I have no idea ????

[kai]

Hi Freddy,

I'd posit the Annamite mountain chain as a possible place of origin (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos).

I heard that a similar blade was used by the Mnong minority in the southern part of the mountain range but didn't managed to see a piece first-hand. I got this information from a western aid worker in Vietnam; a drawing shows a slightly more elongated blade with the edge on the outside curve but this may be an error. There are a lot of different peoples (some with widely divergent origins) scattered across these mountains and I've no idea which ethnic groups may have used similar blades; the Mnong are usually placed in the mountain Khmer group though which would point to a southern origin.

I'd assume that these once doubled as tools/weapons like many agricultural implements. I don't think the leather is original - much more likely to have been braided rattan or other plant fibers.

BTW, if you later on decide to toss it, please make sure to send me a note!

Regards,
Kai

[RhysMichael]

Freddy
Mark has posted on these a couple of times also. You can see some folks carrying them in the picture on the first page of his site http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/
And there are some threads on here about them so I am sure there will be more answers comming

[Andrew]

It's a mak, used by various peoples across continental SEA. At one time a battlefield weapon (see Mark's site as recommended by JT), I suspect these are now primarily agricultural tools.

I've seen fairly well-made and ornate examples (one was offered by Oriental Arms at Timonium last year--perhaps the owner will post pictures), but the ones I have are somewhat crude, but quite effective.

[Ian]

Hi Guys:

I've been off the air for a few weeks for various technical and other reasons. Just getting back to the Forum today.

Andrew and kai are right. This is a tool/weapon of the Montagnard tribes that live along the border areas between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This weapon/tool seems to have been in use for quite some time, and is still being made.

Will post some additional pictures shortly.

Ian.

-------Picture added---------

Here is a picture from an old National Geographic article on teh Montagnard. It shows various knives, etc. including two mak on the left. The cutting edge is on the side where the "hook" protrudes (i.e., the concave edge).

[Mark]

Relief carving from Ankor Wat, 12th C, or maybe 14th and based on 12th C style books, depending on whose opinion you ask:

[kai]

And I was trying to remember where I saw that pic...

BTW, that relief seems to suggest that the cutting edge is on the side pointing away from the turned stick tip. How about the examples other forumites have? (Possibly the person who added the leather attachment got it all wrong? )

Regards,
Kai

[Mark]

Originally Posted by kai

And I was trying to remember where I saw that pic...

BTW, that relief seems to suggest that the cutting edge is on the side pointing away from the turned stick tip. How about the examples other forumites have? (Possibly the person who added the leather attachment got it all wrong? )

Regards,
Kai

Looking at Barry's example on my site, the blade is away from the tip, as in the Angkor relief. I don't have any of my own, but I handled a few at the Smithsonian a while back and just can't remember which way the edge faced.