Unknown Thai Chopper

Ian · 18th April 2005, 11:49 PM

Thanks Mike.

A guard's weapon seems quite plausible. It would certainly be a handsome accessory for the personal body guard of a distinguished war lord.

Not sure about the foot soldier's answer to mounted cavalry -- perhaps a little on the short side for that purpose.

Another possibility might be for rampart defense. JP gave a very nice talk at Timonium about koras, and he showed pictures of several very heavy kora used for rampart defenses. This one is nowhere close to as heavy as those brutes, but it could possibly have a similar purpose within the Thai armamentarium.

Ian.

Conogre · 19th April 2005, 02:49 AM

By the way, I won a pisau raut last year and when it got here it took me completely by suprise, being 20" overall with a heavy 7", razor sharp blade.
A "nasty cut" would be a major understatement.
While it's obviously not made to be a weapon, the fact that the handle curve matches and is an extension of the blade curve means it could easily remove a whole hand in a pinch!
Possibly for splitting whole palm trees?
Mike

Ian · 19th April 2005, 03:24 AM

Yes, Mike, those pisau are handy-dandy work knives that would serve as a weapon in a pinch. Mainly used by women in my (limited) experience of seeing them in action. Extremely sharp as you say.

Ian.

Conogre · 19th April 2005, 06:24 AM

Sometimes, discussions accidently seed the germ of further discussions.....while looking at the photos of the pisa raut and reading your comments about women, the similarity in blade shape, down to being sharpend on the outer edge suddenly made the lumad "women's knives" pop into mind.
With that said, I'll stop here and apologize for hijacking your thread, as that was not my intent.
Mike

Mark · 19th April 2005, 12:46 PM

Forgive my ignorance, is the pisau the one on the top? If so it closely resembles a dha-mauk, which has a shorter handle, but is used to cut toddy palms (to get the liquer out, from which they make ... liquer, actually. Teh long handle would help reaching the heart (growing apex), which as I understand it is where the incision is made.

Ian · 19th April 2005, 08:05 PM

Yes, Mark, the one on top with the slightly curved long handle. I have seen these used to cut rattan strips with the butt of the handle against a woman's chest, and split rattan drawn along the cutting edge, which rests on a low table or the ground, to create narrow strips for weaving, etc.

PUFF · 19th April 2006, 05:14 AM

http://www.culture.go.th/knowledge/w...re/wicker1.htm

I 'm with Ian for the long-handle/razor-sharp knife.
I 's mainly bamboo/rattan striper. And it can be used as a utility knife too.

18th April 2005, 11:49 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Excellent suggestions ... Thanks Mike. A guard's weapon seems quite plausible. It would certainly be a handsome accessory for the personal body guard of a distinguished war lord. Not sure about the foot soldier's answer to mounted cavalry -- perhaps a little on the short side for that purpose. Another possibility might be for rampart defense. JP gave a very nice talk at Timonium about koras, and he showed pictures of several very heavy kora used for rampart defenses. This one is nowhere close to as heavy as those brutes, but it could possibly have a similar purpose within the Thai armamentarium. Ian.

19th April 2005, 02:49 AM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	By the way, I won a pisau raut last year and when it got here it took me completely by suprise, being 20" overall with a heavy 7", razor sharp blade. A "nasty cut" would be a major understatement. While it's obviously not made to be a weapon, the fact that the handle curve matches and is an extension of the blade curve means it could easily remove a whole hand in a pinch! Possibly for splitting whole palm trees? Mike Attached Images

19th April 2005, 08:05 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Pisau raut Yes, Mark, the one on top with the slightly curved long handle. I have seen these used to cut rattan strips with the butt of the handle against a woman's chest, and split rattan drawn along the cutting edge, which rests on a low table or the ground, to create narrow strips for weaving, etc.

19th April 2005, 03:24 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Yes, Mike, those pisau are handy-dandy work knives that would serve as a weapon in a pinch. Mainly used by women in my (limited) experience of seeing them in action. Extremely sharp as you say. Ian.

19th April 2005, 06:24 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Sometimes, discussions accidently seed the germ of further discussions.....while looking at the photos of the pisa raut and reading your comments about women, the similarity in blade shape, down to being sharpend on the outer edge suddenly made the lumad "women's knives" pop into mind. With that said, I'll stop here and apologize for hijacking your thread, as that was not my intent. Mike

19th April 2005, 12:46 PM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Forgive my ignorance, is the pisau the one on the top? If so it closely resembles a dha-mauk, which has a shorter handle, but is used to cut toddy palms (to get the liquer out, from which they make ... liquer, actually. Teh long handle would help reaching the heart (growing apex), which as I understand it is where the incision is made.

19th April 2006, 05:14 AM	#7
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	http://www.culture.go.th/knowledge/w...re/wicker1.htm I 'm with Ian for the long-handle/razor-sharp knife. I 's mainly bamboo/rattan striper. And it can be used as a utility knife too.