go up! Here’s a little something different. Four police patches from one of the most volatile regions of the Philippines (especially right now): the Zamboanga Peninsula and Isabela, Basilan. I don’t think you’ll find these anywhere else. All four patches are available.
1. This patch is for the Zamboanga City Police Office. Moro Vinta sail in the center. Zamboanga City is the gateway to Sulu and Basilan and one of the nicest places I’ve been in the Southern Philippines. $9.99 including shipping.
2. Zamboanga Sibugay is a province which has recently experienced a great deal of violence after the Philippines Marines and MILF shot it out in Basilan a few weeks ago. Sadly, the death toll continues to rise.
You can see a Moro Vinta boat in the center with a sail with the colors you see all over Sulu, as well as a star and moon in the top left and a cross in the top right. Of course, the three stars and the sun represent the Philippines as a whole. $9.99
3. This Zamboanga Del Norte patch features a small typo: “Riversity” rather than “Diversity.” Not sure what happened there, but I only noticed it after I bought the patch. There is a Moro warrior in the center of the sun on this patch. $9.99
4. This fourth patch is from the Basilan Police Provincial Office in Barangay Menzi, Isabela, Basilan. Again, another Vinta can be seen in the center of the patch. $9.99
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Morado, Mun Ebony, Kamagong and Bubinga.
Balisongs 3 and 4 are still available: balisongs 1 and 2 and the balicomb are sold.
We have wood from three continents on five very well made pieces to start the week off with! All five were made by the best balisong makers in Batangas. They are all very well ground and put together. Several hours of my own labor went into getting these knives looking their best. I think you’ll agree that these are the nicest Filipino balisongs you’re going to find anywhere!
From top to bottom:
1. This balisong is 28.8 cm long. It features a buyod grind with a nice, deep, thin swedge. This is really an outstanding grind, and I can say the grind on this knife can hold its own with the best knives anywhere. This is a beautiful piece all around.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel (5000-series). There is a nice amount of belly on the blade. Two extra thick tang pins improve lockup and durability. The ‘wings’ (guard ground onto the end of the blade) prevent your hand from sliding onto the blade under heavy use. This baby is absolutely razor sharp.
Unfortunately, there is some very light pitting on the blade from storage in the Philippines. I have buffed and hand polished the blade, but the pits remain, so this beauty is discounted.
The inserts are beautiful morado, or Brazilian Rosewood, that I carefully hand finished to 2000 grit. There is lovely chatoyancy, lengthwise figuring and color in this wood. It has been treated with mineral oil to bring out the best in the wood.
The bolsters, liners and latch are stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability. The latch is also beautifully fileworked by the maker, and is nicely beveled for comfort.
There is also some minor spotting around the pivots.
This is a beauty: unfortunately, it wasn’t stored as well as it should have been before I picked it up from the makers. 6 oz. Discounted at $165.
2. This beautiful balisong is exactly 29 cm long. It features a hollowground tari (cockfighting blade) grind with a long swedge. The swedge is very thin: this is not a knife I’d stab into a coin, but it will stab softer materials just fine. The carbon spring steel blade is absolutely razor sharp.
There are two pits on this knife’s blade: one is tiny and the other is barely noticeable, but I’d still like to point them out. Two extra thick tang pins for strong lockup.
This knife again features incredible Brazilian rosewood inserts. I hand finished the wood to 2000 grit, and it looks truly incredible. It is lighter than it appears in the pics.
The bolsters, liners and latch are all stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is double pinned for durability.
This, again, is a very, very nice grind.
This is an absolutely beautiful knife for the tari lover: this is perhaps my favorite profile of all, and the swedge on this one is incredible. 5 oz. SOLD.
3. This extra slim balisong packs a big punch for such a slender package: it measures in at 28.8 cm. It features a buyod blade with a short, slim swedge. The blade is hand forged carbon steel that has been truly beautifully hand ground, and it features two extra thick tang pins for extra durability.
The inserts on this knife are Laos mun ebony. There is incredible figuring and chatoyancy in this wood, and even a tiny eye that looks incredible. I hand finished the wood all the way up to 2000 grit before applying several coats of mineral oil. This wood is truly stunning. It is lighter than it appears in the pictures.
The bolsters, liners and latch are stainless steel, and each bolster is pinned twice for longevity.
This is a beautiful piece. It is slim and lightweight, but absolutely solid. The grind is truly beautiful too, and can stand with knives that cost four times as much. There is one tiny pit on the blade that is barely noticeable, but here I am pointing it out anyway. :) 4.5 oz. $165.
4. This bente nueve is nice and simple. It measures in at exactly 29 cm (a true bente nueve). The blade is in the popular bayonet grind, which is convex ground rather than hollowground like the labaha (straight razor grind). One tang pin (like most Filipino balisongs) and each of the stainless bolsters is only pinned once. The liners and latch are also 300-series stainless steel.
The inserts are beautiful, almost pitch black Philippines ebony (kamagong). I hand finished this wood to 2000 grit and really brought out the black beauty inherent in this wood. It is smooth as glass. Nobody else puts this much into the wood on Filipino balisongs (or even most foreign-made balisongs, for that matter)!
5 oz. $125.
5. This comb was previously posted on pinoysteel.tumblr.com, but I decided to refinish it now that I know how to really get the wood looking its best. It is only 18.8 cm long. The wood is beautiful African bubinga that I hand finished to 2000 grit. The comb is 300-series stainless and each tooth was sawed into a stainless steel bar by hand.
This batch of bubinga is a darker reddish brown than most and it looks great! There is even some faint chatoyancy in the wood.
The bolsters, liners and latch are all 300-series stainless steel, just like the comb.
This is one of the first combs I’ve ever refinished the wood on, and it truly takes the combs to the next level. 4.7 oz. SOLD.
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Smiling Kitty Pendant?
You may think I’ve lost my mind, but this is not just a cute pendant. This is a devastating personal defense tool. It is solid chrome plated alloy. Slip your fingers through those holes and this is one mean little knuckle duster. The ears come to sharp points that will easily pierce and tear flesh.
Other dealers may offer these in plastic and aluminum, but this is solid alloy and a lot more discreet-looking than the other ones out there. Also, the finger holes are a full 1” in diameter, so even an adult male could use one of these. The small dog-tag bead chain could be passed through the eyes if you choose to wear this as a pendant, or it could be hung from one of your belt loops. I wouldn’t pocket carry this because of the sharp points.
Kitty measures in at 2.75” (length and width) and is just under 1/8” thick. She weighs in at 2.5 oz. Great little tool for your loved one! $24.99 including shipping.
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Africa.
Balisongs 1 and 2 are sold. 3 and 4 are still available.
Three of these four balisongs feature top grade exotic wood from Africa. All of the wood was purchased from dealers in the US, so all wood used on these balisongs is CITES complaint. The USDA requires the exporting country to issue certificates through the representative CITES organization stating the wood will not be detrimental to the survival of the species and that the wood is from legal sources. All four balisongs are from two of the best makers currently producing balisongs in Batangas today.
From top to bottom:
1. This 28.7 cm-long bente nueve features beautiful Laotian mun ebony sandwiched between really lovely pieces of Batangas horse bone. Normally bone is sandwiched between wood on FHMs, but I had this piece made the other way around for variety. I personally hand finished the mun ebony and applied several coats of mineral oil to it. It was hand sanded all the way up to 2000 grit and feels as smooth as glass. There is very subtle figuring and chatoyancy in mun ebony that is not found in most batches of kamagong: this is really beautiful wood, and it contrasts nicely with the cream-colored horse bone.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel in a very nicely executed buyod (bowie) profile. The swedge is fairly long and is nice and deep. The blade features two extra thick tang pins. There is one forging mark on the blade (forging marks are commonly found on hand forged carbon steel blades, no matter where in the world a knife is made).
The bolsters, liners and latch on this knife are all durable 300-series stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is double pinned for extra durability. The latch is subtly beveled for greater comfort when thumbing it open.
This is a beautiful knife all around: definitely a great one for the collection or even to carry. It was perfectly pinned, so it is ready to flip (no breaking in required)! 5.5 oz. SOLD.
2. Knife number two is 29.2 cm long and features a labaha blade (hollowground like a straight razor). The inserts are beautiful African bubinga with reddish-brown tones and even some chatoyancy. There is interesting grain in this wood. Again, I hand finished the wood all the way up to 2000 grit, which really took this balisong to the next level.
The latch, liners and bolsters are all stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased stability.
This labaha blade is truly a labaha: it is hand forged carbon spring steel and it is absolutely hair popping sharp! There is one small forge mark on the ricasso. This blade features two extra thick tang pins for better lockup in both the open and closed positions.
This knife weighs in at 5.5 oz. SOLD.
3. This third balisong is 29 cm long (a true bente nueve). The inserts are beautiful zebrawood, also known as zebrano. I hand finished this wood all the way up to 2000 grit which really brought out the color and figuring.
The blade is classic carbon spring steel, the toughest choice for an FHM balisong. It is hardened just right, so it is both tough and flexible while still hard enough to hold an edge well. Two extra thick tang pins ensure good lockup.
The bolsters, liners and latch are all 300-series stainless steel. All eight bolsters are double pinned for increased durability.
This knife features the buyod (bowie) grind with a nice, long swedge.
There was some pitting on the blade. I carefully buffed and hand polished this blade, but the pits remain, so this knife is discounted.
This beautiful balisong weighs in at 5.5 oz, and it is ready to flip. Great EDC knife. $155.
4. This balisong also features a buyod grind with a nice, long swedge and African zebrawood inserts. The blade is 28.8 cm long (slightly shorter than the other one).
This batch of zebrawood has great color, figuring and even chatoyancy.
The blade has two extra thick tang pins for better lockup. The bolsters, liners and latch are 300-series stainless, and each of the bolsters is double pinned for durability.
Definitely a beautiful knife, and my first choice out of today’s selections! 5.4 oz. $165.
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Busese!
Both sold.
It’s been a while since I last posted new items, so here I am with something that will definitely appeal to many of you. This is a very special piece, so if you want it, definitely do not hesitate!
This type of balisong is called a busese. In Batanguenyo Tagalog, a busese is a circumcised penis. In the Philippines, circumcision is a rite that is performed on young boys to mark their transition to manhood. Many of these circumcisions are performed by some guy from the neighborhood in very primitive conditions. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say anesthesia and hygiene (as we know it) aren’t high on the list, and the risk of infection is high. Nevertheless, this is an interesting sociological phenomenon that is a rite of passage for many Filipino men. In Batangas, these circumcisions are even carried out with balisong on occasion!
The busese has only been made in very small batches since the 70s. In all my time in Batangas, I’ve only ever seen two or three of these knives, one of which I purchased, kept on my nightstand and then eventually sold here. This is the first time a busese has been made in years, and this was the maker’s first attempt at making one. It features stainless bolsters (for the first time ever) and beautiful European red stag inserts. Red stag is a material that is seldom available to American makers due to import restrictions: I was fortunate to be able to import some directly from the UK. I had two of these made: perhaps it would have been better to list them together, but I really wanted to show this one off today! Anyone purchasing this one and the other one will receive a discount.
The busese very much resembles a circumcised penis. 4.2 cm (1.65”) of blade is exposed, meaning you’d want a sheath to carry one of these! It measures 15.2 cm long closed (5.98”).
The bolsters and inserts are ground flat, which is how buseses are always made.
This is the nicest busese I have ever handled. The construction is top notch, and the blade was ground better than on my nicest American custom knives. This is the most perfect grind I’ve ever seen on a Filipino-made balisong.
The maker himself told me how much trouble he had making the locking mechanism. It took him several days to make this knife, but he said in future, it won’t take as long, now that he knows how to go about making a busese.
Open, the knife measures 23.8 cm long. The blade has 13 cm of sharpened edge, and it is 13.8 cm long (5.43”) to the top of the handles. The handles are only 10 cm (3.94”) long. The benefit of these shorter handles is that it would be difficult for anyone to grab onto the handle. Also, the exposed tip means the knife can be used before it is even opened, a definite advantage in a defensive situation when you want to create some space.
The stag used for this knife is truly beautiful.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel with oversized tang pins. The blade is a modified buyod grind with ‘ventilation holes’ to allow for easy removal from muscle tissue.
This is truly an outstanding knife in every way and one I would be more than happy to keep. 6 oz. SOLD.
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29 cm Carbon Fiber Balisong.
This 29 cm balisong was built extra slim at around 0.75” wide at its widest point. It features an expertly ground carbon spring steel buyod blade with two extra thick tang pins. The swedge is long and deep. This is the first FHM balisong to ever feature aerospace-grade carbon fiber inserts.
The carbon fiber is held in place with copper pins, which contrast beautifully with the black and gray of the carbon. One of the inserts is pinned twice in the same spot (sometimes the makers don’t align the pins quite right the first time around: this is an issue with all handmade knives). The bolsters, liners and beveled custom grade latch are all 300-series stainless steel. Each of the bolsters is pinned twice for durability.
3.9 oz. SOLD.
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39” Kamagong, Bone and Brass Balisword with an Eagle Blade.
SOLD.
This massive balisword is the largest one you’re going to find online, and the only one in kamagong (Philippines ebony). It is so large, I had to use two rulers to measure it! This is truly a top quality piece that you will only find here at Pinoy Steel. It is built just like a balisong, although with some obvious differences.
The kamagong has been cleaned up to really bring out the color and figuring. It features copper and aluminum pins. The copper pins hold the inserts in place and the aluminum is purely decorative. The bone in the middle is classic jigged horse bone. The bolsters, liners and latch are all solid brass. The blade features a Philippines eagle tang and another eagle on the rambo-style blade. This is a true monster of a balisword!
There are no darker areas on the bone on this sword: this is truly an outstanding piece that would be great on the wall.
The blade is marked “Philippines” on the ricasso.
There are a few tiny spots on the blade and a few tiny forging marks, but this is one of the nicest kamagong baliswords i’ve ever offered. SOLD. 2 lbs 10 oz.
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Chinese Spring Latch Balicombs.
These balicombs are made of 420 stainless steel: a good, durable, corrosion resistant choice. They were made in China, but they definitely aren’t the cheap junk we’re used to seeing come out of the PRC. These balicombs have spring latches a la Benchmade 42 and they have bushings, which make them unbelievably smooth flippers. These are truly outstanding pieces that were made for the new generation of Chinese flippers, many of whom actually flip with 42s.
1. 22.3 cm long (13.7 cm closed). This balicomb has holes drilled through the sandwich construction handles that resemble the pattern on the venerated Benchmade 42. The pivot pins and the pins used to secure the handles to each other have been ground flush with the handles. The finishing on this knife is excellent, so you’d really have to look closely to see where the pins are.
The entire comb is 420 stainless. This steel is normally reserved for blade making. The comb has two extra thick tang pins that are nicely rounded. The latch springs up when squeezed, no matter how the knife is latched (open or closed). The bushings in the pivots make this comb flip like a dream!
4.25 oz. SOLD.
2. This comb has solid handles, so it is $10 cheaper. It too has bushings and 420 stainless construction. The fit and finish of these combs is truly outstanding, and they are a pleasure to flip! The bushings really help get the handles moving. I only have a few of these left, so if you want them, don’t hesitate! Please note the latch doesn’t fire when latched open, and only 80-90% of the time when closed. The spring might need changing out. 5 oz. SOLD.
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Bahi, Cocobolo and Kamagong Bente Nueves.
All sold except for the first one!
Four absolutely stunning bente nueves tonight! I spent almost two hours on each knife to get them up to standard and I think you’ll appreciate the work the makers and I put into them! From top to bottom:
1. 28.6 cm long with an upswept tari-style blade with a convex grind. Bottle opener on the spine. The blade was expertly ground down from hand forged carbon spring steel. There are two extra thick tang pins on this knife for increased durability.
The inserts are exhibition-grade cocobolo from Central America with astounding figuring. I refinished these by hand all the way up to 2000 grit, which means they’re wonderfully smooth and truly a sight to behold. The pictures definitely don’t do this wood justice!
The bolsters, liners and latch are all 300-series stainless. The latch is a larger custom-grade version, and it was fileworked by the maker. The top bolsters are double pinned for extra durability. I am very tempted to keep this one! 5.8 oz. $175.
2. This second knife is 29.1 cm long and has a buyod blade with an extra long swedge a la deadly grind. Carbon spring steel: the most durable choice for a balisong, as long as you remember to keep it oiled! Two extra thick tang pins ensure stronger lockup.
The inserts are Indonesian red palm wood that was cut diagonally. This results in truly unique figuring that almost looks like snakeskin to me. The natural chatoyancy and figuring visible in this wood are definitely unique! I hand finished this wood to 2000 grit as well and the transformation was astounding.
This balisong features double pinned stainless bolsters, liners and a custom-grade beveled latch. Truly a beauty, and ready to flip right from the makers! 5.6 oz. SOLD.
3. This bente nueve measures in at exactly 29 cm. It has a hollowground spring steel tari blade that is absolutely razor sharp for the first inch or two. The bolsters are brass and each of them is double pinned with copper pins. The liners are stainless, and the latch is a custom-grade beveled version in brass.
The inserts on this knife are flat, but rounded near the bolsters. This is known as an eight-sided balisong in Batangas. These are rarely offered, and definitely not in cocobolo. This cocobolo again has absolutely exquisite fguring. I hand finished it all the way up to 2000 grit, which really brought out the color and figuring. It also improved the insert to bolster fit and rounded off the edges a little, which makes the knife a joy to manipulate! Ready to flip, right from the makers. Nice and light at 4.9 oz. SOLD.
4. This fourth balisong measures in at 27.1 cm and is in classic brass and kamagong. It has a carbon spring steel old-school style buyod blade. The old school buyod has been used in hundreds, if not thousands of fights in the Philippines. This is the profile that started it all! The first French (and later, Filipino) balisongs had a profile much like this one, but without a central line and with a deeper clip that ended closer to the tip.
The kamagong inserts are almost jet black, the most desirable type for many people. I hand finished this wood up to 2000 grit too, which really brought out the beauty of the wood and made it butter smooth.
Double pinned brass bolsters, stainless liners and a custom-grade beveled latch. There are a few very shallow surface pits on the blade due to poor storage in the Philippines, but I’ve cleaned it off and hand polished the blade too. Truly a beauty! Nice and light at 4.9 oz. $109.
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Handwoven Yakan Wallets.
The first wallet is available. The second wallet is SOLD.
The Yakan of Basilan are held in high regard for their traditionally hand-loomed cloth. This cloth was traditionally used for clothing and embellishment and the cloth was a mixture of abaca and pineapple fibers which were naturally dyed using plant extracts from the environment around them. Much has changed since the US occupied Basilan in the 1800s. Cotton, chemical dyes and new products were introduced to meet the American and Christian Filipinos’ demands. For a while, Yakan cloth was even featured in haute couture lines in Europe! What has not changed, however, is the method of producing the cloth. It still takes hours and hours for these highly skilled women to produce their cloth, and they still use traditional looms to do so.
Today, the name of the island of Basilan strikes fear into the heart of many Filipinos. Most would never, ever dream of going there because of the notorious Abu Sayyaf, a secessionist group that supposedly wishes to return Sulu to its former glory: separate from the rest of the Philippines. Kidnapping travelers and volunteers for months at a time for ransom to fund their cause doesn’t lend them much credibility, although it does result in the beautiful islands of Sulu being some of the most dangerous places anywhere.
The Sultanate of Sulu flourished for centuries, but today, Basilan is one of the poorest places in the Philippines, and the crime rate there is phenomenal. I purchased these wallets from a workers’ cooperative in Basilan. Visiting the island was without a doubt the most stressful travel experience I’ve had in quite a while! Heavily armed Philippines’ military and police patrol the streets regularly, but the tension in the air there is truly something else.
I hope to offer more items from Basilan next year, but for now, I have a select few items to offer. Sourcing Yakan products is no easy task today!
1. This first wallet is made of heavy duty nylon with beautiful, soft Yakan cloth on the outside. The texture and detail of this cloth tells you how much went into producing it: it is truly astounding. The wallet was expertly handmade in the mountains of Basilan, the traditional stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. Producing these items and selling them provides impoverished Yakan families with income for their livelihood, which they desperately need.
This wallet measures in at 13.2 cm across (about 5 1/4”) and 9.5 cm high. The wallet weighs in at only 2.5 oz, meaning it won’t weigh you down.
Hook and loop fabric keeps it closed in your pocket.
The wallet features five card slots and a change pocket with a flap, again, thanks to strong hook and loop fabric. It measures 24.5 cm open: lots of room for any currency from anywhere!
The nylon used for this wallet is really heavy duty: this wallet will definitely hold up well for everyday use!
Truly a unique item you won’t find anywhere else! $49.99 including shipping.
2. This second wallet is slightly smaller at 13 cm across and 9.5 cm high. There is always a little variation when dealing with products that are handmade. The fabric is also of course a little different since it was cut from a different part of the cloth used on the outside of these wallets.
Again, good, strong hook-and-loop attachment points keep the wallet and the change pocket closed.
This wallet also measures in at 24.5 cm open.
2.5 oz. SOLD.
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17 3/8” West Javanese Badik.
SOLD.
This badik was purchased in a small village in West Java, Indonesia, about five hours drive from Jakarta. I was looking for an area where several craftsmen make high quality Javanese blades, and we chanced upon a small forge on the outskirts of town. The blacksmiths there said the town had once been renowned for making high quality blades, but the majority of the forges had been forced to close down due to lack of capital. This was definitely true. The oldest craftsman in town, whose family had been crafting blades for generations, had a single golok in his store, and he wouldn’t let me purchase it because it had been custom-ordered. They had no other blades for sale!
Around the corner, his sons had set up a forge. They had four or five blades and about as many chickens running around the work area. I was disappointed that I didn’t get the quality blades I was looking for, so I picked up this badik and an arit (sickle). What I didn’t realize, however, was how well made this piece was, despite its appearances. I now wish I’d picked up all their blades!
The sheath is extremely well made, and the blade is perfectly forged and ground. Even the handle was well carved. They didn’t have money for expensive wood, but this is an astoundingly well crafted working blade. If I can sell the badik and arit I picked up, I hope to be able to help the craftsmen produce more blades early next year and to give them money for better quality wood and polish.
This Makassar-style badik is actually quite a common style of blade on Java, and has been for centuries. I don’t know what kind of wood was used for the handle and sheath, but it has a distinctive smell a few of my other Indonesian blades also share.
This knife measures in at 18” in the sheath, which has a traditional attachment for tying the sheath to your belt. The handle is 5 3/8” and the badik is 17 3/8” on its own.
There is also what I believe is a carbon steel ring. The entire handle and sheath have been covered in orange varnish, which is widely used in Southeast Asia on working blades since it protects the wood against rot. There are a few holes in the handle from bugs (although I guarantee no bugs remain after the badik was made)!
The sheath is nailed together, which makes it much stronger than the regular epoxied sheaths and scabbards you find on other Indonesian blades.
The blade is 3/16” thick and was really, truly expertly forged from carbon spring steel and convex ground. There is a little varnish on the blade, but nothing that couldn’t be ground off during sharpening. The blade retains the original forge scale.
The blade measures in at 12” with an 11” cutting edge.
The balance point on this blade is 4” in front of the bolster. I believe this kind of badik would be used for slaughtering animals.
There is a maker’s stamp on the blade. The badik weighs in at a whopping 13 oz, or 16.8 oz with the sheath. This is definitely not something you will find anywhere else, so don’t hesitate if you’d like it for the collection or for actual use! SOLD.
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Bicolano Bolo: Modified in Chile!
I sold this Tabaco City-made bolo to a Pekiti Tirsia practitioner all the way in Chile earlier this year. A few months ago, a friend of his, who happened to be a knifemaker, helped him utterly transform it.
First, the blade was removed from the handle. The handle was carefully sanded to even it up, since it was a little rough. The part where the bolster slipped on was then cut off.
After polishing the tang, the handle was reattached with Retamo wood, stag and alpaca spacers in place of the bolster.
Two-part epoxy was then injected into the handle. See the big can of yerba mate in the background? Time to get my bombilla out :)
This bolo was utterly transformed: the renowned toughness of Bicol’s bolos dressed up with traditional South American materials. I think it’s an absolutely beautiful piece. Muchas gracias a ti Juan for sharing!
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36 cm Bone Tantos.
These beautiful chisel tantos were a custom order for a customer and friend. They are extra long at 36cm (the one on top is slightly longer at 36.5 cm). Both weigh a whopping 10 oz. They have flat, smooth horse bone inserts and flat bolsters with great color. Finding bone this length without any flaws is tough, but the guys pulled it off, and these knives are true works of art! Both of the custom-grade beveled latches were fileworked by the maker.
