What Makes a Malaysian Parang & What to Look for When Buying One

[@urbanknifeguy]

Excellent video on the parang and explaining why original design uses the rat-tail tang as well as choice blade steel. Overall, I think the parang is the best "one tool", especially for tropical jungles. Paired with a fixed blade and folder, you have everything you need in terms of tools. The blade makes for easy field sharpening as this sort of tool will take a beating if used a lot. I use a 8" Tantari mini candong with the main uses of light trail clearing for hiking and bushcraft work. Weight and handling for finer work was critical for me. Used to carry a hachet instead but the parang is more versatile and can do all the work of the hachet for light bushcraft work. So I've ditched the hachet. Great content! Keep it up!

[@BorealWilderness]

I feel the same. Short of splitting logs, the parang can do everything a hatchet can,....and more. It's even versatile enough to process down game and large fish for quick prep and cook....things my little mora would find difficult to handle. I have an 8" blade on order from a local blacksmith. Will share that once it arrives. An 8" is a lightweight sweet spot IMHO.

[@urbanknifeguy]

@@BorealWilderness Look forward to it. Will give you a shout out when I do a video on my parang set-up in the next few weeks. Thanks!

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

I have been using a 8” or 10” bidor duku for hiking in the arctic for years, instead of an axe. I usually combine with a smaller mora type knife and a small folding saw, but really I don’t have to - if I was going for a one tool solution the duku chandung would be it … I travelled through Sarawak many years ago and even spent a few days, and I can’t believe I didn’t know at the time they actually make them there, and missed the opportunity to visit a manufacturer - so I had to get one online many years later from ThomasTools …

[@BorealWilderness]

Wau. That's a great story. My set up is just like yours. I have a vid on the sheath I made to carry both the parang and mora basic. I also frequently carry the Opinel 12 saw. But that's usually in my pack.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@BorealWilderness Awesome. I think have have seen that video in the past. I made my own sheath as well, but not with the knife addon although it’s been on my mind ever since, probably inspired by your video. The leather is fine for the north but would likely rot in the tropics. The standard one from Thomas Tools is well built and sturdy and fine if you are car camping or working in one location and just need quick access and easy re-sheathing. But the retention is no good and its bulky so hiking I feel is out of the question and frankly unsafe. I may try for a wooden design like the originals one of these days, just for fun. But yeah - the guys from Terava who make the Jaakaaripuukko recently came out with this small sort of whittling size blade with just a flat metal handle. I am thinking of adding one of those onto a new sheath. Won’t quite replace the mora or puukko probably but it’d be good enough for out of camp excursions and carving of an evening I think. I am tempted by the opinel too btw 😂👌 ... thanks for the upload!

[@aex-blacksmithuk2111]

Great video, thank you. I have two Parang's, one I made my self, forged out of a Land Rover leaf spring, harden and tempered to about 55 HRC, the sheath is a copy of a native Parang one, made from sycamore and oak, with a sappily end cap (with drain hole), handle is hickory. The other Parang is a BIDOR Malaysia Baby Duku Chandong Parang. With those two tools (1 big for heavy chopping, 1 smaller for general work) I feel I could start a new civilisation if put in the right habitat! LOL I hope you know what I am trying to say here, as I have used a wide range of hand chopping tools and I have to say, to date, no thing is as nice and efficient in my opinion as a parang, a part from may be a chainsaw for cutting real thick logs in two, or felling a large tree. LOL

[@BorealWilderness]

Yup. Makes sense. The baby duku I guess is an 8in? The parang is a truly versatile tool. I do have an x7 fiskars but I tend to lean towards a parang more often than not. Not just for for versatility, but also for packability. Glad to hear some of our local handy work has reached the UK.

[@pgandy1]

An excellent video. Your overall concept is what I like although unfortunately I have no parangs. They are on my want list though. When ordering a kukri, I amongst other things, specify no overcoat on the grip, bare wood as I will oil finish. File marks are no problem as I find they enhance a more secure hold. Lately the HRC is too high at 57. I have had no issues but prefer something lower, about 50, is preferred as that is easier to maintain. I have some antiques in the 40s that have given no problems. One of my machetes is in the 40s and I’ve sharpened it on a rock. Most parangs I find are made for westerners in mind, like the vast majority of kukris. I live in Central America where a good machete is king. I am not interested in a highly polished knife with an exotic metal blade and high HRC as I see Internet vendors pushing.

[@BorealWilderness]

Totally agree. If you want a legit Malaysian parang, myparang.com ships international. They have a decent spread. The blade is made by a famous Bidor (name of a town) knife factory that has been manually forging parangs and other field tools for a long time. They do use mechanical hammers. But its still all very traditional in every other sense.

[@Shaik1972]

That is one nice looking Duku Chandong blade! Beautiful! Real piece of art. Not easy to get one like that now days.

[@sarawaksoldman3886]

I love parang too. Good video 👍👍💓

[@shadeshiest22]

Wow great video!! Would love to buy that parang or one like it, who makes it?

[@BorealWilderness]

This is by a blacksmith named Wong but he has since retired. There's a few more around Malaysia that still make it by hand. Check out "Fadil MMC" on Facebook. He often posts the work he does.

[@user-sl5qz3lg2e]

Thank you for a very informative video.

[@jackfredy6327]

Duku chandong for daily use, lndoor or outdoor.

[@BorealWilderness]

Just need a proper chopping block for indoor use 😁

[@lukefenech]

Hello and thank you so much for this excellent video. I'm in Australia and I'm having a great deal of trouble trying to source a good quality traditionally made Parang Tangkin with 16" blade. I do a lot of jungle clearing and hiking through thick rainforest around Cairns in Far North Queensland where I live. I have found that there are postage restrictions and sending a parang out of Malaysia is not simple. I would absolutely love to be able to purchase a high quality (like the ones you show in this video) truly hand-made traditional 16" parang tangkin to use. I am wondering if you are able to help me find a source for this tool? MYParang make a good tool and I have one of their 12" Chandong but it is not long enough for what I need. Any help would be very greatly appreciated. Kind regards. Luke.

[@BorealWilderness]

A 16in hand forged tangkin is a tall order even over here. I'll keep your request in mind if I go to the famous Bidor blacksmith factory. Hit me up on Instagram? There's no DM in KZbin unfortunately.

[@lukefenech]

@@BorealWilderness I've started making one for myself. It's coming along well so far. Ready for heat treat now. I'm nervous about this step. 👍🏼

[@BorealWilderness]

@@lukefenech best of luck, mate! Let us see how it turns out when it does 👍

[@juanedoses8715]

made that way cuz that's what you had, not because it's stronger.

[@BorealWilderness]

Are you referring to the type of steel?

[@edmondleeanakkilau5644]

not duku candung.we call it duku jempul

[@edwinalim9602]

Its not malaysia, its SARAWAK

[@BorealWilderness]

I think I did mention that this profile of parang is from Sarawak, which is a state within the country of Malaysia?