Vietnamese Machetes?

W

Wolfeye

Joined
Apr 26, 2015
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Hey, everyone. Does anyone here know if there is a specific Vietnamese style of machete? I was watching Rescue Dawn a little while ago & they were using what looked like a very useful style of machete- it was more or less straight with a bit of a foward sweep toward the end. It didn't look like a khukuri, it looked something like a foward-swept bola or a Woodsman's Pal without the hook on the back. Seems like it would be something I'd like to get, if I could find it.
 
A Parang would be about right for that part of the world.

south-east-asian-parang-machete-14712-p.jpg


Some are curvier than others.
 
Well, yeah- the parang is great, but it didn't look like that. Picture a mildly flattened billhook that's as long as a falchion. The blade came out straight from the handle & the handle seemed to be straight. It was in their hands when they brought the two guys into camp, if I remember correctly.

By-the-way: that's a great-looking parang. Where did you get it?
 
Not mine, its a stock image from the bushcraft store, no brand name with it.

This guy?:

741_Tramontina_Cutlass_Sugar_Cane_Knife_Machete.jpg_350x350.jpg
 
With your Woodsman's Pal reference, it makes me think of a Vietnamese Rice Knife.

Also, there was a Bolo issued to US Special Forces back then that was short and forward leaning.
 
It sounds like it could be the "gununting" (sp). TV shows/movies are not always the best for accuracy so it could be any SEA knife that they thought looked cool. :)
 
There are many varieties. I've seen all of the above in Vietnam. I believe the one you are referring to is also used in Thailand - I'm not referring to the leaf shape eneps.
 
More & more it seems that it's one of those Hmong knives. Leghog's pic is pretty much the exact curvature & general shape, but is more narrow & has a longer handle (which I'm not opposed to, even if it wasn't in the movie). Any special tricks to drawing it, like the khukuri?

There wasn't as pronounced a curve at the end (as in EricV's or JayGoliath's pics), but it was similar. Those Mekong Delta knives look close, but the edge seems to be on the wrong side. Either one looks like they would work, though (with the edge on the other side for the grass knives).
 
leghog said:
Hmong knives are of no particular set design. I bought this one on-site from one of our laborers in the mountains of Laos ~24 years ago. The machetes in Vietnam were different than those found in Laos.

machette.JPG
Click to expand...

Interesting. I want one. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
leghog: Well, that helps a little. Any sites that sell them? I've noticed that those Bidor parangs that might cost between $10 & $20 there cost about $50 here. Anywhere without a huge jump in price?
 
JayGoliath said:
Check out the blades on the wall, 4th from the right:

machete2.jpg
Click to expand...

Knives like the one hanging on the left next to the hatchet are what I mostly saw in Viet Nam a couple of years ago. Kind of like long cleavers with steel tube handles. I think that is probably what is on the table next to this man. Something to chop bamboo, sugar cane and maybe cinnamon trees for their bark.
 
Yeah, that one looks good. To be honest, I think the parang is great- I'm just looking for something out of curiousity & for clearing brush that's maybe a bit more severe than a short & straight parang would be able to easily work for.

That Hmong knife is the closest thing I've seen, but I'd imagine a custom machete wouldn't be too bad in price. Just taking a larger machete & cutting/grinding/filing the other shape into it & then probably tempering the edges (since the middle part of the blade wouldn't be tempered the same as the edge, right?). Anyone know for sure? Or know someone that does made-to-order stuff?
 
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