WIP - RM Type Parang

[dazcon]

I've always liked this type of tool. I make knives in small batches(4 or 5 at a time) just for my own entertainment really.The last piece of steel i chopped up into knives left me with an odd shaped piece that just screamed parang.Thought i'd show it as a work-in-progress. It's probably going to take the best part of a year to finish unfortunately. That's just down to limited time i'm afraid.( work,family,ill wife etc.etc.etc.)I'm making six different knives at present and working on sheaths for my last batch. Anyway, this is 5mm thick O1 steel, just over half tang,330mm(13") blank (400mm when handled) 45mm at widest point. Hand filed bevels.( filing-jig)

Thanks for looking. Any comments,criticisms or helpful hints will be graciously recieved. This is my first parang/machete type build so any hints/tips might be very helpful!

Darren.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Nice looking blade, look forward to seeing it handled.

 

[dazcon]

Thanks mate. It's going to be a while till i'm handling it, but i'm certainly looking forward to trying it out!

 

[Robbi]

That's looking really good looking forward to the rest of the build. Have you thought about handle material yet ?

 

[dazcon]

That's looking really good looking forward to the rest of the build. Have you thought about handle material yet ?

Thanks Robbi! I've not really given the handle material much thought to be honest. I guess it'll just depend what takes my fancy at the time. I'm thinking,keep it natural/organic.

 

[dazcon]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what type of parang this is, or even what region it originates from???

Darren.

 

[Woodcutter2]

Dont know the answer to type etc but it looks really good so far,great for some heavier work, I love the shape and am intrigued as to how you shape the handle to keep it firmly in the paw

 

[dazcon]

The handle is basically shaped like a tobacco pipe. I'll be putting a lanyard tube in mine though. I'm not entirely sure about handle material, but it'll probably be purpleheart as i have a chunk of it. Sheath will be made from the same material as the handle.

 

[leon-1]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what type of parang this is, or even what region it originates from???

Darren.

I believe it is a Duku Chandong originating from the Sarawak area. I don't think that it's the one that Ray originally used either as I believe that to have been a Martindale No'2.

This was something that he started using later, after having been influenced by someone else I would have thought.

 

[dazcon]

I believe it is a Duku Chandong originating from the Sarawak area.

That's interesting! Thanks for the info Leon. There's just something about the shape that i really like.