Modern made Atayal knives

[KuKulzA28]

Hey guys. I'm in Taiwan and I found a smith who makes traditional Atayal knives. In fact many of his customers, aside from collectors, are countryside folks and Atayal who put these blade to good use.

In the Squliq dialect they are laraw like "la rao" or "larow" with the "-ow" as in "cow"

They come in two main styles, the fat cleaver type (top) and the slimmer slasher (bottom). The cleaver or barong looking type is called a laraw topuw and the slasher is a laraw behuw. The cleaver looking style is good for cutting meat, household chores, general utility, and when hafted, a good spear. The slasher is a good machete for the outdoors and survival (and combat). These are medium sized ones, at about 10" and 12" blade lengths. Very small ones are used for carving and cutting rattan, and large ones for machete-work and well, in the old days, headhunting and warfare.

Like many Taiwanese Aboriginal blades, they can come with wooden handles or with metal socket handles. The former is more comfortable and the latter more durable. Either can be wrapped in rattan or some sort of cordage for better grip. This is reminiscent of Cordilleran blades from northern Luzon.

Usually folks in the countryside buy the blade, and carve their own sheath if they want one... but this guy can make the sheath himself.

Hope ya'll like 'em.