Three Paiwan kives for comment

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

THREE VERY NICE EXAMPLES AND ALL DIFFERENT A BONUS THE FIRST ONE HAS AN UNUSUAL BLADE TIP IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF A JAPANESE BLADE THE OTHER TWO BLADES ARE OF A MORE NORMAL FORM. VERY GOOD AGE AND WORKMANSHIP ON ALL THREE. THE INLAY OF SHELL IS INTERESTING AND SHOULD HELP THOSE WITH EXPERTESE IN THIS FIELD IDENTIFY THEM FOR YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CLOSEUPS OF THE SHELL INLAYED AREAS AND THE CREATURE NEAR THE TIP OF THE SHORTER KNIFE IN YOUR PICTURE OF TWO TOGETHER. CONGRADULATIONS VERY NICE FINDS.

Thank you Barry! For the different blade tip look to this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=taiwan
By all old threads I haven't seen scabbards with shell inlays, maybe a sign for taken heads? But this is only a guess. The creature on the red scabbard seems to be the same as on the other one, a snake or naga, see this thread, post #4: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=paiwan
Soon as I have them in hand I will post the requested close ups.
Here some other informative threads:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=paiwan
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=taiwan
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=rukai

Regards,
Detlef

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Found this photograph which I thought may be of interest.
Regards,
Norman.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
Found this photograph which I thought may be of interest.
Regards,
Norman.

Hi Norman,

would be interesting to which ethnic group this man belong. Do you have a information?

Regards,
Detlef

[VANDOO]

THIS SNAKE LIKE CARVING IS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED ON THEIR SWORDS BUT IF THERE IS A LEGEND, NAME OR STORY I AM NOT AWARE OF IT. BEING A ZOOLOGY MAJOR IT HAS ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF A PLANARIAN FLATWORM. WE HAD SOME FUN WITH THEM SPLIT ONES HEAD AND IT GROWS TWO HEADS VERY IMPRESSIVE REGENERATIVE POWERS. A PICTURE OF THE CRITTER WITH 2 EYESPOTS.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

THIS SNAKE LIKE CARVING IS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED ON THEIR SWORDS BUT IF THERE IS A LEGEND, NAME OR STORY I AM NOT AWARE OF IT. BEING A ZOOLOGY MAJOR IT HAS ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF A PLANARIAN FLATWORM. WE HAD SOME FUN WITH THEM SPLIT ONES HEAD AND IT GROWS TWO HEADS VERY IMPRESSIVE REGENERATIVE POWERS. A PICTURE OF THE CRITTER WITH 2 EYESPOTS.

Barry, I only can write what I have read in the above given threads from Yuanzhumin and others. This is the "hundred pace snake" ( Deinagkistrodon acutus), "named like this because once you have been beaten you only can walk one hundred paces before fallen down, dead" *Yuanzhumin*. This is the anchestor of their nobility. Knives which have the snake on the scabbard are only allowed to be worn by nobility men.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

So when I have read correct what Yuanzhumin and Varta have written in older threads is the first sword a war or fighting kife and the two others are hunting knives from nobility men. Still hope that the both still active here in the forum and jump in and comment.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Detlef,
All the info I can find is, Paiwan Chief Taiwan 1927, apologies I cannot be of more help.
My Regards,
Norman.