Buddy Can You Spare a Dime?

Buddy can you Spare a Dime?

This was a common plaint from unemployed people during the depression and although I am not quite old enough to remember the depression, this phrase was still in use during my childhood. What has this got to do with knife fighting or self defense?
A few days ago I needed my knife to open a package. I whipped out my trusty Kershaw™ Speed Bump and thumbed the bump to flip it open. It didn’t open. Without bothering to look down I tried again, and a third time. I rolled the knife over in my hand and pushed down to release the lock. As usual, it was already unlocked. About this time, from out of the space between the liner and the blade, a dime fell to the floor, and the blade sluggishly half-opened.

Well luckily my package was not in the attack mode. If it had been a drug crazed, pill popping murderer I would have been in serious trouble. Not only would my knife have been ineffective, but, I was so distracted that there was a hole big enough in my self-defense to drive an Abrams tank through. So, even though this has become one of my favorite tactical folders, this lesson re-emphasizes the fact that in a tight spot nothing beats a small fixed blade knife, like a Bradburn Tanto or one of our Cobras.

Keep this episode in mind the next time you chuck some spare change in the same pocket where you keep your folder. Some day this lesson might save your life!

Noesantara Knife Review

A Review of the Noesantara Knives

As soon as the box of knives arrived from Indonesia I began anxiously looking through them and making some general observations based on the criteria Noesantara wanted to achieve. There were two types of badik, a pisau raut, a kerambit and a golok. The knives were very neatly fitted into precise cutouts in the styrofoam packing. Noviar advised me to, abuse" the Golok as I saw fit. My first impression of the knives was very positive and so was Gwynne’s, and she said she is hard to impress!

The woodwork on all the knives is excellent quality. The way the 2 parts of the sheaths are fit together is perfect and the finish is excellent. The first thing that I noticed was the smooth satin finish on the wooden parts. This is important since that is the first thing the customer will see too.
The woodcarving is artistic and well executed. Having carved dirk handles and rifle stocks in very hard wood I appreciate the traditional workmanship.

The blade grinds are nice and even (symmetrical) from one side of the blade to the other. In some pieces they need some more blending and that is one of the things that the folks at Noesantara plan to correct. The thickness of the blades is generally in good proportion to the overall size of the blade.

The packaging was very good as already mentioned and nothing was damaged in shipping.
All of the handles are large enough for my hands and fit me quite well. Even the tiny Pisau Raut knife can be used successfully for self defense and is easy to conceal. With a kydex sheath it could be easily hidden and is also a legal size to carry in most states.

The larger Badik is truly the masterpiece of the group. Absolutely a beautiful fighting knife. Out of all the knives it also has the best heft or feel in my hands. This is due to the thicker blade and the taper of the blade toward the point. A Superb knife, the man who made it can be very proud of his work. The way the sheath is contoured to match the blade grinds is very attractive. This is an example of where it would be good to have two sheaths. One traditional one, which shows the beauty of the wood, knife, and workmanship, and a kydex or leather one to be used for daily carry. (Noesantara is exploring both sheath options.) I was also impressed with the copper wire inlays in the sheath, which added to the overall subtle elegance of the weapon. I can guarantee you that this beautiful knife will never leave my collection.
The Kerambit, knife and sheath, are extremely graceful and the color of the wood and the finish is great! This is a really great little knife. The Golok handle fits my hand (and gwynne’s smaller hand) well and provides a very secure grip. I think that this is one of the styles of traditional handles that will work without any changes other than maybe to flatten it just a little to make it less visible or bulky if worn under a coat. This knife has good balance and the blade style is very good for fighting, camping, and hunting.

There are very few meaningful negatives that I found. For example the small scratches here and there in the blades. I would say that these knives are far above average, compared to many I have seen from the Pacific rim area. Will the knives cut? Check out gwynne's cut using the Golok. The top half of the pool noodle still in mid-air. It takes a good sharp knife to cleanly slice these somewhat gummy foam tubes. I know that the Badik will cut at least as good as the Golok, because it is even sharper.

The only drawback to buying a knife from Noesantara is having to wait a couple weeks for it to arrive. I assure you the wait is worthwhile if you want to enjoy a unique edged experience. The weapons are combat quality and the seller's integrity is unquestionable. I am looking forward to their future projects with great enthusiasm. Please contact me if you have further questions or want to know more about Noesantara.

E-interview with Noesantara

E-Interview with Noesantara:

(Noesantara is the previous name of INDONESIA. The word INDONESIA was founded in 1928, before that we call our country as Noesantara. Noesantara also literally known as Archipelago. Zola Octanoviar)

After several months of exchanging emails with Zola Octanoviar, looking at the methods their friends use to create knives, and the incredible diversity of weapons, I had a hundred questions running through my mind. I proceeded to send "Noviar" a list of some of those questions and I am going to share the collective responses from Noesantara with you. I have taken the liberty of editing both the questions and answers to save space. Photo from left to right: Zola Octanoviar, Kang Rhaman (knifemaker), Lucky Prianata.
Q: Are Indonesian knife makers held in any special regard, like Japanese swordmakers, or are they treated the same as any local craftsmen?
A: Some knife makers, especially those who make Keris are considered to be a "Noble / Respectable / Holy Man / Special Man." Some were even said to bring wealth and prosperity to the kingdom because of their special skills.
Q: Historically many swordmakers in Japan were at least marginal Shinto Priests. Is there any similar religious connotation associated with Indonesian Knife makers?
A: Keris making has a strong connection to ancient Javanese belief called "Kejawen." This belief crosses religious boundaries between Hindu, Muslim and Christian, and establishes much of the ritual associated with keris making. The keris maker was held to be a Holy Man.
Q: Do most modern knifemakers in Indonesia use new steel from blanks or from other sources?
A: Some makers use European steel brought by the Dutch for bridges, etc. Some makers still make their blades from smelting iron ore but this is no longer common. The preferred steel is from the leaf springs of Jeeps, BMW, and Mercedes Benz. Older springs are more desirable than new ones.
Q: What is the usual quenching/tempering process and medium?
A: Most makers judge by the color of the steel when to quench and temper. They do not use a magnet to test for temperature. Water and oil are both used, depending upon the maker’s preference or experience. The colors are observed in a darkly lit workshop.
Q: How do the makers achieve such a smooth polish on the wooden and horn surfaces?
A: A form of pumice like material is used to smoothen the surfaces after which the wooden ones are finished with furniture grade varnish.
Q: Do knife makers apprentice, and if so for about how long.
A: Yes they apprentice, usually with a family elder. The apprenticeship can last for 10-15 years.
Q: Is the art of knife making growing or fading, and do most people buy local knives or modern production knives?
A: It is definitely fading! For example, most young people buy Japanese sword instead of Golok or traditional pieces. Daily cutlery purchases are mostly cheap Chinese imports of poor quality. If nothing is done then knife making the traditional way may die out within the next 50 years.
Q: Is there much demand for traditional swords? Are they used mostly for ceremonial events or martial arts training?
A: Some swords are still used for daily activities, such as hunting. The sword is also used in ritual ceremonies and dances, but the quality of the swords has declined until the balance, strength, and sharpness is very poor. (This is one of the reasons that Noesantara is attempting to reverse this trend. My note) In some remote areas extraordinary people still exist who make wonderful, sharp, balanced, pieces.
Q: And finally, do many people today practice the traditional martial arts, and if so are these normally taught in formal schools or in a home dojo?
A: Almost every village has a silat school that teaches young people. Some silat is taught in the home while other is taught in public school. In the cities the silat is fading as students turn to Japanese arts. The younger generation finds silat boring because the teacher insists on learning the basics by repetition before moving on to advanced studies. While this type of training is good for the student most of today’s generation is impatient.
My thanks to Octanoviar and Noesantara for the in-depth replies and insights into the direction that Indonesian arts and crafts are headed. I hope that through their efforts things can be turned around and that their arts will flourish once again. The plague of cheap Chinese products is like a scourge on the world right now and even smaller countries like Indonesia are feeling its negative impact on their culture and way of life. Noviar, Lucky and I are working together to design an "MIK" Modern Indonesian Knife for martial artists and those interested in a knife for daily-carry self defense. If you are interested in buying a high quality "MIK" or a traditional knife from Noesantara please contact me.