Long ago gift

[Nirghosa]

Received this long ago as a gift but have no information regarding it other than supposed allusion to a previous owner being a well known Silat master.
It has lanquished in my collection for many years.
Comments welcomed.

[TribalBlades]

i know this knife. it is used to slash at tendons around the behind of the knees and arms, in order to completely weaken and destabilize the oponent. i have seen a video.

[Sajen]

Hello again,

it is a recent korambi or a lawi ayam from Sumatra, not for tourists IMHO but not very old.
Look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2094&highlight=lawi+ayam or here, more like yours: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14130&highlight=lawi+ayam

Regards,

Detlef

[Nirghosa]

Many thanks Detlef! I have some familiarity with Kuku Machan but had never heard the term Lawi Ayam. Plus the handle had me thrown a bit.
Thanks! :D

[Battara]

The blade looks like the designs are etched into the blade.

Interesting piece.

[T. Koch]

I might be completely off here, but doesn't a knife have to have a pommel-ring in order to be a proper karambit?

I've seen this type of surface etching on modern knives coming out of Bali. Both karambits, but also on more bowie-style, non-traditional knives and other types as well.They are usually rather cheap - and probably also sold to travelers - but they are real enough knives in that sense. Not much craftmanship, fit or finish to speak of though, at least in my opinion.

I think that karambits have become more popular in the west following the spread of Arnis and Silat. Many US and European custom knife makers have also made karambits part of their repertoire and Ebay usually show a good selection of these mass-produced Balinese ones, often for very reasonable prices.


Cheers, - Thor

[Sajen]

I might be completely off here, but doesn't a knife have to have a pommel ring in order to be a proper karambit?

Hello Thor,

so I have written as well lawi ayam since this form don't need necessarily the hole in the pommel. The knife from Nirgosha isn't built up in a traditional form anymore so I doubt that we can use the measurements of traditional knifes.

Regards,

Detlef

[DaveA]

I agree with Lawi Ayam identification. Means "spike chicken'", among other things, Very similar to kuku macan. Here is a link to a Kuku macan in my collection: Kuku Macan (http://atkinson-swords.com/SwordsAndKnives/Collection/Entries/2007/11/27_Lawi_Ayam_Tiger_Claw.html)

It is a cousin to the kerambit. Designed for a thrust and upward pull of the blade, causing thereby atrocious injury.

Best regards,

David