Formosa Hill Tribe Swords ( for Yuanzhumin )

KuKulzA28 · 4th September 2009, 04:50 AM

In addition to those above, I am trying to trace the origins of these, which may be tourist blades

:

These seem to be the 銅門, Hualien made Aboriginal blades mixed with some sickle-like 開山刀 in the mix. It would seem the Aboriginal blades give a good account of themselves as "machetes". I myself have tested mine out - not bad! Most Han Taiwanese use 開山刀 for brush clearing like a machete. It is also commonly used in Guangdong and Fujian where the handcrafts of making such tools is also dying... ironically while the villagers in both areas prefer the well-made, quality tools of old master craftsmen... very few young apprentices are to be found.

On the side... Yugan Dali's photo on flickr showing one way to wear a sickle-開山刀

4th September 2009, 04:50 AM	#22
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	In addition to those above, I am trying to trace the origins of these, which may be tourist blades : These seem to be the 銅門, Hualien made Aboriginal blades mixed with some sickle-like 開山刀 in the mix. It would seem the Aboriginal blades give a good account of themselves as "machetes". I myself have tested mine out - not bad! Most Han Taiwanese use 開山刀 for brush clearing like a machete. It is also commonly used in Guangdong and Fujian where the handcrafts of making such tools is also dying... ironically while the villagers in both areas prefer the well-made, quality tools of old master craftsmen... very few young apprentices are to be found. On the side... Yugan Dali's photo on flickr showing one way to wear a sickle-開山刀 Last edited by KuKulzA28; 4th September 2009 at 05:02 AM.