Balisong and the town of Taal

harimauhk · 13th February 2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

Miguel,

I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST! I have an uncle from Banagas, who carried a beinte-nueve all of his life, and he was nowhere near as fast as this man is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OjNyYfWx0

Check your e-mail. I hung out with him today and bought some of the best balisongs he had to offer.

He taught me how he opens them that fast too. He told me he was inspired to work on his openings after someone pulled a balisong on him on a bus in Manila in the '70s. The guy tossed it in the air and it hit the floor, so he bent down, picked it up and opened it the barako way (with two hands). He got really close to Mang Ona, who then pulled out his own balisong, and said something like, "I'm not joking to you!" in Taglish, The guy backed off, sat down and got off the bus at his stop. Ona's biggest worry at the time was the police, but fortunately, nobody called them (this was prior to the era of cell phones).

I also showed him my Emerson Combat Karambit which I carry practically everywhere. He loved it (but not the price). He said he thinks the karambit is the best fighting knife you can get because of the finger ring.

What an experience! I was so happy and proud to meet him and he told me he was happy and proud to meet me!

migueldiaz · 15th February 2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

Miguel, I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST!

Yes sir, the man sure is fast. Reminds one of the samurai who can fell an opponent as he draws his katana

Quote:

Originally Posted by harimauhk

What an experience! I was so happy and proud to meet him and he told me he was happy and proud to meet me!

Looks like you are definitely having fun

And congrats for the apparent smooth 'operation' you just did back there in Batangas.

harimauhk · 16th February 2010, 12:30 PM

Salamat Miguel! Still waiting for the three I bought to show up by EMS, so hopefully they will. I was at Quiapo Church yesterday, so hopefully my prayers will get them here safely.

This was the first picture I took at Barangay Balisong. I took a jeepney there from Lemery after hopping in a van at Buendia LRT.

This is the second stall I visited in Barangay Balisong.

L. Rivera's stall. I really wish I'd gone back for a balicomb or two, but I hadn't had lunch and I was getting a bit dizzy. Next time I'll make sure to try some bulalo.

A small chapel right by the balisong stands.

Me and Diosdado Ona outside his stand! Unfortunately the other pics I took of his stand didn't get saved--I think I turned the ol' camera off too quickly.

An old American machete Mang Ona had at his store:

The kris dagger I bought there and the trainer balisong I got from Mang Ona. It was the last one he had, and he said he didn't want to sell it, but he knew I needed it. Got it for 210 Pesos ($4.60)

Blades out. I got the kris for 1000 Pesos. They wanted 1500 Pesos for it at Liza Villareal's store, but I made them an offer and they accepted it. It is surprisingly light. The bottom two were purchased in Manila for 400-500 Pesos each. Sorry Miguel, but AFAIK all the handle materials are horse bone. I bought one made with antler--if the other ones make it home safe, I'll put pics up of them.

harimauhk · 17th February 2010, 03:18 AM

On the right: 23 cm deer antler balisong. In the middle: my only veintenueve. Kamagong inserts. On the right--a kris blade balisong with narra wood and horse bone inserts.

Assorted balisong keychains all around!

harimauhk · 17th February 2010, 03:22 AM

Here they are open and latched.

On the 29 and the deer antler balis, you can see grooves left from the bearings that were used to make the blades!

harimauhk · 17th February 2010, 03:29 AM

Here are pics of the bearing groove on the stag-handled balisong, the actual stag inserts, the narra wood and horse bone on the kris balisong from Liza Villareal and a group shot of my FHM collection, with my balis ordered from left to right chronographically (oldest ones first).

I put a balisong keychain next to the 29 for scale.

I actually think the grooves from the bearings are interesting from an ethnographic point of view. Who knows what will happen to the beautiful, sleepy town of Taal and the balisong industry in the future?

ThePepperSkull · 17th February 2010, 03:38 AM

It's good to know they're not just making ones with the blade serrated at the back and with a bottle opener. you know, the "rambo" ones that were so popular a while back?

I quite like the simpler ones.

harimauhk · 17th February 2010, 03:41 AM

The three I bought from Ona were stamped "ONA'S" on the bottom--you can just about make that out in the first pic. I tried to get a pic of the marking, but I couldn't make one. I personally prefer bearing steel and brass (the kris bladed-one is all brass, while the rest have aluminum channels), but Ona carries aluminum-handled 29s with deer inserts and 440c blades. I guess his are good for EDC because of the light weight and corrosion resistance, but I like the durability of the brass and the razor edge I can put on the bearing steel.

Just have to keep them oiled.

17th February 2010, 03:18 AM	#4
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Got my new balisongs :) On the right: 23 cm deer antler balisong. In the middle: my only veintenueve. Kamagong inserts. On the right--a kris blade balisong with narra wood and horse bone inserts. Assorted balisong keychains all around! Attached Images

17th February 2010, 03:22 AM	#5
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Blades out... Here they are open and latched. On the 29 and the deer antler balis, you can see grooves left from the bearings that were used to make the blades! Attached Images

17th February 2010, 03:29 AM	#6
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Here are pics of the bearing groove on the stag-handled balisong, the actual stag inserts, the narra wood and horse bone on the kris balisong from Liza Villareal and a group shot of my FHM collection, with my balis ordered from left to right chronographically (oldest ones first). I put a balisong keychain next to the 29 for scale. I actually think the grooves from the bearings are interesting from an ethnographic point of view. Who knows what will happen to the beautiful, sleepy town of Taal and the balisong industry in the future? Attached Images

16th February 2010, 12:30 PM	#3
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Salamat Miguel! Still waiting for the three I bought to show up by EMS, so hopefully they will. I was at Quiapo Church yesterday, so hopefully my prayers will get them here safely. This was the first picture I took at Barangay Balisong. I took a jeepney there from Lemery after hopping in a van at Buendia LRT. This is the second stall I visited in Barangay Balisong. L. Rivera's stall. I really wish I'd gone back for a balicomb or two, but I hadn't had lunch and I was getting a bit dizzy. Next time I'll make sure to try some bulalo. A small chapel right by the balisong stands. Me and Diosdado Ona outside his stand! Unfortunately the other pics I took of his stand didn't get saved--I think I turned the ol' camera off too quickly. An old American machete Mang Ona had at his store: The kris dagger I bought there and the trainer balisong I got from Mang Ona. It was the last one he had, and he said he didn't want to sell it, but he knew I needed it. Got it for 210 Pesos ($4.60) Blades out. I got the kris for 1000 Pesos. They wanted 1500 Pesos for it at Liza Villareal's store, but I made them an offer and they accepted it. It is surprisingly light. The bottom two were purchased in Manila for 400-500 Pesos each. Sorry Miguel, but AFAIK all the handle materials are horse bone. I bought one made with antler--if the other ones make it home safe, I'll put pics up of them.

17th February 2010, 03:38 AM	#7
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	It's good to know they're not just making ones with the blade serrated at the back and with a bottle opener. you know, the "rambo" ones that were so popular a while back? I quite like the simpler ones.

17th February 2010, 03:41 AM	#8
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	The three I bought from Ona were stamped "ONA'S" on the bottom--you can just about make that out in the first pic. I tried to get a pic of the marking, but I couldn't make one. I personally prefer bearing steel and brass (the kris bladed-one is all brass, while the rest have aluminum channels), but Ona carries aluminum-handled 29s with deer inserts and 440c blades. I guess his are good for EDC because of the light weight and corrosion resistance, but I like the durability of the brass and the razor edge I can put on the bearing steel. Just have to keep them oiled.