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Old 21st May 2023, 04:06 PM   #1
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass
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Default Cambodian long hilt working - fighting knife - Kabet !!

Very nice finds Detlef, both examples for me are Cambodian Kabet (knife in khmer), they are used throughout the whole region of Cambodia Thailand and Laos, but yours are 100% Cambodian, the give away are the mounts, they are often mistakenly thought to be from Vietnam, likely as they were also used in the Cham regions.
The long hilt ones are for splitting rattan and bamboo and are traditionally carried in a very simple bamboo holder - scabbard slung over one shoulder, see pics attached, these are modern but just to show the means of carrying them and what they were used for, but also as weapons to.
Today with youtube and some interesting vids on Cambodian smiths you can still see these being made in identical form and still used, if I am correct the style of the mounts on these are from the Phnom Penh regions, there are other types though as there are different types of P'keak - Kokok '' Maks '' from different regions, much the same as there are regional types of many other Asian knives used for work and doubling up as weapons, hope this helps. Snody
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Old 22nd May 2023, 12:59 PM   #2
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Hi Detlef,

Very nice looking knife. I agree with Snody, the mounts look Cambodian although the blade style is found widely in mainland SE Asia. The Malay term for this knife would be a pisau raut, similar in shape to the small utility knife often seen in a sheath on the back of a mandau. While these knives could certainly be used as nasty self-defense items, they were mostly utility knives for cutting rattan and other chores.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 04:45 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Ian View Post
Hi Detlef,

Very nice looking knife. I agree with Snody, the mounts look Cambodian although the blade style is found widely in mainland SE Asia. The Malay term for this knife would be a pisau raut, similar in shape to the small utility knife often seen in a sheath on the back of a mandau. While these knives could certainly be used as nasty self-defense items, they were mostly utility knives for cutting rattan and other chores.
Hi Ian,

Thank you for confirming my and Snodys origin determination! And yes, pisau raut would be the Malay term for these knives. Like all knives they could be used as self-defense but by my example is only the curve at the edge sharpened. Snody has shown good pictures of how it is used until today.

Regards,
Detlef
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Old 22nd May 2023, 04:56 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by Maj-Biffy Snodgrass View Post
Very nice finds Detlef, both examples for me are Cambodian Kabet (knife in khmer), they are used throughout the whole region of Cambodia Thailand and Laos, but yours are 100% Cambodian, the give away are the mounts, they are often mistakenly thought to be from Vietnam, likely as they were also used in the Cham regions.
The long hilt ones are for splitting rattan and bamboo and are traditionally carried in a very simple bamboo holder - scabbard slung over one shoulder, see pics attached, these are modern but just to show the means of carrying them and what they were used for, but also as weapons to.
Today with youtube and some interesting vids on Cambodian smiths you can still see these being made in identical form and still used, if I am correct the style of the mounts on these are from the Phnom Penh regions, there are other types though as there are different types of P'keak - Kokok '' Maks '' from different regions, much the same as there are regional types of many other Asian knives used for work and doubling up as weapons, hope this helps. Snody
Hi Snody,

Thank you very much for confirming that this knife is from Cambodia and the very interesting pictures. By ebay is listed such a knife with a scabbard like on your first picture but much more fancy, sadly I can't post a picture because it's still for selling.

Regards,
Detlef
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Old 26th May 2023, 01:54 PM   #5
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Default another 19thc Cambodian Kabet - knife

Here is another with the same style mounts, 19thc and from south Cambodia, note the very apparent lotus bud tip and hilt, a very prominent theme in Cambodia.
The basket scabbard is not likely the original but is used throughout the whole region of Thailand and Cambodia into Laos, so far i have never seen it in use in Burma though.
This one I once owned and sold many years ago. Snody
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Old 26th May 2023, 07:48 PM   #6
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The basket scabbards seem to be fairly common for working tools in the area.
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Old 26th May 2023, 07:58 PM   #7
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Default Hi Wayne.

Yes they are a regular thing, easy to make and perfect for the job they do. Snody
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