A small rattan knife, or what else?

[Peter B.]

I bought this knife a few days ago. It looks like a rattan knife, but it’s only 24 cm long.
Any idea what it is and where it comes from?
The blade is 2 mm thick, and the cutting edge is on the convex side of the handle.

[JeffS]

I have seen little ones line that used for basket weaving in Ratanakiri Cambodia.

[Ian]

Jeff is on the money I think. Mainland SE Asian. A small version of a work knife used in parts of Thailand and former French Indochina.

[DaveA]

I believe this to be a “mead peek nok" (birds wing knife; Thai language. In other areas the name would be different). It is reportedly found in a strip extending from Northern Burma in the west to the Tonkin Gulf, Vietnam in the east. I have two in my collection (photos below). I’ve seen photo examples in multiple sizes from small palm size to large two handed versions, all with the distinctive rosewood or similar hardwood with brass mounts. The blades are all very similar with some variations in the shape of smaller ones. The small one in the first photo is about 6 inches long. The second one is larger, OAL 21 inches and a robust 1/2 inch thick blade with a modest distal taper.

[Ian]

Thanks Dave. Yes, quite a common and widespread knife in mainland SE Asia.