Ban Lepcha Sword

[SidJ]

Here is a fairly scarce sword from Sikkim. I date this to around the late 19th century. This one has no fullers and a tapering bevel. There's nothing fancy about these but they appear to be a good solid all round tool capable of various tasks without being too cumbersome to carry around.

[kronckew]

Yours is nicer than mine, they are utility knives & weapons on necessity.
Mine has a razor sharp edge. Quite a heavy blade too. I suspect they are hairpin laminated steel.



They come from an area near Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. I posted a picture of a traders shop with these for sale with other knives somewhere on the forum...it's along one of the common trade routes there.

[Ferguson]

Nice piece. I posted pics of mine here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15383&highlight=Lepcha

Steve

[SidJ]

Outstanding restoration. May I ask what pins or tacks you used to hold the silver straps to the wood?

[SidJ]

Yours is nicer than mine, they are utility knives & weapons on necessity.
Mine has a razor sharp edge. Quite a heavy blade too. I suspect they are hairpin laminated steel.



They come from an area near Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. I posted a picture of a traders shop with these for sale with other knives somewhere on the forum...it's along one of the common trade routes there.

Hi
Mine are laminated. Others are of mono steel. I suspect hairpin ones might be rarer.

[Ferguson]

Outstanding restoration. May I ask what pins or tacks you used to hold the silver straps to the wood?

The bands go around and are silver soldered on the back.
Thanks,
Steve

[SidJ]

Thanks Steve!
I attach pics of another fullerless ban with laminated. Thick spined blade.