Two shamanic Tonkin knives

[Ian]

I am bringing this old thread back up because I recently purchased from an Australian dealer another example of these Muong hunting knives. Like examples shown below it has the typical stag pommel, silver hilt, and spatulate dark blade. Unfortunately the silver grip is broken across the middle, but the incised design is typical of work from northern Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc.

While the broad flat end of the knife is the main functional area (see below), this knife also has a sharpened edge with evidence of some loss of metal over time along that edge. The thickness of the blade is no more than 1.5 mm along its length and is somewhat flexible.

Age is hard to tell, but this one could easily be 19th C judging from the dark patina of the blade, the yellowing of the stag, and its general condition.

Dimensions:
Length of blade: 16 cm
Maximum width of blade: 3.8 cm
Silver hilt: 9.5 cm
Stag pommel: 10 cm
Overall length: 35.5 cm.

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