My trip to Aranyik, Ayuthaya. Na-Noi 's forge.

PUFF · 7th May 2006, 08:45 AM

Last Friday, I went to Aranyik, Ayuthaya. Aranyik use to be the biggest tools/knives/Dahb making place in Siam. Today, the business fade down 'coz they couldn't compete with cheaper mass produced SS knives business.

Today, you can count forge smiths in Aranyik with only one hand. I know just only a few smiths in this village.

Today, I visit Na-Noi. He still working with agri-tools and custom blades. I asked him for whatever he has right now.

Here 's some blades he made. They were custom ordered by Lung-Or, one of my forum-pal. The blades were made a little more than ordered amount. So, a couple of each design were left with Na-Noi.

The first one is Meed-Kochabal. Usualy used by old-time elephant's carer. Basically, a utility/ritual knife. I think, the blade was a reproduction of this.

PUFF · 7th May 2006, 08:54 AM

The next styles are Meed-Hnep. Household utility knives. There styles are depend on smiths and region. Here are the style of Ayuthaya/Central Thailand 's knives. These styles can be found as early as late Ayuthaya period (17th-18th Cent.)

PUFF · 7th May 2006, 09:00 AM

I was surprised that Lung-Or also ordered some pole weapons/tools. Here are Meed-Prah (literally means utility hacking knife). The design 's a little better than ordinary tools. It 's quite obvious that the knives were made for weapon/display purpose.

PUFF · 7th May 2006, 09:05 AM

The last one is Vachara, a Hindi weapon. It was ordered by another cusomer for his ritual/display purpose.

PUFF · 7th May 2006, 09:11 AM

Bad news is, there is only one rattan braider left here. Next generation knives from Aranyik may come without rattan braids. And they are likely to be cut and grind blades with plain rounded wood hilt.

ariel · 7th May 2006, 12:14 PM

This Vachara is interesting. I've never heard of it or seen one in any Indian books. Is it native to Thailand or neighbouring countries or was it brought from India? Any documentation?
Must be ritual; the cluster of the overlapping blades would be too awkward for battle use; and Thai weapons, if anything, are models of clean functionality.

7th May 2006, 08:45 AM	#1
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	My trip to Aranyik, Ayuthaya. Na-Noi 's forge. Last Friday, I went to Aranyik, Ayuthaya. Aranyik use to be the biggest tools/knives/Dahb making place in Siam. Today, the business fade down 'coz they couldn't compete with cheaper mass produced SS knives business. Today, you can count forge smiths in Aranyik with only one hand. I know just only a few smiths in this village. Today, I visit Na-Noi. He still working with agri-tools and custom blades. I asked him for whatever he has right now. Here 's some blades he made. They were custom ordered by Lung-Or, one of my forum-pal. The blades were made a little more than ordered amount. So, a couple of each design were left with Na-Noi. The first one is Meed-Kochabal. Usualy used by old-time elephant's carer. Basically, a utility/ritual knife. I think, the blade was a reproduction of this. Attached Images

7th May 2006, 08:54 AM	#2
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	The next styles are Meed-Hnep. Household utility knives. There styles are depend on smiths and region. Here are the style of Ayuthaya/Central Thailand 's knives. These styles can be found as early as late Ayuthaya period (17th-18th Cent.) Attached Images

7th May 2006, 09:00 AM	#3
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	I was surprised that Lung-Or also ordered some pole weapons/tools. Here are Meed-Prah (literally means utility hacking knife). The design 's a little better than ordinary tools. It 's quite obvious that the knives were made for weapon/display purpose. Attached Images

7th May 2006, 09:05 AM	#4
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	The last one is Vachara, a Hindi weapon. It was ordered by another cusomer for his ritual/display purpose. Attached Images

7th May 2006, 09:11 AM	#5
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Bad news is, there is only one rattan braider left here. Next generation knives from Aranyik may come without rattan braids. And they are likely to be cut and grind blades with plain rounded wood hilt.

7th May 2006, 12:14 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	This Vachara is interesting. I've never heard of it or seen one in any Indian books. Is it native to Thailand or neighbouring countries or was it brought from India? Any documentation? Must be ritual; the cluster of the overlapping blades would be too awkward for battle use; and Thai weapons, if anything, are models of clean functionality.