cocos island knives are back

ausjulius · 3rd May 2021, 04:12 PM

well its been a while since this topics been discussed but i havesome further information.

i contact john Clunnies-Ross today and asked him about the knives and their history, he said the blacksmith shop on the home island (which although unused still exsists) manufactured these blades, although there could have been others too in the past. he said they were still made till the late 1970s along with others tools, spears ect . he said there was two main styles the "ladies" knife and the larger parangs. blades with made of eithervehical springs or indeed the german battleship.
he said making declinedwith the halt ofcopra processing.. no more charcoal being made and no more plantation workers,

he saidif we wanted more info about the knives there is a cocos islandfacebook page and that we could post the pictures there and that the relatives of the makers could see them and beable to givepossiably more information.

id really like to see somebody make such a knife again now. such ashame this craft vanished so quickly.

Sajen · 3rd May 2021, 06:00 PM

Great information!

I don't have facebook but feel free to upload pictures to their facebook site!

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 3rd May 2021, 07:51 PM

Ausjulius:

Thanks for the update. Great information. I was planning to visit the Cocos-Keeling islands last year but COVID came along, and travel there is still not re-established. Maybe next year.

Ian.

ausjulius · 4th May 2021, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Ausjulius:

Thanks for the update. Great information. I was planning to visit the Cocos-Keeling islands last year but COVID came along, and travel there is still not re-established. Maybe next year.

Ian.

hi ian.. yes would beaneet place to visit. from what i can gather there is still people alive who can make or did make knives, but to their age im not sure. it would be very goodif we couldsonehow revitalise to restart thisknifemaking tradition there. such a shame. i guess the locals viewed them mostly as tools

ausjulius · 4th May 2021, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Great information!

I don't have facebook but feel free to upload pictures to their facebook site!

Regards,
Detlef

thanks, yes i will gather some images and make a facebook page just for this occasion (i too do not have facebook) i have several ofthese knives including ne with a longer thick 18 - 20 inch blade.. but alas they havebeen packedaway the last 16 years in a family members home😑.. far from where i live now. i find them very interesting knives.. especially the handle construction

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3rd May 2021, 04:12 PM	#1
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 438	well its been a while since this topics been discussed but i havesome further information. i contact john Clunnies-Ross today and asked him about the knives and their history, he said the blacksmith shop on the home island (which although unused still exsists) manufactured these blades, although there could have been others too in the past. he said they were still made till the late 1970s along with others tools, spears ect . he said there was two main styles the "ladies" knife and the larger parangs. blades with made of eithervehical springs or indeed the german battleship. he said making declinedwith the halt ofcopra processing.. no more charcoal being made and no more plantation workers, he saidif we wanted more info about the knives there is a cocos islandfacebook page and that we could post the pictures there and that the relatives of the makers could see them and beable to givepossiably more information. id really like to see somebody make such a knife again now. such ashame this craft vanished so quickly.

3rd May 2021, 06:00 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Great information! I don't have facebook but feel free to upload pictures to their facebook site! Regards, Detlef

3rd May 2021, 07:51 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Ausjulius: Thanks for the update. Great information. I was planning to visit the Cocos-Keeling islands last year but COVID came along, and travel there is still not re-established. Maybe next year. Ian.