Allow me to introduce myself...

[C.S. Graves]

...well, I'm not terribly interesting, I just found this forum scouring the web for references to the Valiant Goloks, so why don't I introduce my little blade collection instead?

Coleman Western W49:



15" HI Ang Khola:



Valiant Trading Company Survival Golok L:



Valiant Parang Lading:



Valiant Talibon:



A Valiant "one-of-a-kind", simply known as "UL-13":



Me and my HI Kumar Kobra:



...and my Cold Steel Dadao:

[cndrm]

Welcome to the forum C.S. Graves. If you like Valiant blades, you've come to the right place. (we've got a valiant dealer here, and he's got some awesome prices).

Nice collection there.

mike

[Yvsa]

Welcome to the land of the Sandbox C.S. Graves!
That's a nice collection you have there. Have you ever used the Western Bowie?
I've long wondered how the steel was in those. I have a very old Western hunting knife that belonged to my brother and the steel is easy to sharpen with a fine Bastard file.
I remember when he bought it in Montana where we lived when I was just a kid. Him and the old man were going deer hunting for the first time. The Westerns were considered a very good knife back in those days.

[HighDesertWalker]

Welcome aboard C. S. Nice collection.

[hollowdweller]

Judging from your collection I think you'll find a few kindred spirits here

[IBX2000]

Mr. Graves :

Can you give us some more technical info on that Cold Steel Sword? Is it a a wall hanger or made to be "used". What kind of steel is it made of? What is the quality and how does it compare to other Cold Steel Swords you know about.

thanks.

IBX2k

[C.S. Graves]

Thanks for the welcome, gents!

cndrm: Yes, I just wish I knew about him sooner, could have saved myself a bundle on shipping! And I just placed an order for more Valiant blades just the other week! D'oh!

Yvsa: I haven't used the bowie as extensively as, say, the many khukuri I've owned over the years, but I can tell you that the vanadium steel seems to take a good edge, one that is comparatively more resilient than your average stainless blades. Likewise with the W39 skinner I have as well. By the way, I enjoy some of your writings on sharpening linked from Himalayan Imports. Makes me wish I had a good eye for proper angles.

IBX2000: I've read that the Cold Steel Dadao (or Chinese "War Sword" as they call it) is made of spring steel and made to be used. I haven't confirmed this empirically, I'm afraid (or am I glad?). Unless Mr. Peabody and I can take the Wayback machine to Manchuria in 1937, I'll just have to take Cold Steel's word for it.
It's funny, but I do prefer blades that are made to be used, even though I'd probably be horrified to put such blades to the tasks they're designed for! over the last few months, I've given away 3 swords from my collection that I considered to be wallhangers.

I like swords, and I can't explain it. But if those psychology-types are right, I'm doin' a hell of a lot of compensating!

[C.S. Graves]

A grainy, poorly-lit photo of my Everest Katana:



And another with it resting atop my goban:

[bladite]

Originally Posted by C.S. Graves

And another with it resting atop my goban:

go
nogo
atari!

bladite

[Fiddleback]

What beer do you drink?

[cavetech]

Welcome CSG. You look like you know you knives and know how to use them. I going to enjoy your posts.

The Valiant Dealer, Bill, hangs out here and posts great stuff.

Not only the knife, but comparasons between them.

How do you like your golok?

[C.S. Graves]

cavetech: Thanks mack! Heh, I wouldn't be too sure about me knowing how to use them, though I'm less cut-prone lately at least. As per the golok, I love it, though I lament the relative lack of opportunities to use it of late! Nice weight, reach, comfy handle, lovely scabbard... though I'll probably switch to my khuk in these more frigid months to come though, especially when deceased xmas trees require a good cremation...
And I've ogled Bill's eBay store on several occasions, plotting my next purchase when I've recovered from my Christmas expenditures. I think that Bendo is calling out to me... after that, maybe barong 1, parang banddol or parang nabur?

Fiddleback: Bee-urr? I may be the only member of the Canadian race who doesn't drink the stuff. My beverage of choice is oolong tea, and the Cantonese lady who up the street from my mother gives me more leaves than I can consume. Keeps me warm, and from making an even BIGGER fool out of myself!

Bladite: Know you of go? I'm afraid not many folk in my hometown play, though I try to cultivate interest whenever the opportunity arises. Go is probably right up there with xiangqi for my favourite games.

[tedwca]

I play Go very poorly. I'm better at chess, less options.

Ted W.

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by tedwca

I play Go very poorly. I'm better at chess, less options.

Ted W.

I think I'm in the same boat, though I don't think I'm that much better at various forms of chess than I am at go. I find the dynamics of chess are a little easier to grasp, though I'm prone to blunders in either event!

PS Ted, I think you started a thread about the Everest Katana? Great photos!

[rio]

nice collection, i feel sorry for the sucker that fu... with you those are some big knives more like swords, thank you for the pics and sharing

[C.S. Graves]

Thanks Rio.

Someone would have to do something REALLY nasty to drive me to use 'em on them. If it was just a garden variety burglar or neaderthal looking to impress the ladies by brutalizing a random stranger, I'd more likely use something blunt, like a kubotan or ASP baton on large muscle groups. Luckily I've had to do neither, and hopefully never will!

(knocks on wood)

My golok petok arrived the other night. It's pretty spiffy, though I'll have to sharpen it up. No pics yet. I emailed Suwandi as to the traditional uses for this unusual blade type, but I'm thinking maybe he no longer uses that temporary address from when he was having computer troubles.

[C.S. Graves]

More pics of knives that were neglected previously:

An old bayonet given to me by a friend of the family:



A Bear MCG folder commemorating the 1992 Blade Show:



HI Bilton Khukuri:



BlackJack Viking Raider:



Becker Khukuri that bit the dust tackling a frozen Christmas tree last year:



Fiddleback wanted to see the neckknife in the member pic thread, a Cold Steel ParaEdge with drop point:



Coleman/Western W39 Skinner, my first decent knife:



Closeup of a damaged Bhojpur khuk that ran afoul the same tree as the Becker:



Dha of unknown origin from Tosanaji:



My Ek M3, the reverse side of which is about the sharpest I've gotten anything:



Spyderco Endura Clipit that I've had since about 1990:



Gerber/Blackie Collins Buddy System:



Gerber Stallion:



Gryphon M30A1, Robert Terzuola design:



It's companion, the Gryphon M10:



Spyderco Harpy:



HG Long Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife reproduction (came with a little booklet version of Applegate's Get Tough, presumed lost in a move :-( ):



Old knife inherited from my grandmother (looks like grandpa took it to the grinder too many times!):



The lovely Kumar Karda:



French "peasant chef's knife":



Spyderco Q Clipit:



Rusty old kitchen knife that looks like something out of a painting by Hieronymus Bosch:



Last but not least, my eleven-wave Jogjakarta keris, also from Tosanaji:

[Kevin The Grey]

Do we have a drooling smiley face?

Very nice collection. The steel that Becker is made from reminds me of the steel my file knife is made from. I guess I won,t be tackling any frozen christmas trees with it.

Can you tell me which episode Bart Simpson says your quote in? I,m fairly certain I have not seen it as I would remember that.

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by Kevin The Grey

Very nice collection. The steel that Becker is made from reminds me of the steel my file knife is made from. I guess I won,t be tackling any frozen christmas trees with it.

Can you tell me which episode Bart Simpson says your quote in? I,m fairly certain I have not seen it as I would remember that.

Thank you sir! Yep, that tree mangled two khuks, one too hard and one too soft. Even with a higher quality khuk, I'm going to exercise a little caution before recycling the tannenbaums into kindling!

And I believe it's the episode of the Simpsons in which Bart joins the Scouts, and he and Homer end up canoeing with Flanders and Ernest Borgnine.

I like the scene where Dr. Hibbert extracts a man's appendix with his trusty pocketknife, telling him:

"Don't thank me, thank THE KNIFE!"

And the crowd of onlookers cheers.

[Kevin The Grey]

Tannebaums? I always thought the line was "Tanning Bums"

No wonder they threw me out of the Choir.

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by Kevin The Grey

Tannebaums? I always thought the line was "Tanning Bums"

No wonder they threw me out of the Choir.

"O! Tanning bums! O! Tanning bums!
So golden brown and shape-ly..."

[Kevin The Grey]

I like oolong tea. I usually go down to chinatown once a year. I find thats the freshest supply. There is also a neat herbalist that has a big pot of a different herbal tea every day for customers to try . There is one called blue eyes that is outstanding . Its been sweetened a little bit . Its just so darned good I don,t care.

Ooops. Big knife forum. I have to pretend to be macho!
There is also a place that sells big knives right across the street.

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by Kevin The Grey

Ooops. Big knife forum. I have to pretend to be macho!
There is also a place that sells big knives right across the street.

Er, um, YEAH! MMMMANLY! Why, just yesterday I used a big knife to skin a commie! He said he was a "college student"...pfftt! Same thing in MY books! Anyway, after that I threw him on the BBQ... and they say red meat is bad for you!

[Yvsa]

Originally Posted by C.S. Graves

Er, um, YEAH! MMMMANLY! Why, just yesterday I used a big knife to skin a commie! He said he was a "college student"...pfftt! Same thing in MY books! Anyway, after that I threw him on the BBQ... and they say red meat is bad for you!

Eatin' long pig these days are we Corey? At least that's what the cannibals used to and maybe still do call human flesh.
Don't eat the brain though as it can cause a very debilitating disease, according to an article that was, I think, in The National Geographic, or maybe I saw it in a documentary.

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by Yvsa

Eatin' long pig these days are we Corey? At least that's what the cannibals used to and maybe still do call human flesh.
Don't eat the brain though as it can cause a very debilitating disease, according to an article that was, I think, in The National Geographic, or maybe I saw it in a documentary.

Aye, a disease usually referred to as kuru, the human equivalent of spongiform encephalopathy. My spelling may not be spot-on there, but I'm not doctor!

Anyway, the disease is similar to "mad cow" in that certain harmful proteins accumulate in the central nervous system after repeated acts of cannibalism. Sometimes also known as the "laughing disease" due to symptoms of the degeneration of the nervous system.
Er... so I hear, anyway!

[cndrm]

Well, I ain't skinned no commies lately, but I have delivered 49 Tomahawk cruise missles ah la USA.

Who needs to eat the brain anyways. Just use it for brain tanning and such.

Talk about deviation in thread topics.

mike

[C.S. Graves]

Okay, back on track!

Here's a few pics of my latest acquisition, the Valiant Golok Petok:





Little bugger needs a sharpening, for sure! Though curiously, it's already fairly sharp on the uppermost edge, just not on the belly of the blade.

I'm very curious as to what these are traditionally used for. Though the blade is only about 5" long, it's relatively thick and heavy for its size, and might be used for some light chopping. Unfortunately, Suwandi probably never got my email of curious pondering on this blade. Maybe if Bill sees this, he can shed some light on it.

The blade also says "Usep" on the reverse side. I'm curious as to whether this is the location of its manufacture, or maybe the name of the bladesmith?

[HighDesertWalker]

Originally Posted by C.S. Graves

Okay, back on track!

Here's a few pics of my latest acquisition, the Valiant Golok Petok:



I'm very curious as to what these are traditionally used for. Though the blade is only about 5" long, it's relatively thick and heavy for its size, and might be used for some light chopping. Unfortunately, Suwandi probably never got my email of curious pondering on this blade. Maybe if Bill sees this, he can shed some light on it.

Never been able to find anything on the internet or my reference books about "petok". So I tried a different approach. I looked for pictures that resembled the Valiant Golok Petok, and bingo, the blade is called a Bendo in Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago by van Zonneleld. Interestingly, Valiant's "Bendo" is of similar dimensions but with a different blade shape. Apparantly, both blades are used as defined in "Tranditional Weapons": "A machete in the shape of an axe, mainly used for harvesting the aren palm. The short, broad and heavy blade serves this purpose excellently. The bendo often has a finely carved hilt made of wood or bone."

Cheers,

[cndrm]

Interesting blades Valiant has. Personally, I think I like the Bandol a little bit more than the Petok, but to each their own.

CS, I must have missed it before. How do you like the Gryphon knives? I never got around to buying one. They looked like they were well made, and even bearing the RC test mark on every blade.

mike

[C.S. Graves]

Bill: thanks for the info! I wouldn't have guessed by the differing sizes and shapes.

Mike: Afraid I haven't put the Gryphons to any use... I bought them probably 12 years or so ago, and they expensive for me at the time, so I guess I didn't wanna mark 'em all up back then! They look nice though, perhaps just a little too high tech and tactical for my current tastes. I believe it was Robert Terzuola who designed them. The M10 has an especially practical feel, at least for a tactical boot-knife kind of design.

The petok reminds me, my mom had a few kitchen knives in dire need of sharpening, so I collected those, as well as a few of my own specimens, for a long overdue sharpening marathon. Now her kitchen knives, the petok, my parang lading, a Chinese cleaver, and 25" Kumar Kobra are all much sharper then before. My left arm is helf-bald from testing them afterwards... how am I gonna explain that to the folk at work? They'll think I have the mange!

[C.S. Graves]

I'm afraid I don't have any pics yet, but the Tora Dui Chirra arrived late last week. It's as lovely as the photo in the DotD thread would have you believe. The blade, like pretty much all Tora's khuks, has that pleasant "leaf-like" shape to it, and the chirra are well-made with a great finish. It's lighter in the hand than one might expect of a khukuri of this length. The convex ground edge is fairly sharp, and is similar in feel to the one that came on the Valiant Parang Lading. I get the impression that this baby is very functional, but like the Lading, it's just too purdy to use!

Big thanks to Simon for offering this deal, and for shipping far faster than expected!

[cndrm]

CS, You're right. Robert Terzoula designed them. I always saw them in catalogs for Cutlery Shoppe. Most of their stuff was on the expensive side, but the Gryphons always looked nice to me. I really liked the look of the bowie. (style, don't remember it's designation).

Glad you like your Tora. I haven't dealt with the Dui Chirra yet, but it looks pretty darn nice. Personally, I'd definitely classify it as an officers kukri. Beautiful. Far more beautiful than an enlisted mans kukri, but still very functional.

mike

[Sirupate]

Glad you like your Dui Graves Its the normal weight ratio for that kind of kukri CS, infact most issued/Officer kukri of that length were around 22-25oz. Mike's right, its definately an Officer kuk, but still very functional

[C.S. Graves]

Simon: I guess I'm thinking of those heavy, emergency prybar-style khuks. Yeah, I'm at work now, having Dui Chirra withdrawal! I think I'm making certain co-workers nervous! Only 70 minutes left...

Mike: I believe you're referring to the msot economical of the Gryphon line, the M-35:

http://www.cutleryshoppe.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=6847

I loved Cutlery Shoppe catalogues as a teen. I still have a bunch of the old ones, some of which are in pretty rough shape from my going through them wishfully, time and again!

[Yvsa]

Originally Posted by C.S. Graves

The petok reminds me, my mom had a few kitchen knives in dire need of sharpening, so I collected those, as well as a few of my own specimens, for a long overdue sharpening marathon.

Now her kitchen knives, the petok, my parang lading, a Chinese cleaver, and 25" Kumar Kobra are all much sharper then before.

My left arm is helf-bald from testing them afterwards... how am I gonna explain that to the folk at work? They'll think I have the mange!

Corey way back when people in the know called the bare arm syndrome the, "Knife Fighter's Mange."
So the folks at your workplace wouldn't be all that wrong...

Also way back when I was accused of being a knife fighter because both of my arm's were almost always bare but being ndn I didn't have all that much anyway.

[C.S. Graves]

Knife-fighter's mange... it's good to get a proper diagnosis after all these years! Thank you, Dr. Yvsa!

Didn't have all that much hair on the arms to begin with? Yer lucky... if my arms were any hairier, people would expect me to abduct Fay Wray and climb the Empire State Building. When I've been sharpening, you can REALLY tell!

[C.S. Graves]

We haven't had many sunny days lately, but I finally got some ALMOST decent photos of the Tora Dui Chirra, well, lighting-wise (they're a little blurry):



Do I look like a happy customer?



The karda will need a LOT of time on the belt sander, but that can wait I'm sure... also tempted to touch up the edge on the DC a litte, get it shaving sharp, but undecided as of yet.

Next on the wish list, a Viking Beared Axe from Ragweed Forge. Just waiting for Ragnar to get back to me as to the shipping charges first.

[Yvsa]

Originally Posted by C.S. Graves

We haven't had many sunny days lately, but I finally got some ALMOST decent photos of the Tora Dui Chirra, well, lighting-wise (they're a little blurry)

The karda will need a LOT of time on the belt sander, but that can wait I'm sure... also tempted to touch up the edge on the DC a litte, get it shaving sharp, but undecided as of yet.

Next on the wish list, a Viking Beared Axe from Ragweed Forge. Just waiting for Ragnar to get back to me as to the shipping charges first.

The pic isn't all that bad Corey. I'd like to see a pic of the Tora DC taken by an owner from straight overhead or straight on in order to see all the curves accurately.

That's kinda strange about the karda needing so much work. The one that came with my Tin Chiarra was pretty damned sharp and a couple of swipes on my crock sticks got it spot on. The kukri itself was very sharp!

Ragnar is just damned near as bad a tempter as Bill and Simon and has several examples that I'd love to own in the 5160!!!!

[Sirupate]

Nice pics CS Glad you like the Dui, its one of my favourites as an MA user Sorry about the karda, normally they are pretty sharp, but I guess you always obtain a Tora Bushcraft knife to back up the Dui kuk with

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by Sirupate

Nice pics CS Glad you like the Dui, its one of my favourites as an MA user Sorry about the karda, normally they are pretty sharp, but I guess you always obtain a Tora Bushcraft knife to back up the Dui kuk with

You all saw it! Simon's being evil again!!!

Why do I imagine you reducing an otherwise steely Joseph Stalin to tears as he empties his wallet on shiny goodies?!

"Mother Russia can always use another Tin Chirra, comrade!"

Don't worry about the karda. I had a similar experience with the one that came with my Kumar Kobra. I'm doubtful my life will depend on the karda before I get the time to sharpen it! ;-)

Originally Posted by Yvsa

I'd like to see a pic of the Tora DC taken by an owner from straight overhead or straight on in order to see all the curves accurately.

Your wish is my command:



Mind you, Simon's pics in the DotD thread and one of the Foxy Folly threads were better, really showed off the fullers.

[cndrm]

CS, Yep, that's the Gryphon knife I'm talking about. I do like the look fo the M-35. I like you, had Cutlery Shoppe's catalogs while growing up. (don't even remember how I got it). My Cutlery Shoppe catalogs have long since fallen apart at the bindings.

mike

[Sirupate]

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by cndrm

My Cutlery Shoppe catalogs have long since fallen apart at the bindings.

Mine would have suffered a similar fate if there wasn't a mysterious substance keeping the pages together...

[C.S. Graves]

And now, some blurry photos of my 6"...


...Fish River Ulu by Maynard Linder:





This baby comes really sharp out of the box. I hope to use it in the kitchen soon!

[cndrm]

Good stuff. Not too many people make a good ulu these days. What kind of steel is used for the blade? Stainless or Carbon?

mike

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by cndrm

Good stuff. Not too many people make a good ulu these days. What kind of steel is used for the blade? Stainless or Carbon?

Definitely not stainless I'll wager. ;-)
I've read that the blades are recycled saws. It's probably the thinnest blade I have, with the exception of the smaller Victorinox knives. I bet it'll just glide through most foods like they were hot butter...

Also, the handle is harvested antler. Waste not, want not!

[cndrm]

Cool. I've looked into recycling old saw blades for the preformed/ shaped carbon steel. Good luck. What a pain. Most everything now is "bimetal". Which means that the inside metal is poo, and the teeth are made of good, high quality steel.

mike

[rio]

hey cs cool poster of the blind swordsamn ,deft one of my favoraties along with lone wolf little cub

[C.S. Graves]

Originally Posted by rio

hey cs cool poster of the blind swordsamn ,deft one of my favoraties along with lone wolf little cub

Heh, finally someone recognized Zatoichi! Also, the gent who plays Ogami Itto in Lone Wolf and Cub is the brother of Shintaro Katsu. They appear together in a few of the Zatoichi movies as well.

Mike: I've since read that Linder uses high carbon saw blades. I once tried to make a serrated bread knife out of a saw, but the blade was too flexible, and I didn't touch up the serrations after initial filing.

But that ulu was pretty fun in the kitchen... with a rocking motion I went through baby carrots like they weren't there. It took me a while to get technique down for larger things like leeks. I would tilt the outermost point down towards the cutting board, start slicing downwards on the leeks, then rock the blade back to finish the cut. A larger ulu may not have needed this method, but I gotta work with what I got. I can see myself using this more and more in the ktichen... I'm just worried about neglecting all the other fine knives I have!

[cndrm]

I hear ya. My Butchers kukri has a pretty deep belly on it. (it's not like the ones that Simon currently offers).

It was pretty funny. When Simon and Leanne were visiting, they both just stood there and watched me chop stuff up in the kitchen with it, as it was the first time they'd really "seen" anyone use a kukri in the kitchen. (though spiraltwista from other forums does, as that's where I got the idea from).

Here's a pic of my big kitchen beast and "it's" cutting board.


mike