Photographic Essay Namphee, Uttradit Province, Thailand

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:37 PM

Uttradit Province in Northern Thailand

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:39 PM

Borlek Namphee Fok Museum

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:39 PM

Pra Saeng = "Sword of the State" single edge blade for soldiers

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:40 PM

Pra Khan = "Sword of the King" = Double Edge Blade...

The Pra Khan is one of the 12 sacred symbols of the King. Here is a picture of the HRM King Rama IV bestowing rank upon a high ranking police officer:

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:41 PM

Namphee utility tools

The famous two Namphi iron pits: Bor Pra Khan & Bor Pra Saeng...named for the two different types of swords made from each pit

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:41 PM

Here you can see at the iron pits you can fish for pieces of iron with a bamboo rod with a magnet attached to the end

Namphee Shrine to famous sword smiths

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:42 PM

Small Thai Spirit House Shrine

Museum Store

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:43 PM

Monks shopping for small knives that Thai monks traditionally carried for protection, my fiance said

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:45 PM

Here are some pictures of a Namphee forge I went to down the road....

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:46 PM

Very Famous Thai Hero, Phraya Pichai from Uttradit Province, as seen on the back of a truck

Phraya Pichai
1741-1782 A.D.

The Siamese hero known as Phraya Pichai was born Thongdee Fan Kao in Uttarradit. As a young boy he loved Muay Thai boxing and studied with many teachers. When he was twenty years old he attended a Muay Thai contest in the town of Tak where he soundly defeated the local champion, a master named, Arjarn Nai Hao. This brought the notice of General Taksin who asked Nai Thongdee to join his army and be his personal bodyguard. He would eventually work his way up to the rank of commander-in-chief.

In 1773 using guerrilla tactics, Phraya (general) Nai Thongdee captured the city of Pichai, expelling the Burmese oppressors. Nai Thongdee went into battle with a Namphi sword named "Nantakawut" in his left hand and an ordinary sword in his right. After many fierce clashes, he slipped and used his ordinary sword to catch his balance by sticking its point into the ground. As he leaned on the sword it broke in half. Nai Thongdee fought on with both swords and he led his army to victory forcing the Burmese to flee back across the border.

As a result of this battle he was known as ‘Phraya Pichai Daab Hak’ (Daab Hak) meaning broken sword.

Taken from http://www.universalswordsman.com/ThaiQuotes2006.htm

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:47 PM

Small Phraya Pichai statue in a thai house I visited...outside of Uttradit Province...

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:48 PM

Here are the pictures of the Namphee sword and knife I bought there:

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:50 PM

Nathaniel · 1st September 2007, 02:51 PM

rand · 12th September 2007, 04:17 AM

Great posting, thanks for sharing your photo's. Interesting to see that exhibits of this type are available there, would seem to indicate their cultural value for the sword.

rand

VANDOO · 13th September 2007, 09:19 PM

VERY INTERESTING PHOTOS, IF I AM EVER IN THE AREA I WILL BE SURE TO GO FOR A VISIT. IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT THE ART AND HISTORY OF SWORDMAKEING IS STILL IMPORTANT IN THAILAND.
THE DOUBBLE EDGED PRA KHAN SWORD HAS A BLADE SHAPE THAT ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THE SHAPE OF SOME OF THE OLD BRONZE SWORDS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT SHAPE BLADE ON INDONESIAN KERIS AND ON ONE OCCASION ON A LARGE SWORD KRIS OF EITHER MALAYSIAN OR PHILIPPINE ORIGIN.

1st September 2007, 02:37 PM	#1
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Photographic Essay Namphee, Uttradit Province, Thailand Uttradit Province in Northern Thailand

12th September 2007, 04:17 AM	#15
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Gotta love the huige sword on the way in.... Great posting, thanks for sharing your photo's. Interesting to see that exhibits of this type are available there, would seem to indicate their cultural value for the sword. rand

1st September 2007, 02:39 PM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Borlek Namphee Fok Museum

1st September 2007, 02:40 PM	#4
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Pra Khan = "Sword of the King" = Double Edge Blade... The Pra Khan is one of the 12 sacred symbols of the King. Here is a picture of the HRM King Rama IV bestowing rank upon a high ranking police officer:

1st September 2007, 02:41 PM	#5
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Namphee utility tools The famous two Namphi iron pits: Bor Pra Khan & Bor Pra Saeng...named for the two different types of swords made from each pit

1st September 2007, 02:42 PM	#7
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Small Thai Spirit House Shrine Museum Store

1st September 2007, 02:43 PM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Monks shopping for small knives that Thai monks traditionally carried for protection, my fiance said

1st September 2007, 02:45 PM	#9
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Here are some pictures of a Namphee forge I went to down the road....

1st September 2007, 02:46 PM	#10
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Very Famous Thai Hero, Phraya Pichai from Uttradit Province, as seen on the back of a truck Phraya Pichai 1741-1782 A.D. The Siamese hero known as Phraya Pichai was born Thongdee Fan Kao in Uttarradit. As a young boy he loved Muay Thai boxing and studied with many teachers. When he was twenty years old he attended a Muay Thai contest in the town of Tak where he soundly defeated the local champion, a master named, Arjarn Nai Hao. This brought the notice of General Taksin who asked Nai Thongdee to join his army and be his personal bodyguard. He would eventually work his way up to the rank of commander-in-chief. In 1773 using guerrilla tactics, Phraya (general) Nai Thongdee captured the city of Pichai, expelling the Burmese oppressors. Nai Thongdee went into battle with a Namphi sword named "Nantakawut" in his left hand and an ordinary sword in his right. After many fierce clashes, he slipped and used his ordinary sword to catch his balance by sticking its point into the ground. As he leaned on the sword it broke in half. Nai Thongdee fought on with both swords and he led his army to victory forcing the Burmese to flee back across the border. As a result of this battle he was known as ‘Phraya Pichai Daab Hak’ (Daab Hak) meaning broken sword. Taken from http://www.universalswordsman.com/ThaiQuotes2006.htm

1st September 2007, 02:47 PM	#11
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Small Phraya Pichai statue in a thai house I visited...outside of Uttradit Province...

1st September 2007, 02:48 PM	#12
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Here are the pictures of the Namphee sword and knife I bought there:

1st September 2007, 02:50 PM	#13
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865

1st September 2007, 02:51 PM	#14
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865

13th September 2007, 09:19 PM	#16
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	VERY INTERESTING PHOTOS, IF I AM EVER IN THE AREA I WILL BE SURE TO GO FOR A VISIT. IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT THE ART AND HISTORY OF SWORDMAKEING IS STILL IMPORTANT IN THAILAND. THE DOUBBLE EDGED PRA KHAN SWORD HAS A BLADE SHAPE THAT ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THE SHAPE OF SOME OF THE OLD BRONZE SWORDS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT SHAPE BLADE ON INDONESIAN KERIS AND ON ONE OCCASION ON A LARGE SWORD KRIS OF EITHER MALAYSIAN OR PHILIPPINE ORIGIN.