"Rajah"
What better way to celebrate my 1st year as a blade designer and maker than to honor a blade that has been the reason why I came to love knives in the first place, the balisong.
23 years ago when i was able to own my first balisong for 200 pesos that i saved from my allowance, i got it from "Aling Batangueña", an old lady who distinctly have that batangueña accent who owns a small stall in our local market who are selling belts, leather wallets, keychains and stuff, but I learned that she also have balisong batangas in her shop
but you need to ask her secretly to be able to buy one.
I got one and It was the beginning of my fascination with it that i am always excited to go home from school to practice flipping it, I had countless cuts on my fingers and even on my feet trying to learn some flipping tricks, I had that balisong for many years until
a devastating flash flood hit our city where we had to leave the house for our safety, many of our belongings were destroyed by the mud and water including my beloved balisong.
Since then, I owned a few modern balisong but never had another balisong batangas until just recently, I was lucky to receive a beautifully hand crafted 29cm batangas balisong as a token from a blade brother and an advocate of the traditional balisong culture.
It's with such nostalgic and humbling feeling at the same time to be able to hold something that brings good memories, reminds me of the past and is also very significant to what I am doing now. It feels like I am being supercharged with overwhelming inspiration
and confidence to accomplish great things in the future.
Many may not agree with me but for me personally,
the Filipino hand made balisong is and forever will be the "King" of knives.
"Rajah" - Balisong
Haba: 32cm
Talim: 5160 Leafspring
Bahayan at Aldaba: Brass
Rematse: Brass
Dugtungan: Brass
Kapit: Narra and Kamagong