SE Asia Knife #3

[lordkoos]

This one is just under 8" / 20 cm. Carved bone handle with elephant motif & brass or bronze bolster. No writing or decoration on the blade, which is an unusual shape, does anyone know if this type of knife had a specific purpose as a tool? The blade is fairly sharp. Like some of the others, the tip of the handle looks to have been put in a fire and blackened, perhaps some type of ceremony -- the large knife I posted first also showed evidence of this.

[Nathaniel]

Lordkoos, the blackened areas are just pitting/ corrosion from rust over time. Active rust is red (bad) and inactive rust is black (unsightly, but no longer harmful). I would not clean or polish it in anyway...just put some oil on the blade to protect it.

[lordkoos]

Hi, I was talking about the top of the handle, rather than the blade. The top of the elephant's head looks to have been stuck in the fire for a moment. The big knife with the large carved ivory handle shows evidence of the same treatment. These knives were ceremonial so I was theorizing that they might have been put into the fire as part of some ritual.

[Sajen]

I think the material is blowy at the top and become dark by handling. The material is maybe bone or deer horn.

Regards,

Detlef

[Nathaniel]

I think it could be a decorative utility knife used for things like making offerings from banana leaf, beetle nut, flowers, etc...or even for beetle nut chewing.

[T. Koch]

I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone.

*Lordkoos* I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing!


All the best, - Thor

[T. Koch]

I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone.

*Lordkoos* I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing!


All the best, - Thor