Odd Asian dagger

Lew · 22nd April 2005, 05:28 PM

Hi Tom

The blade seems to have a straight lamination in it I would think it is of Tibetan or Bhutanese manufacture.

Lew

RSWORD · 22nd April 2005, 08:25 PM

In looking closely at the blade it reminds me of a Sikin blade from Aceh. If you notice the slight groove just beneath the spine and the real straight spine and the angled tip(although that might be a slight modification) they all could point to an Aceh blade. Sword blades from there show similar effects. The lamination would also not be out of line for a piece from that region. The dress could also be of Sumatran origin. The scabbard with the worked in clip reminds me of many a Golok,Klewang from throughout the Pacific but the floral carvings in the handle I think are not too uncommon for this region either. So, my best guess would be a Sumatran parang/golok with a possibly remounted cut down Aceh sword blade.

Rick · 22nd April 2005, 10:05 PM

You know , I'm going agree with Lew on the origin of this sweet little knife . Let's head North Northeast quite a distance to Tibet or Bhutan .

Interesting that it's chisel ground .

I'd love to see a clear overall lamination pattern ; who's to say it isn't hairpin forged ?

fearn · 23rd April 2005, 12:21 AM

Hi Rick,

I won't necessarily disagree, except that I thought that Bhutanese blades had those open scabbards like Naga daos.

Fearn

Rick · 23rd April 2005, 12:57 AM

Hi Fearn , I took a stroll through Artzi's sold section and I'm not so sure that this is a hard and fast rule with Tibet / Bhutan E.W.'s .
This is obviously not a high status piece and may not have warranted an exposed blade .

dennee · 23rd April 2005, 02:04 AM

The open-scabbard knives or short swords are the traditional ban of the Lepcha people of Sikkim, but Lepchas are also in northern Bhutan and even eastern Nepal. "Drukpa" weapons in the north of Bhutan generally have a closed scabbard. (And in the south of Bhutan are many Nepalis who carry kukris.)

The knife in question is more decorated, but its hilt resembles this seemingly Tibetan knife on the Therion Arms site: http://therionarms.com/antiques/com072.html

tom hyle · 23rd April 2005, 02:31 AM

That's a fairly normal Tibetan dagger on Therionarms; the name I have is thi, though I've seen another I can't recall; the general shape of the handle is rather similar, no?
Then there's the sheath (with frontal scabbard slide?), the chisel bevel (Tibetan daggers are usually wedge-section, I think, although this could be a special purpose knife of some sort, I suppose, or from a small ethnic group, etc.....), and the carvings on the handle, which are what remind me of Ainu work. That coin isn't tripping anyone's memory, huh? I've seen it before, and might even should know where it's from......
Thanks for the link, Rick; it really simplifies things

22nd April 2005, 05:28 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Tom The blade seems to have a straight lamination in it I would think it is of Tibetan or Bhutanese manufacture. Lew

22nd April 2005, 08:25 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,094	In looking closely at the blade it reminds me of a Sikin blade from Aceh. If you notice the slight groove just beneath the spine and the real straight spine and the angled tip(although that might be a slight modification) they all could point to an Aceh blade. Sword blades from there show similar effects. The lamination would also not be out of line for a piece from that region. The dress could also be of Sumatran origin. The scabbard with the worked in clip reminds me of many a Golok,Klewang from throughout the Pacific but the floral carvings in the handle I think are not too uncommon for this region either. So, my best guess would be a Sumatran parang/golok with a possibly remounted cut down Aceh sword blade.

22nd April 2005, 10:05 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,378	You know , I'm going agree with Lew on the origin of this sweet little knife . Let's head North Northeast quite a distance to Tibet or Bhutan . Interesting that it's chisel ground . I'd love to see a clear overall lamination pattern ; who's to say it isn't hairpin forged ?

23rd April 2005, 12:21 AM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Rick, I won't necessarily disagree, except that I thought that Bhutanese blades had those open scabbards like Naga daos. Fearn

23rd April 2005, 12:57 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,378	Hi Fearn , I took a stroll through Artzi's sold section and I'm not so sure that this is a hard and fast rule with Tibet / Bhutan E.W.'s . This is obviously not a high status piece and may not have warranted an exposed blade .

23rd April 2005, 02:04 AM	#6
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	The open-scabbard knives or short swords are the traditional ban of the Lepcha people of Sikkim, but Lepchas are also in northern Bhutan and even eastern Nepal. "Drukpa" weapons in the north of Bhutan generally have a closed scabbard. (And in the south of Bhutan are many Nepalis who carry kukris.) The knife in question is more decorated, but its hilt resembles this seemingly Tibetan knife on the Therion Arms site: http://therionarms.com/antiques/com072.html

23rd April 2005, 02:31 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	That's a fairly normal Tibetan dagger on Therionarms; the name I have is thi, though I've seen another I can't recall; the general shape of the handle is rather similar, no? Then there's the sheath (with frontal scabbard slide?), the chisel bevel (Tibetan daggers are usually wedge-section, I think, although this could be a special purpose knife of some sort, I suppose, or from a small ethnic group, etc.....), and the carvings on the handle, which are what remind me of Ainu work. That coin isn't tripping anyone's memory, huh? I've seen it before, and might even should know where it's from...... Thanks for the link, Rick; it really simplifies things