Parang
A knife of the Malay Archipelago with a blade 25-91 cm long, divided into three sections: the tip for skinning, the middle for chopping, the back for carving.
Quick Facts
About the weapon
The parang is a knife widespread throughout the Malay Archipelago, a tool that the Austronesians adapted to their environment. It is related to the Indonesian golok and the Filipino bolo; in the Iranun language, the Filipino kampilan is called parang kampilan. We have not been able to establish its time of origin in the sources. The blade measures 25 to 91 centimetres, and the parang weighs up to 0.91 kilograms. Compared to South American machetes, it has a heavier blade suited to stronger chopping. The edge has a convex grind, the tang is usually hidden, exceptionally full, and the handle is of wood or water-buffalo horn. The blade is divided into three working sections: a very sharp front part serves for skinning, a wider middle for chopping, and a fine rear part near the handle for carving work. In John "Lofty" Wiseman's SAS Survival Handbook, the parang is described as a very useful and compact all-purpose bush tool. The parang has also had its place in history as a weapon against colonial powers: North Bornean guerrillas fought the Japanese with it during the Jesselton uprising.