Opium for the dha guys

Ian · 9th June 2006, 04:04 PM

Hi Tim:

That's an interesting item. Opium-related seems a good guess, but I don't know the function of the small accessory piece -- perhaps to scoop up or store some of the resin from the poppy.

The decoration looks Shan or "hill tribe" from the northern Thai/Burma/Laos /Southern China (Yunnan) area -- that is, the Golden Triangle region and we know that there is a substantial amount of opium trading there!

Perhaps one of our Thai members will recognize it.

Ian.

Mark · 9th June 2006, 04:26 PM

I've never seen anything like it, but the decoration is what you often see on some Shan dha. I wonder if the copper tube is supposed to stay in the "scabbard," as a lining to the wood? So when you pull out the knife you have the little spike sticking out of the scabbard? What is that residue on the end of the spike? It looks gummy, meaning it might be poppy resin.

9th June 2006, 04:04 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,454	Something from the Golden Triangle maybe ... Hi Tim: That's an interesting item. Opium-related seems a good guess, but I don't know the function of the small accessory piece -- perhaps to scoop up or store some of the resin from the poppy. The decoration looks Shan or "hill tribe" from the northern Thai/Burma/Laos /Southern China (Yunnan) area -- that is, the Golden Triangle region and we know that there is a substantial amount of opium trading there! Perhaps one of our Thai members will recognize it. Ian.

9th June 2006, 04:26 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I've never seen anything like it, but the decoration is what you often see on some Shan dha. I wonder if the copper tube is supposed to stay in the "scabbard," as a lining to the wood? So when you pull out the knife you have the little spike sticking out of the scabbard? What is that residue on the end of the spike? It looks gummy, meaning it might be poppy resin.