Palaw'an panday

[Ren Ren]

Thanks a lot for these wonderful photos!
Possibly the best photos of traditional Southeast Asian forges and bellows I have ever seen!
I know of only four types of bellows used by Asian blacksmiths. One of them, which was used in North and Northeast Asia, disappeared about 100 years ago and is known only from illustrations. The second, from Southeast Asia, is disappearing before our eyes Perhaps in 20 years only these photos will remain.

[David]

Was he doing some kind of repair to this blade? I have never seen a smith forging after the handle has been placed.

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by David

Was he doing some kind of repair to this blade? I have never seen a smith forging after the handle has been placed.

Yes, I think so. Some of the blades in the picture below, which I believe to be his work queue, need repair. The second picture below shows what looks like a freshly completed blade with a handle blank. The last picture was taken in another part of the village, the man in the middle was carving a handle (near his foot) and you can also see a scabbard in process.