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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 1:34:18 GMT
I'm wanting to diversify my sword collection, and am interested in Filipino style blades. I did a little Kali/escrima back in the day, but don't remember much. I'm really just looking for a cool backyard cutting blade. I'm wanting a shorter sword 30" or less overall. What are your recommendations for a starter sword? I don't really have a preference as to the shape of the blade. I would prefer to keep it under $250, but under $200 would be even better. Thanks, Bennett
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 1:37:18 GMT
Are traditionalfilipinoweapons.com and bladecultureusa.com reliable sites?
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Post by randomnobody on Dec 3, 2015 1:49:05 GMT
TFW is good stuff and has a huge fan base, but I've never handled one for myself. I don't particularly feel myself drawn to many of their designs, anyway. I would have suggested Valiant Co of Australia, but their website has gone offline; apparently the domain expired. Oops? Kris Cutlery has a few, too, and they're good stuff: kriscutlery.com/documents/philippine.htmlNot familiar with Blade Culture.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Dec 3, 2015 2:21:47 GMT
I like Filipino blades and would like more in the future. The only one that I have is a Kris puniti and is about the best cutter I have. It is one of my favourites. It has the general lines of their now advertised Puniti III but they are not the same. Mine has a 20 ¾” blade, brass guard, and a better shaped handle, and cost more. I think the wood is even different. It has held up well and has cut about everything including dead coconuts and banana limbs (very tough stuff) to drink cans with no problem. Having said that, out of curiosity I think that I’ll be on the lookout for another pig’s leg to compare with my German Bastard Sword. I suspect the Bastard will win due to its mass at 4.2 lb. and my two hands. Aside from which wins the Pinuti is much more practical.
KoA also sells TFW knives.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Dec 3, 2015 3:00:04 GMT
What are your recommendations for a starter sword? Of brand-name production swords, the TFW Visayan barong. Can't go wrong with a barong. Beautiful cutting blades. At your budget, you can consider antiques. This was my first barong: Blade is 5.35mm at the hilt, 3.6mm mid-blade. 552g, 702g with scabbard. 1960s or 1970s is my guess. Cuts very well.
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 3, 2015 3:05:42 GMT
Bladeculture is the supplier of TFW and KC. Can't go wrong with them. You can also go for Kalahi Custom Blades, as they're much cheaper (but would cost more shipping so there's a trade off).
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 3, 2015 6:29:36 GMT
Oh and as a starter sword, you can try Visayan blades like a Pinuti/Pinute, Sansibar, Lahot, or Dahong Palay, before going for the more exotic Moro swords.
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 3, 2015 12:00:27 GMT
Last post here (I can edit this later if it's counted as a triple post, sorry mods) Among my modern Filipino swords, I can definitely say that all of them perform well as backyard cutters. However, for specific needs, I would classify the KCB Barong (14) and TFW Gayang (17) as the heavy cutters of the bunch, surpassing all of my other swords on hard targets, the KCB Sansibar (9 & 10) as the quickest blade which excels at back cuts and double cuts, and the antique Kris (15) as the most insanely sharp blade which would (probably, since I don't want to scratch it) serve me well for silent/trick cutting.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 12:22:31 GMT
Thanks for all of your posts. They're very helpful. I'm currently most interested in pinuti, and sansibars
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 3, 2015 12:59:02 GMT
Oh yeah, number 2 over there is a Pinuti. I haven't tested it as much as my other blades because I intend to gift it to a local FMA competition.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 14:02:20 GMT
Have to say I love the prices at KCB. Only $170 for a nice pinuti including shipping which is $50-$60
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 3, 2015 15:13:47 GMT
Have to say I love the prices at KCB. Only $170 for a nice pinuti including shipping which is $50-$60 Yeah. In all honesty, they aren't the cheapest ones I know of: There are at least two others who make similar looking blades at around 80% of what they charge. Unfortunately, those other two have had some heat treat issues I know of, and at least one has been ordered by the intellectual property office to cease and desist from copying the designs of Bladeculture/TFW. KCB is basically KC/TFW blade-wise without the intricate finishing on the wood. Their smiths are, after all, related by blood.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2015 16:50:18 GMT
I can't decide between the tfw northern sansibar, sansibar #1, and itak Tagalog #1. I'm leaning between northern sansibar and the Tagalog. It really depends on whether I want a shorter fighting sword, or chopping sword, but I can't decide. 15 oz sounds too light weight to me. But then again, most Filipino swords I've seen are very light weight. Opinions?
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Dec 5, 2015 19:29:54 GMT
I have a modern Indonesian blade, 15.5" of blade, 330g/12oz. Cuts well. I'll sometimes give it people who've never cut before, never even swung a sword before, to cut with, because it doesn't intimidate them. Lightweight, so cutting depends on sharpness and speed, not momentum. Very recently got a TFW itak Tagalog #2 on the second-hand market. Cuts well. A much more substantial sword than something as light as the sansibar, but not clunky.
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 6, 2015 1:13:46 GMT
I can't decide between the tfw northern sansibar, sansibar #1, and itak Tagalog #1. I'm leaning between northern sansibar and the Tagalog. It really depends on whether I want a shorter fighting sword, or chopping sword, but I can't decide. 15 oz sounds too light weight to me. But then again, most Filipino swords I've seen are very light weight. Opinions? My TFW Gayang is amazingly well balanced for such a chop-oriented blade. Maybe it fits in the middle of all your criteria.
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Post by elsweddo on Jun 8, 2016 20:59:01 GMT
Or get a Ginunting, a light blade well suited to swing around in the living room.
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Post by pellius on Sept 11, 2016 2:18:12 GMT
I have jumped right on the TFW bandwagon.
I picked up a TFW Itak Tagalog #1 from a fellow forumite. The blade is very lively and solid, and very good looking. It has been a great heavy cutter so far; very durable. The scabbard could be prettier, but it fits the Itak perfectly.
Now, I really want a TFW Itak Tagalog #2 - in pictures it looks like a similar blade but with a bit more steel at the percussion point.
Not to hijack (even an older thread), but... Croccifixio- can you tell me more about your #12?
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Post by howler on Sept 11, 2016 20:46:55 GMT
Last post here (I can edit this later if it's counted as a triple post, sorry mods) Among my modern Filipino swords, I can definitely say that all of them perform well as backyard cutters. However, for specific needs, I would classify the KCB Barong (14) and TFW Gayang (17) as the heavy cutters of the bunch, surpassing all of my other swords on hard targets, the KCB Sansibar (9 & 10) as the quickest blade which excels at back cuts and double cuts, and the antique Kris (15) as the most insanely sharp blade which would (probably, since I don't want to scratch it) serve me well for silent/trick cutting. Beautiful swords. While not in the same class (but inexpensive), the Condor line is about as exotic as I have gotten so far, with lots of thicker parangs , goloks and the like. They make a Barong that is pretty nasty for the price, with good steel and blade edge. Himalayan imports and other countries make items somewhat similar to this.
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Post by redrab on Sept 22, 2016 19:15:12 GMT
I can just reiterate what most have said on here. If I was looking for a blade of that type, I would definitely go with TFW or KC. Great metal and really well made. If something is wrong, Ron from TFW will make it right. I do not own any KC stuff but reading reviews from here, they also appear to be fantastic. I was eyeballing one of their swords the other day! ;) Good Luck with your purchase. let us know what you decide.
Ryan
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Post by kalkikrosah on Oct 1, 2017 6:13:52 GMT
This thread is nearly two years old so I imagine you made your decision by now. But starting out with a Filipino blade I recommend the Ginunting. It was my first Filipino bolo and I can attest that it is an extremely light and agile blade. Because of the downward curve the blade seems "faster" because the tip is positioned ahead of the rest of the blade, so it excels at tip cuts. The tradeoff for the slashing speed is that thrusting with it feels awkward and takes some getting used to. And since the top 1/3rd of the false edge on the back is sharpened you can perform some reverse cuts with it if you aim with the tip. My Ginunting came from Kalahai Custom Blades and it is functional but flawed blade. I won't go into great detail but I did need to sharpen it myself because it came very dull. The $50 or so that you save by going with KCB is not worth it in my opinion. You are much better off going with TFW for your Filipino Blades because they always come sharp out of the box and to my knowledge they rarely ship out lemons. And even though they are out of your $250 price range, there is a new Filipino Weapons maker on the market called Top Prado Blades. Their bolos cost roughly $1000 so they are trying to be the Albion of the Filipino Weapons market. I have not handled any of their weapons but the photos and videos I have seen of them are absolutely flawless. www.toppradoblades.com/the-collection.htmlwww.toppradoblades.com/the-collection.html
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