The White Shadow Dojo is a Martial Arts school run by Gwynne and David in western New York. This blog features information on our book "The Rhythm of One", our class offerings, a calendar of events, an edged weapons forum, articles on knife design, and a community space for the research and dissemination of Martial Arts. "Sometimes irreverant, often opinionated, always brutally honest."

Monday, October 20, 2008

Quality Knives

Knives From Aceh:

We have had a lot of false starts trying to establish a business with our friends in Indonesia. It is always difficult dealing with people half way around the world whom you have never met. Somehow I instinctively knew that I could trust Zola Octanoviar (his friends refer to him as simply Noviar) to do business with.
Because of his insistence on improving the quality of Indonesian products, Noviar had to eventually look outside of the original Noesantaraa organization (see our earlier blogs). His renewed search for a knifemaker willing and capable of rising to or meeting our expectations led him to the remote workshop of an Aceh knifemaker. Having been embroiled in a struggle for independence for many hundreds of years, the peoples of Indonesia and the Aceh region are no strangers to fighting and the use of weapons. A people who have fought hand to hand against the Dutch, British, and Japanese are more likely to produce high quality, functional arms than are people elsewhere who are busy catering to the tourist trade.
These photos show the first few knives from this new maker. Unknown to me, Noviar had set aside one of the cranked handle rencong as a personal gift. I bought the teardrop shape handled rencong on auction at Ebay. Many rencong are very small, more miniature sized than true fighting knife size. The smaller knife illustrated is an older original purchased a couple years ago. Both of the new knives have sufficient blade length to provide a lively self-defense. Keeping in mind that these knives come from a tropical region, where minimal layers of clothing are worn year round you will recognize the efficacy of these medium sized knives. The handles and sheaths are fashioned from Buffalo horn and the workmanship and polish is second to none.
Quality shows, and these new knives emanate first class quality. If we can keep this relationship going we will be able to provide you with the finest rencong available anywhere. Keep your fingers crossed.
A brief history of Aceh is available here online. http://www.etan.org/estafeta/01/winter/6aceh.htm
You cannot help but applaud the resiliency and determination of the peoples of the archipelago and their long enduring struggle for freedom. For a limited time we will be offering our stock of earlier karambit at a slight discount to make room for the items from this new maker. Check out our sale at http://www.whiteshadowsecurity.com/

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