"Alon" The Bathan heirloom kris balisong

"Alon"
Is a custom piece that was built for Mr. Ramon Bathan, a proud Batangueño and balisong collector, who is a passionate advocate for the balisong-making industry in Batangas. He happens to own the prototype piece for the "Rajah", my first balisong build. He wanted to have the three most iconic Tausug blade profiles made as balisongs.
To make this happen, Mr. Bathan commissioned the bladesmith June Kempe from the Sulu Utak Shop to forge a classic Tausug "barung", a "pira", and a "kris" blade. Two of these blades were then sent to chosen batangas balisong makers to create the handle for the barung and the pira.
I was honored to receive the proposal to commission this very important project for him where he desired to own the last remaining piece, the "Kris", as his final balisong build and keep it as a family heirloom. However, at that time, circumstances were not very favorable for both of us to make the project happen."
Three years have passed and the offer patiently stands, Sir Ramon and I finally agreed to begin this project, He sent me the blade right away and some materials that I may put into use, giving me complete trust and the artistic freedom to the final design for this piece.
As soon as I started working on this project, I immediately realized how complex the task would be. Considering that this is a collaboration project, I must figure out how to design a handle that complements the blade design flawlessly. It should appear as though the blade and handle were crafted by a single artisan, without altering the blade as much as possible or causing any damage. It is important to show complete respect for the work of my fellow bladesmith who forged the blade.
The most challenging task is to design a handle for a balisong knife that can conceal the sharp edge of a wavy double-edged blade when folded while resembling the traditional Kris blade silhouette. It must also be functional, comfortable to grip, and visually pleasing in terms of proportion. Fortunately, I already have experience with this from three years ago when I designed and built my second balisong, "Mayari", which had a similar Kris blade profile."
Constructing a balisong using a pre-forged blade for the first time presented a challenge due to the blade's lack of certain parameters, such as a flat and even tang for the pivot pin mechanism to work smoothly.
After creating a few sketches and mock-ups, I finally settled on the final design and began working on it. The result is a magnificent Kris balisong with an overall length of 42 centimeters. The handle is curved in design, but when folded, it perfectly conceals the sharpened edges with Narra wood coverings on both sides.
The housing is made from 3mm thick brass plates with bolsters made from the same material, adorned with vine motif engravings. The scales are made from Kamagong and Narra and are riveted in place with brass rods. I also incorporated vine motif inlays made from mother of pearl that was sent to me by the client to adorn the handle. The latch is also made from brass, but I chose a hasp-type design that I have been using more frequently on my recent builds. This latch design is less likely to be accidentally unlocked and works more securely than the traditional T-shaped latch.
The client has commissioned this build as a family heirloom that they intend to pass down to future generations for safekeeping. Therefore, I have kept the adornments on the handle scales to a minimum to provide room allowing each succeeding safekeeper to add their personal touch to the piece. This way, it's not just the blade that is being passed on in time, but also the stories and history of the previous safekeepers.
The name "Alon" which means "wave" carries significant symbolism and historical significance as it honors the Tausug roots of the client. The blade profile is a kris blade, a known weapon used by the Tausug, and its wavy shape resembles the waves. The Tausug people, meaning "people of the current" derived from "tau" meaning people, and "sug" meaning sea current, are the dominant ethnic group in the Sulu Archipelago of the southern Philippines. They are traditionally known for being sailors, the best pearl divers, and traders. Their ancestral homelands in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea, hence the name "people of the current".
William James once wrote, "We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep." This quote is a beautiful metaphor that highlights how physical distance may separate family members, but they will always be connected by their blood and heart. It's just like how islands are separated by the ocean, yet they are still connected by the waves.