I say keep it simple and keep it cheap. You can easily find parang style knives for under $100, usually made in 1055 or such. The British Army Martindale #2 Golok has a definite parang shape to it. The steel is pretty soft, though, but you can find them for under $60. But one in SR77 or SR 101 with a nice fat cushy Res C handle would be sweet. Keeping the price down is important in these "beaters". Only a bonafide fanatic like me would pay for a custom parang. Dan's would bridge the gap between the really cheap military models and the expensive customs, and out perform them.