what were the working blades of India?

Rick · 20th June 2009, 05:31 PM

I think the kukri is an excellent example of a working knife carried by working people .

ausjulius · 21st June 2009, 05:16 PM

from what ive observed there are many of indian agricultural tool styles.. they are generaly of a very very rough quality .. and not rely weapon associated.. unlike south east asia where the tools morph into weapons and can be found in many grades of quality..
it seems the most common indian tool is a billhook type of knife .. generaly you can find this item all over the subcontinent..
also there is some double edged knives used for the specific task of opening coconuts..
another style is a clearer like tool with a rather blunt end..

i would guess there is many many other type.. but as in europe and the middle east there is a clear destinction from weapons and tools..
unlike south east asian tools..

Rick · 21st June 2009, 05:50 PM

Nepali working blade .
Dinner, coming up .

ariel · 21st June 2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Nepali working blade .
Dinner, coming up .

And I always thought that Ram Daos are things of the past:-)

fernando · 4th December 2009, 02:46 PM

Hey, Rick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Nepali working blade .
Dinner, coming up .

Doesn't this one look like mine ?
I still try and figure out what mine would be; probably a tool/weapon ... but where from

.

Sorry for the hijack, KuKulz

Fernando

.

Rick · 4th December 2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Hey, Rick

Doesn't this one look like mine ?
I still try and figure out what mine would be; probably a tool/weapon ... but where from

.

Sorry for the hijack, KuKulz

Fernando

.

Yup Fernando, quite similar in form .
I don't know if the Nepali version has a socket mounted handle .

Spiral ?

spiral · 4th December 2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Yup Fernando, quite similar in form .
I don't know if the Nepali version has a socket mounted handle .

Spiral ?

Sorry Fernando somehow I missed your post. I could be wrong but yours doesn't realy look like Nepalese work to my eye.

Rick the few Ive seen had ferrules on the grip rather than socketed blades.

Spiral

Henk · 4th December 2009, 06:59 PM

This piece discussed some time ago as a javanese machete has the same hilt attachment as the machete of Fernando.

Looks like an aruval. Is it after all an Indian or nepalese piece?

Rick · 5th December 2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

Sorry Fernando somehow I missed your post. I could be wrong but yours doesn't realy look like Nepalese work to my eye.

Rick the few Ive seen had ferrules on the grip rather than socketed blades.

Spiral

Thanks Spiral .
The picture was taken by my nephew who was attending a Nepali wedding .

I wasn't invited ...

ausjulius · 21st June 2009, 05:55 PM

KuKulzA28 · 22nd June 2009, 12:18 AM

Thanks for the very informative replies!

That's very interesting... the forward-curved, sickle-like billhook blades are very similar to the working blades in Taiwan... they did not use the stereotypical straight machete for work, it was the curved "fat sickle" type of the blade... in Taiwan there too was a good distinction between war and work blades (to some degree). Although the Aborigines (Yuan Zhu Min) often used their headhunting blades for survival and fighting... when Chinese peasants revolted against the Dutch, they use the biggest blade they had... the curved rice-knife or the billhook style blade. Street brawls and fights often involved spears, cleavers, dao, axes, etc.

sirupate · 22nd June 2009, 09:25 AM

In Nepal the the slashers/sickles are used much more now, as the carry of kukri is now pretty much prohibited, unless up in the hills, or in the jungle for protection which Dave and I did;

And obviously security Guards

Generaly the kukri is one of those blades which is dual purpose, both a general user, but also a weapon, although there are obvious exceptions to this rule.

KuKulzA28 · 22nd June 2009, 04:16 PM

Very cool!

I noticed this guy on [edited O.A. link] looks like a nicer version of the blade type that ausjulius linked to!

[note, try the *sold* section of the site for examples]

KuKulzA28 · 3rd December 2009, 04:57 AM

Here's a pic of an aruval...

Anyone have examples of one in their collections?

Not that I know much, but they seem to be popular in voilent Tamil movies.

21st June 2009, 05:50 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Nepali working blade . Dinner, coming up . Attached Images

4th December 2009, 06:59 PM	#8
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	This piece discussed some time ago as a javanese machete has the same hilt attachment as the machete of Fernando. Looks like an aruval. Is it after all an Indian or nepalese piece? Attached Images

22nd June 2009, 04:16 PM	#13
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Very cool! I noticed this guy on [edited O.A. link] looks like a nicer version of the blade type that ausjulius linked to! [note, try the sold section of the site for examples] Last edited by Rick; 22nd June 2009 at 04:29 PM. Reason: item currently for sale

20th June 2009, 05:31 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I think the kukri is an excellent example of a working knife carried by working people .

21st June 2009, 05:16 PM	#2
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 439	from what ive observed there are many of indian agricultural tool styles.. they are generaly of a very very rough quality .. and not rely weapon associated.. unlike south east asia where the tools morph into weapons and can be found in many grades of quality.. it seems the most common indian tool is a billhook type of knife .. generaly you can find this item all over the subcontinent.. also there is some double edged knives used for the specific task of opening coconuts.. another style is a clearer like tool with a rather blunt end.. i would guess there is many many other type.. but as in europe and the middle east there is a clear destinction from weapons and tools.. unlike south east asian tools..

21st June 2009, 05:55 PM	#10
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 439	http://www.flickr.com/photos/jailusser/2448057675/ here you can some of double and single edged hooked knives.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/90515979/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnibel/867502568/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/harshadsharma/331057387/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkuram/3588383329/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattlogelin/114697722/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/yameza/1334875092/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattlogelin/824301545/ looks homemade from an old saw that one... but it is the correct shape of a normal indian working knife... a non indian tool found in parts of india populated by tribal folks.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadevolder/3437218977/ more simple knives http://www.flickr.com/photos/lennymika/2573192846/

22nd June 2009, 12:18 AM	#11
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Thanks for the very informative replies! That's very interesting... the forward-curved, sickle-like billhook blades are very similar to the working blades in Taiwan... they did not use the stereotypical straight machete for work, it was the curved "fat sickle" type of the blade... in Taiwan there too was a good distinction between war and work blades (to some degree). Although the Aborigines (Yuan Zhu Min) often used their headhunting blades for survival and fighting... when Chinese peasants revolted against the Dutch, they use the biggest blade they had... the curved rice-knife or the billhook style blade. Street brawls and fights often involved spears, cleavers, dao, axes, etc.

22nd June 2009, 09:25 AM	#12
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	In Nepal the the slashers/sickles are used much more now, as the carry of kukri is now pretty much prohibited, unless up in the hills, or in the jungle for protection which Dave and I did; And obviously security Guards Generaly the kukri is one of those blades which is dual purpose, both a general user, but also a weapon, although there are obvious exceptions to this rule.

3rd December 2009, 04:57 AM	#14
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Here's a pic of an aruval... Anyone have examples of one in their collections? Not that I know much, but they seem to be popular in voilent Tamil movies.