Twin Burmese knives

Ian · 5th February 2024, 01:14 AM

Hi Rick,

Best I can tell from the pictures, the hilts are bone. I believe they share the same scabbard. These are auction pictures.

kronckew · 5th February 2024, 05:56 AM

Found these on another member's site:

At this point, three other sets of Burmese double knives are known to me. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 36.25.817a–c is a simple utilitarian set with plain blades and plain smooth ivory hilts. The set was sold by W. O. Oldman to George Cameron Stone before 1935, and bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum in 1936.

The Royal Ontaria Museum has another set, under accession number 927.59.5.1. Overall form of blades and hilts are closer to ours, but here the hilts are made of brass with bone plates. 19th century. No provenance is given.

The last set is in the National Museum of Thailand. See photo by Gary Todd on flickr.com.

See Mandarin Mansion 'Burmese double knives for an excellent article on these knives.
Somewhat Rare, but they do exist.

Ian · 5th February 2024, 06:22 AM

Thanks Wayne. These twin knives are rarer than I thought. It seems that they were all made before 1900, and that would fit the appearance of the example shown here. The pair shown here sold very cheaply at auction, and I guess other collectors did not recognize them as being so rare.

5th February 2024, 05:56 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Found these on another member's site: At this point, three other sets of Burmese double knives are known to me. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 36.25.817a–c is a simple utilitarian set with plain blades and plain smooth ivory hilts. The set was sold by W. O. Oldman to George Cameron Stone before 1935, and bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum in 1936. The Royal Ontaria Museum has another set, under accession number 927.59.5.1. Overall form of blades and hilts are closer to ours, but here the hilts are made of brass with bone plates. 19th century. No provenance is given. The last set is in the National Museum of Thailand. See photo by Gary Todd on flickr.com. See Mandarin Mansion 'Burmese double knives for an excellent article on these knives. Somewhat Rare, but they do exist. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 5th February 2024 at 06:33 AM.

5th February 2024, 01:14 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Hi Rick, Best I can tell from the pictures, the hilts are bone. I believe they share the same scabbard. These are auction pictures.

5th February 2024, 06:22 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Thanks Wayne. These twin knives are rarer than I thought. It seems that they were all made before 1900, and that would fit the appearance of the example shown here. The pair shown here sold very cheaply at auction, and I guess other collectors did not recognize them as being so rare.