Unknown Thai Chopper

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.

Battara · 19th April 2006, 06:31 PM

So far, it still looks like we're not sure whether to mak war or peace with it.

kronckew · 5th January 2017, 08:12 AM

stumbled across this thread looking for something else. it rises from the grave.

definitely NOT a rattan splitter. except possibly by necessity.

the OP's item is a thai pra or jungle knife. like many items, this is foremost a everyday tool carried into the jungle for slashing like a machete, or chopping vegetation, or general use. this particular one was used extensively over many years to clear encroaching vegetation in a thai villagers garden. i liberated it from him after he retired it. i'm assuming he uses power tools now

. sharp on the inside of the curve. also somewhat decorated blade. decorations look very much like the OP's blade except no brass slug. also a handy weapon if needed. mine is below. hardwood haft. edge faces down. probably comes from aranyik, have seen others almost exactly like it for sale from there. they call it something more specific than a pra, a generic term, i gather.

the mak is a bit different, tool and weapon, and rather odd and clumsy, they have a certain charm. mine, also below the pra, is set in a bamboo haft's root ball, which was grown curved back on itself. they were used in SE asia as pole arms by infantry and cavalry, as well as villager tools and self defence. i seem to recall getting this one on ebay...edge also faces down, and is well behind the haft line, making strikes a bit unusual.

both are just under 3 ft. pic of my wall next to my PC for scale.

19th April 2005, 08:05 PM	#4
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.

5th January 2017, 08:12 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	stumbled across this thread looking for something else. it rises from the grave. definitely NOT a rattan splitter. except possibly by necessity. the OP's item is a thai pra or jungle knife. like many items, this is foremost a everyday tool carried into the jungle for slashing like a machete, or chopping vegetation, or general use. this particular one was used extensively over many years to clear encroaching vegetation in a thai villagers garden. i liberated it from him after he retired it. i'm assuming he uses power tools now . sharp on the inside of the curve. also somewhat decorated blade. decorations look very much like the OP's blade except no brass slug. also a handy weapon if needed. mine is below. hardwood haft. edge faces down. probably comes from aranyik, have seen others almost exactly like it for sale from there. they call it something more specific than a pra, a generic term, i gather. the mak is a bit different, tool and weapon, and rather odd and clumsy, they have a certain charm. mine, also below the pra, is set in a bamboo haft's root ball, which was grown curved back on itself. they were used in SE asia as pole arms by infantry and cavalry, as well as villager tools and self defence. i seem to recall getting this one on ebay...edge also faces down, and is well behind the haft line, making strikes a bit unusual. both are just under 3 ft. pic of my wall next to my PC for scale. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 5th January 2017 at 08:42 AM.

19th April 2005, 03:24 AM	#1
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	#2
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	#3
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	#5
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.

19th April 2006, 06:31 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	So far, it still looks like we're not sure whether to mak war or peace with it.