Traditional Filipino Weapons Pinute
Jan 16, 2011 21:31:15 GMT
Post by Sébastien on Jan 16, 2011 21:31:15 GMT
Traditional Filipino Weapons Pinute Review
by
Sébastien Bilodeau, Montréal, Québec
I have owned this slick but sick blade for nearly six months now, I have cut with it in two backyard cutting sessions and right now I don't know why I am typing this review. Here's all you need to know about this sword ; go buy it. No seriously, go get one right now ......
....Oh, you still there ? Okay, I will type something more objective ...
Introduction
Enthusiastic remarks aside, I have been eyeing traditional filipino weapons website for a long time and I have frequently drooled over their many products. If you don't know about this seller, here's the site ; www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/Sandata.html
The products list is a bit messed up but with a few clicks it can be properly browsed. TFW get their blades from a forge in the Phillipines that makes its blades ''old-school style''. Some people knowledgeable about filipino martial arts and blades claim that many of the blades offered by TFW are modern reinterpretations of ancient filipino bladed weapons (in short, claims that TFW don't make historically-accurate blades). However, all people that I know who have bought from TFW had nothing but praise for these weapons.
I hesitated to take the plunge because I was wary of shelving more than 199 $ on a single blade. So, when a fellow forumnite offered in the classifieds his nearly-new TFW Pinute at a reduced price, I was quick to offer him my hard-earned bucks. The blade arrived about one month later. I was blown away... Lets take a closer look...
Here's a few numbers from TFW ; www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/Pinute.html
Blade Length: 21"
Overall Length: 27.50"
Fittings
The handle of the blade is made in wood (I have no idea what type of wood it is...). It is slick and colored in multiple shades of brown. The handle is slightly curved, a bit like a pistol grip.
The back of the handle is textured. The pommel is large and ergonomically-made. The hilt is made of dark-colored (or painted) material (metal or something else ?). It isn't very large, just big enough to cover the wielder's fingers. Overall, the handle has a very ergonomic shape. It is comfortable to hold but also offers a solid grip when dry handling or cutting.
The blade on this sword is incredebly sexy. It as a nice, curved belly and a wicked-looking tip. It seems made for making vicious slashes, cuts, jabs and chopping strikes. The edge is nearly paper-cutting sharp, which seemed like a disappointment to me at first sight, but after backyard cutting with it, this disappointment went off quickly. I don't know how to further describe this blade, so I'll let the two next pictures do it for me ...
This sword comes with a scabbard. It is made of a light-colored wood. This scabbard has a metal belt-clip and a very nice safety clip. This clip keeps the Pinute secured in the scabbard, it will keep the blade secured even if held upside-down. Cool ! Also, it doesn't require much strenght to draw the blade. Just hold the handle and pull it out with a little extra effort and the safety clip will let the blade go. Drawing and sheating the blade comes with a nice, metallic ''clunk'' from the safety clip.
Handling and cutting
This blade feels like a natural extension of my arm. It is incredibly easy to cut with it. The blade feels very light and didn't offer any resistance to the cuts and strikes that I did with it. Yet, the blade also felt strong in the cut. It is difficult to describe how this blades feels light yet hard-hitting when swung. It is a very, very fun and satisfying sword to handle.
Backyard cutting with this weapon is a blast. I cut a large number of water-filled bottles with no efforts. The geometry of the edge and the handling characteristics of this blade combined and formed a blurry of plastic rending steel. Even upward strikes that I usually have difficulty doing right easily, cleanly cut those bottles in two.
Unfortunately, I didn't film these cutting sessions... But I tell you, this blade is one sick cutter. Its handling characteristics are so great, if I could, I'd carry and use this blade for everything, including buttering my breakfast toasts...
Conclusion
Pros
-Precise, light handling
-Strong, hard-hitting cuts against those water-filled bottles
-High quality, sturdy fittings
-High quality scabbard
Cons
I feel a bit bad, not having anything bad to say about this blade ... In my honest opinion, it offers an incredible level of quality for its price. Of all the blades I own, this one feels like a true weapon, a true tool of death. It offers a remarquable handling and backyard cutting qualities, yet is available for 200 $ + shipping, at the moment that this review is beeing typed. If you like this type of blade and you have the bucks, I don't think you will be disappointed by taking the plunge with this product.
by
Sébastien Bilodeau, Montréal, Québec
I have owned this slick but sick blade for nearly six months now, I have cut with it in two backyard cutting sessions and right now I don't know why I am typing this review. Here's all you need to know about this sword ; go buy it. No seriously, go get one right now ......
....Oh, you still there ? Okay, I will type something more objective ...
Introduction
Enthusiastic remarks aside, I have been eyeing traditional filipino weapons website for a long time and I have frequently drooled over their many products. If you don't know about this seller, here's the site ; www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/Sandata.html
The products list is a bit messed up but with a few clicks it can be properly browsed. TFW get their blades from a forge in the Phillipines that makes its blades ''old-school style''. Some people knowledgeable about filipino martial arts and blades claim that many of the blades offered by TFW are modern reinterpretations of ancient filipino bladed weapons (in short, claims that TFW don't make historically-accurate blades). However, all people that I know who have bought from TFW had nothing but praise for these weapons.
I hesitated to take the plunge because I was wary of shelving more than 199 $ on a single blade. So, when a fellow forumnite offered in the classifieds his nearly-new TFW Pinute at a reduced price, I was quick to offer him my hard-earned bucks. The blade arrived about one month later. I was blown away... Lets take a closer look...
Here's a few numbers from TFW ; www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/Pinute.html
Blade Length: 21"
Overall Length: 27.50"
Fittings
The handle of the blade is made in wood (I have no idea what type of wood it is...). It is slick and colored in multiple shades of brown. The handle is slightly curved, a bit like a pistol grip.
The back of the handle is textured. The pommel is large and ergonomically-made. The hilt is made of dark-colored (or painted) material (metal or something else ?). It isn't very large, just big enough to cover the wielder's fingers. Overall, the handle has a very ergonomic shape. It is comfortable to hold but also offers a solid grip when dry handling or cutting.
The blade on this sword is incredebly sexy. It as a nice, curved belly and a wicked-looking tip. It seems made for making vicious slashes, cuts, jabs and chopping strikes. The edge is nearly paper-cutting sharp, which seemed like a disappointment to me at first sight, but after backyard cutting with it, this disappointment went off quickly. I don't know how to further describe this blade, so I'll let the two next pictures do it for me ...
This sword comes with a scabbard. It is made of a light-colored wood. This scabbard has a metal belt-clip and a very nice safety clip. This clip keeps the Pinute secured in the scabbard, it will keep the blade secured even if held upside-down. Cool ! Also, it doesn't require much strenght to draw the blade. Just hold the handle and pull it out with a little extra effort and the safety clip will let the blade go. Drawing and sheating the blade comes with a nice, metallic ''clunk'' from the safety clip.
Handling and cutting
This blade feels like a natural extension of my arm. It is incredibly easy to cut with it. The blade feels very light and didn't offer any resistance to the cuts and strikes that I did with it. Yet, the blade also felt strong in the cut. It is difficult to describe how this blades feels light yet hard-hitting when swung. It is a very, very fun and satisfying sword to handle.
Backyard cutting with this weapon is a blast. I cut a large number of water-filled bottles with no efforts. The geometry of the edge and the handling characteristics of this blade combined and formed a blurry of plastic rending steel. Even upward strikes that I usually have difficulty doing right easily, cleanly cut those bottles in two.
Unfortunately, I didn't film these cutting sessions... But I tell you, this blade is one sick cutter. Its handling characteristics are so great, if I could, I'd carry and use this blade for everything, including buttering my breakfast toasts...
Conclusion
Pros
-Precise, light handling
-Strong, hard-hitting cuts against those water-filled bottles
-High quality, sturdy fittings
-High quality scabbard
Cons
I feel a bit bad, not having anything bad to say about this blade ... In my honest opinion, it offers an incredible level of quality for its price. Of all the blades I own, this one feels like a true weapon, a true tool of death. It offers a remarquable handling and backyard cutting qualities, yet is available for 200 $ + shipping, at the moment that this review is beeing typed. If you like this type of blade and you have the bucks, I don't think you will be disappointed by taking the plunge with this product.
