Auction — Balete Blades | Heirloom Knives

COMMUNITY AUCTION
CLOSED

ITAK: Damascus Clad Copper-Mai, with Narra, and Carabao Horn + Antique Narra Yoke Display

Top Bid: USD 3000

CLOSED

All proceeds will go to Good Food Community.

SPECIFICATIONS

Blade: 52100 High Carbon Steel Core, 1084/15n20 Damascus Clad San-Mai (56 HRc) with Copper and Nickel Liner
Handle:
- Narra
- Carabao Horn Handle Bolster
Grind: Convex Flat Grind
Balance: 3 Inches from the Guard
Installation Geometry:
- Length: 20in
- Height: 20in
- Width: 20in

AUCTION GUIDELINES

This auction will run from Oct 16, 8:00PM (Philippine Time) to OCT 20, 9:00PM (Philippine Time).
Minimum Bid: Increments of USD500 (exclusively in USD)
Current highest bid amount will be updated via email and Instagram comments.
5 minute anti snipe rule. 5 minute extensions if highest bid is outbid.
Must be 18 or older to bid & purchase. Know your local laws before bidding, I’m not responsible for any kind of injury from the misuse of this tool.
Payment due within 2 hours of auction ending or the knife will go to the next highest bidder.
Shipping rate will be determined after the piece is won. Deliveries within Metro Manila is free.

One day, someone handed me this weathered, unassuming piece of wood. Nothing special at first glance, but they called it a Pamatok ng Pang-aalipin—the "Yoke of Slavery." With a name that heavy, this worn antique became more than just an old relic—it became an obsession. What I held in my hands was a carved piece of Narra, once used as a withers yoke. This simple wooden beam sat on the shoulders of a carabao, guiding it as it plowed fields or pulled carts for farmers, helping shape the land that sustained them.

The more I learned about its role in our history, the more I knew I had to do something special with it. So, I decided to breathe new life into this wood—turning it into a display base and handle for a bespoke Itak. The Itak is an iconic Filipino blade— originally a tool for daily survival that, throughout history, doubled as a weapon with a wide, curved edge. It’s a symbol of our craftsmanship and resilience, and the perfect way to tell the story of this once-forgotten piece of Narra.

I forged the blade from high-carbon steel, layering it with studio-made Damascus and copper, creating ripples that flowed across the surface of the blade. The wide surface of the Itak gave me plenty of space to showcase the intricate lamination. For the handle, I found a deep black carabao horn to craft the bolster, pairing it with the aged yoke wood, which I sculpted into a curved, ergonomic grip. To finish, I added an inlay that tied everything together, a nod to the balance between form and function.

This once humble yoke, an agricultural tool, is now an art piece—revived as the handle of a blade that echoes our precolonial past. The blade itself tells a story, with its etched patterns of steel and copper interacting like a conversation between the elements. What began as a discarded piece of wood now lives on, breathing new life into this Itak, a blade that carries the spirit of Filipino heritage.