The Bidor Parang maker

I guess the Parang makers have gone upscale in terms of operations

I have always heard about the Bidor Parang. One local jungle survival instructor I know swears by the Parangs from Bidor. So, on an early morning drive back to Kuala Lumpur from Kedah, I decided to take a detour off the main highway, in search of the Bidor Parang maker.

I was lucky because on my GPS there is already a point marked as blade smith in Bidor. I followed it, turning into the main town and then ending up in a Chinese town.  Asking the locals there, it turns out that the blade smith has moved. They gave me some directions and half and hour later, I was at the gates of Parang Cap Pedang Bidor ‘mini’ factory.

I met Mr Ming, a friendly chap who took the time to show me around the factory. Now this is no ‘back the house’ operation. They may have started so years back in their old place but they have obviously expanded their operations. There were several furnaces and not to mention a showroom.

The entrance to the ‘mini’ Parang Bidor showroom

So many choices of Parang. Spolit by choice!

The Bidor Parang factory even have a range of sharpening stones for their clients to choose

I found a few pieces of blades I wanted. Mainly to practice making Parang handles. I brought a few pieces at a really good price. Well, this is direct from factory, can’t get any better

Some of the pieces of Parang Bidor I liked

There were several pieces of ‘Pisau Raut’. They are normally small blades with a flat grind on one side and is usually attached to a long handle for carving and other ‘finer’ work.

Some of the Pisau Rauts available at the factory

The few pieces of Cap Pedang blades from Bidor which I purchased

Mr Ming told me that they moved to the new location less than half a year ago. Looking around, I would say that the factory is doing really well. There were stacks of metal pieces waiting to be turned into all sort of cutting tools. There were at least 4 furnaces and 8 staffs working that day.

There were at least 4 furnaces at the factory

There were at least 4 furnaces at the factory

I have re-handled one of the blades I got from the factory. The blade after a bit more sharpening is turning out super sharp indeed. Gotta find time to bring it out for a try one day. In the mean time, I may very well drop by again in Bidor to visit this Cap Pedang parang maker, this time maybe they will let me have a go at their furnaces!