Origins and age of this Dha "priests" knife

[archer]

Hi,
this caught my eye now I'm not sure of origins age etc. The "Priest" knife Dha is 8 inches overall with a perhaps unique 4 5/8s inch drop point false back blade. Your thoughts please overall the workmanship is high quality. Thanks, Steve

[CharlesS]

Lovely piece, but what makes this a 'priest's knife'?

[Battara]

I agree. Most "priests" knives I know are intricately carved.

[archer]

Exactly my question. I realize priest knife is a hackneyed term, so what is this knife called, where and how recent is it? Is it just a recent tourist tourist piece?

[russel]

I was watching this auction with interest, certainly not recent or tourist in my opinion!

[CharlesS]

Absolutely no tourist piece! The blade and fittings are both older and of excellent quality. I just don't think it's a so called priest's knife.

Perhaps dha-hmyaung (knife) is more appropriate??

[archer]

So Hmyaung it is. Searching old posts referencing the Hmyaung As having widely varying origins, i see why no attempts were made to pin down origins.
Thank you all for your input, Steve

[Nathaniel]

Hello Steve,

Lovely dress knife. Good blade, nice silverwork, great condition. I really like the multi sided handle and sheath, not as common.

dha-hmyaung (Dagger) would be a correct term in Burmese for this type of knife. The source of this name is the book from Sylvia Frazer Lu book Burmese Crafts Past and Present. In Thai, Meed = knife.

Priests knife I think usually is more associated with the Thai knives that have writing along the blades and scabbards ie Yantra..prayers usually for protection.

Having an item blessed with prayers for protection is very common...for things like safety when hunting in the jungle were there are wild beasts such as tigers, or when going into battle.