[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by kai

Congrats on a great acquisition!


How hard is the wood?

Thanks! The wood is obviously hard being Kamagong(Ironwood). What scares me about Kamagong is it can fracture or crack with time when taken out of its natural tropical humid environment. Especially where I live(Southern California), it is extremely dry here year round. Kamgong is heavy. I have Kamgong sticks as well and they can weight 3 times more than a rattan stick of the same length. But for some reason, the handle seems light as well as the scabbard...just seems odd to me, I actually thought it was fake for a moment.

Yeah, like it, too. Does it feel a bit more like a talibon than the ginunting version?

I only have one authentic Talibong. It feels completely different...the tip of the Talibong I have thins out. This modern day so-called "Talibung" actually has some weight at the end.

What is the blade length of your ginunting? Which type has the better balance in your opinion?

I have the shorter Ginunting with the 17" blade. Now that I had a few days to play with both and compare the two side by side, I honestly like the Ginunting better. Not sure which one is heavier(don't have a scale), they honestly feel the same weight even though the Ginunting is shorter, the blade is a little thicker. How the end widens on the Talibung blade just a bit actually added some weight at the end. We do more slashing, so the Talibung feels more heftier to manuever and swing around. The Ginunting just feels more practical for all around different applications...the blade thins out towards the tip. Not that Im some master swordsman or anything, but thats just my own amatuer observation and preference, I know others out there might like that bit of weight at the end.

Any clues on steel hardness when sharpening the edge? What is the original angle of the chisel grind? Any secondary bevel at the edge? Thanks a lot in advance!

I honestly don't know anything on the type of steel or the hardness. I know considering the price, it is not wise to buy blades with out knowing the detail of the steel used and that is info which should be given, I just wanted another from this smith considering how much I liked their Ginunting...I'll email the guy later to ask. There is a secondary bevel on the edge...not sure on the angle of the chisel grind.

Ginunting and Talibung side by side. Sorry for the poor quality cellphone pic. I can't find my camera.