Unknown Thai Chopper

derek · 18th April 2005, 02:48 PM

Guys this looks like an asian item listed as ceremonial on ebay right now. Yours appears to be much longer, but it is the same shape.On the current auction, there is a "sheath" of bamboo that curves, with a cut away section in the middle where the blade and shaft rest. The ends of the sheath are connected by a cord, which gives it a look reminiscient of a loosely strung bow. I have seen this, possibly in Stone's, but I don't have it in front of me at the moment. Maybe someone else will find it first.

When the auction is over I will post the item number.

-derek

Ian · 18th April 2005, 02:57 PM

The piece you are referring to is a pisau raut or rattan knife, which we discussed on the old Forum. These are still being made -- basically they are a tool for cutting rattan.

The present chopper is considerably larger with a much more substantial blade. The pisau is a small knife and could certainly cause a nasty cut if used as a weapon, but this chopper could inflict a much heavier and potentially lethal blow. Possibly the same general idea in construction design, but the chopper is definitely a "magnum" compared with the pisau.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

Guys this looks like an asian item listed as ceremonial on ebay right now. Yours appears to be much longer, but it is the same shape.On the current auction, there is a "sheath" of bamboo that curves, with a cut away section in the middle where the blade and shaft rest. The ends of the sheath are connected by a cord, which gives it a look reminiscient of a loosely strung bow. I have seen this, possibly in Stone's, but I don't have it in front of me at the moment. Maybe someone else will find it first.

When the auction is over I will post the item number.

-derek

Mark · 18th April 2005, 03:04 PM

I saw several of these during my visit of the Smithsonian off-shelf collection. Unfortunately, they were just classified as "choppers," or sometimes "jungle"-something (chopper, knife, etc.). Personally I think that it is distinct from a mak, but that term is pretty broad so that is what it might be called despite it having a distinct use.

As far as it being a weapon, I think it would be pretty awkward, particularly in view of the mix-it-up style of fighting generally seen in old SEA battles. They would basically rush at each other en masse and flail away. Since this would require a lot of room to effectivly swing, it would be hard to use in this setting. It might be a calvary weapon, however, which is the mak's war-time job. Having handled this one at Timmonium, I think its handle istill s a little too long, though. I doubt that it would have been used from elephant back, as it is too simple an affair for a high noble, who were the ones who fought from elephant back. The mahout just drove (sort of -- the elephants apparently went pretty nuts once in the fray).

I am not sure where that leaves me, since the decoration would seem superfluous to a tool.

18th April 2005, 02:48 PM	#1
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Guys this looks like an asian item listed as ceremonial on ebay right now. Yours appears to be much longer, but it is the same shape.On the current auction, there is a "sheath" of bamboo that curves, with a cut away section in the middle where the blade and shaft rest. The ends of the sheath are connected by a cord, which gives it a look reminiscient of a loosely strung bow. I have seen this, possibly in Stone's, but I don't have it in front of me at the moment. Maybe someone else will find it first. When the auction is over I will post the item number. -derek

18th April 2005, 03:04 PM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I saw several of these during my visit of the Smithsonian off-shelf collection. Unfortunately, they were just classified as "choppers," or sometimes "jungle"-something (chopper, knife, etc.). Personally I think that it is distinct from a mak, but that term is pretty broad so that is what it might be called despite it having a distinct use. As far as it being a weapon, I think it would be pretty awkward, particularly in view of the mix-it-up style of fighting generally seen in old SEA battles. They would basically rush at each other en masse and flail away. Since this would require a lot of room to effectivly swing, it would be hard to use in this setting. It might be a calvary weapon, however, which is the mak's war-time job. Having handled this one at Timmonium, I think its handle istill s a little too long, though. I doubt that it would have been used from elephant back, as it is too simple an affair for a high noble, who were the ones who fought from elephant back. The mahout just drove (sort of -- the elephants apparently went pretty nuts once in the fray). I am not sure where that leaves me, since the decoration would seem superfluous to a tool.