Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old 17th April 2005, 10:01 PM   #1
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,008
Default Unknown Thai Chopper

Picked this one up from Artzi in Timonium last month. Artzi purchased it in Bangkok years ago. I have not done anything to it and I don't think Artzi had touched it in many years -- basically "as is" from when he acquired it.

Quite a chopper with a heavy blade that has a concave cutting edge and is sharpened on the squared-off end as well. The edge shows evidence of hardening, as can be seen in the pictures. The spine of the blade has three brass or copper inlays, with filed crosses in between. Our on-the-ground sources in Thailand say that the designs on the blade's spine come from the northern area of the country, around Chiang Mai, and that they are purely decorative with no known meaning or significance (thanks to Dan Wilke for that information).

Additional inlays are found on the blade, with incised desigs that resemble vines and foliage. The inlays may be flowers or fruit in the overall design.

The handle is bamboo and has darkened from frequent handling in the past. Hard to judge its age, but seems to be at least 100 years old.

Artzi and I talked about whether this one was made primarily as a weapon or as something with a more utilitarian purpose. We agreed that the amount of work on the blade suggested far more than a "tool" and that it was probably a weapon (or possibly a ceremonial object). In any case it would deliver a nasty blow.

OAL = 29.5 inches Blade = 9.5 inches
Attached Images
      

Last edited by Ian; 17th April 2005 at 11:00 PM.
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.