Two shamanic Tonkin knives

Sajen · 2nd May 2014, 02:20 PM

About the other knife on the left side he write:

The knife on the left in your photo is more problematic. I have never seen one like it, although I have seen (over the last 13 years) hundreds of the type on the right. I have also handled and acquired literally thousands of shamanic items, and I have never seen one like it. The shape of the antler (no V-shape) makes it less likely that it was functional. the leaf-shape of the blade is one often seen in shamanic wooden wands, so I thing that is consistent with a shamanic use. The raised decorations on the handle are very NOT tribal (at least from VN). Almost all here are incised, rather than raised. Also, the designs on the blade are not typical of what we see. So, here is my best guess, since I have never seen one like it:
More likely Cambodian or Thai (in Thailand), possibly Burma
most likely from one of the ethnic minority groups in the country of origin.
not likely to be functional

possibly shamanic, but might also be for presentation.
probably NOT a betel-cutting knife. They almost always have iron, scimitar-like blades and are smaller.

So this knife need still to be identified and I hope that we will be able to resolve this in the future!

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2nd May 2014, 02:20 PM	#17
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	About the other knife on the left side he write: The knife on the left in your photo is more problematic. I have never seen one like it, although I have seen (over the last 13 years) hundreds of the type on the right. I have also handled and acquired literally thousands of shamanic items, and I have never seen one like it. The shape of the antler (no V-shape) makes it less likely that it was functional. the leaf-shape of the blade is one often seen in shamanic wooden wands, so I thing that is consistent with a shamanic use. The raised decorations on the handle are very NOT tribal (at least from VN). Almost all here are incised, rather than raised. Also, the designs on the blade are not typical of what we see. So, here is my best guess, since I have never seen one like it: More likely Cambodian or Thai (in Thailand), possibly Burma most likely from one of the ethnic minority groups in the country of origin. not likely to be functional possibly shamanic, but might also be for presentation. probably NOT a betel-cutting knife. They almost always have iron, scimitar-like blades and are smaller. So this knife need still to be identified and I hope that we will be able to resolve this in the future!