Hi Brian,
Your knife appears to be very much Thai in origins. It is of a quality reserved for an individual of some social standing not a priest. The some what similar Burmese looking sheath silver fittings and sheath base are Thai as is the hilt.
Dr David,
Your knife is Burmese but not a priests knife, it is a higher grade working/fighting type knife.
The images RhysMichael shows are good indications of the Thai Priests knives, knives that are not weapons in any sense but votive/protective charms. So to answer your question Brian, the knives Priests carry, when carried, are not weapons but ritual items.
Gavin
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