About Parangs, and other blades, and how we started selling them...
Machetes have been used for centuries in the jungles of Southeast Asia for a variety of tasks. One of the traditional uses of a machete is for clearing and maintaining trails through dense jungle. The heavy blade of a machete is able to cut through thick underbrush and small trees with ease, making it an essential tool for navigating through the jungle.
In addition to trail maintenance, machetes are also commonly used for hunting and foraging in the jungle. The sharp blade of a machete can be used to cut through dense vegetation to access fruits, nuts, and other food sources. It can also be used to prepare game by skinning and butchering animals.
Different styles of machetes have been developed to suit different tasks in the jungle. For example, the Parang machete is a traditional tool used by the indigenous people of Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a heavy, curved blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation. Another traditional machete is Enep, which is a wider and thicker blade that is great for chopping and slicing thick materials.
One question I get a lot from friends and family is, “how did you even start or decide to begin this?” when we talk about the Bodark Tool project. It’s a fair question, because at the time I was living in deep in the concrete jungle of Dalles/Fort Worth and spending most of my time in an office building. The honest answer is: I like cool blades. I like seeing how they’re made and I like learning about where they’re from. That led me to trying all kinds of tool for my camping trips and always wondering what else is out there. I like machete style tools because they do well for the wooded areas I grew up in and spend my time in now, and the style from Southeast Asia tend to do better in woodier underbrush than lighter machetes from central or south America. Machetes have been used for centuries in the jungles of Southeast Asia for a variety of tasks. They’re most known for their utility in clearing and maintaining trails through dense jungle, and I’m prone to exploring off trail a lot. The heavy blade of a machete is able to cut through thick underbrush and small trees with ease, making it an essential tool for navigating through the jungle.
I also just enjoy the history of various blade shapes and how they came to be. Different styles of machetes have been developed to suit different tasks in the jungle. Regarding our current tools, the Parang machete is a traditional tool used by the indigenous people of Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a heavy, curved blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation. It’s styles (short and longer bladed) fit my woods almost perfectly. Another variety I’ve tried (and own) is an Enep, which is a wider and thicker blade that is great for chopping and slicing thick materials. My enep is a shorter one, and it’s belly adds enough extra weight that I use it more like a small axe (or light kukri).
What kinds of machetes are there? What are they for?
Overall, machetes have been an essential tool for centuries. They are versatile tools that can be used for clearing trails, hunting, foraging, and much more. Whether you are in a jungle, swamps, or coastal areas, a machete is a must-have tool for survival. Other cool styles we’re looking into and learning about as we explore the world of blades are:
- The Golok machete, which is a traditional tool used in Indonesia and the Philippines. It has a straight blade that is typically wider and heavier than a standard machete, making it ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation and small trees. We’ve named some of our straighter varieties as Goloks.
- The Bolo knife, which is a traditional tool used in the Philippines for agriculture and other tasks. It is similar to a machete, but typically has a longer, heavier blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation and small trees. I’ve got a bolo styled long machete in the garage. It’s a thin blade with a huge flare at the end so a little unwieldy, but boy does that thing just make quick work of the massive ragweed stands I sometimes chop through when exploring.
- The Kampilan machete, which is a traditional tool used in the Philippines. It has a long, straight blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation, as well as for self-defense. I don’t own any of these right now and I’m not sure we’re looking to bring any over, I just love the craftsmanship and styling of many of these. My understanding as they’re more martial weapons than tool, but the traditional carved handles and sheaths are just super cool.
- The Kukri machete, which is a traditional tool used in Nepal. It has a unique, curved blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation, as well as for self-defense. I have a 14-inch kukri I bought six or seven years ago now. It’s nice as a more hatchet-like tool for the backyard firepit, but I found mine to be pretty heavy and overkill for most of the work I do in the woods. From other reading it seems I may have bought one of the more touristy or farmer styles which are designed to be more like heavy axe/cleavers than utilitarian blades.
- The Sundang knife, which is a traditional tool used in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is similar to a machete, but typically has a shorter, broader blade that is ideal for chopping and slicing through dense vegetation and small trees. Pointed variety of blade looks pretty awesome and we’re actively trying to get some samples from overseas. Native to the Philippines, from research it function a lot like a parang, but enjoys the added benefit of having a point. Many styles seem thinner and more focused on agility and wield-ability for martial arts and combat/self-defense.
So for now, we’re sticking with parangs because they enjoy a little mystique and bump in popularity from Ray Mears, but we’re always looking at various cousins to the great tool and seeing what kind of variety we might be able to bring over! Each has its own unique design and characteristics and can be used in different situations, depending on the user's preference and the task at hand, but many evolved to be outdoor tools very well suited to the typical bushcrafter and overland camper’s needs. It’s a fascinating way to learn about other countries (I also explore other cultures through tea and coffee, and how they grow, prepare, and consume delicious caffeine…) and hopefully sometime soon we can get some actual trips to that side of the world to learn in person, make new friends, and have new adventures.