Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 26th February 2012, 02:45 PM   #1
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default Eunjangdo

Hello,

recently this small dagger was sold by ebay. It was described as woman dagger from Korea, eunjangdo.
Would like to read your opinion about this dagger and get some more informations about this kind of dagger.

Regards,

Detlef
Attached Images
     
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th February 2012, 05:58 PM   #2
fearn
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,247
Default

I agree with the description. That said, there appear to be some condition issues on the blade. I'm a little puzzled by the changes of wood color under the metalwork.

My understanding is its intended purpose was for a woman to defend her honor, in a society where a woman's place was defined by strongly Confucian values.

Best,

F
fearn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th February 2012, 07:10 PM   #3
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Thanks a lot Fearn!
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th February 2012, 08:46 PM   #4
Nathaniel
Member
 
Nathaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 865
Default

Interesting! Always cool to see something I've never seen before! Thanks for sharing!
Nathaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th February 2012, 10:29 PM   #5
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathaniel
Interesting! Always cool to see something I've never seen before! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Nathaniel, I am with you, also never have seen a dagger like this before so I am seeking for informations.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th April 2012, 11:42 AM   #6
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

I have played the ebay gamble and win yesterday this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/290700845009...84.m1439.l2649

What do you think about?

Regards,

Detlef
Attached Images
      
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th April 2012, 08:32 PM   #7
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Sajen

You won yourself a nice puukko.

Congrats

Lew
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th April 2012, 09:10 PM   #8
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew
Sajen

You won yourself a nice puukko.

Congrats

Lew

Lew,

I think and hoped that it is an eunjangdo. See for comparison the example in up. Maybe not so fancy like the one in up but I think that by this one I can be sure that it is authentic. And i like the well worked small blade with the mark.

Regards,

Detlef

Last edited by Sajen; 28th April 2012 at 09:28 PM.
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 03:45 AM   #9
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Detlef

You can see one on Kellams website. It's listed under fixed blades.

http://www.kellamknives.com/index.ph...roducts_id=852
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 07:23 AM   #10
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

I am puzzled by the arabic(?) markings. Was it common on puukkos?
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 11:38 AM   #11
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew
Detlef

You can see one on Kellams website. It's listed under fixed blades.

http://www.kellamknives.com/index.ph...roducts_id=852
Hello Lew,

they are indeed very similar! But look for example this pictures I found in the net. By the group picture look special the one in complete down on the right.

Regards,

Detlef
Attached Images
   
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 11:42 AM   #12
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
I am puzzled by the arabic(?) markings. Was it common on puukkos?
This markings are also to seen by one which is actually for selling in the moment so I can't post pictures but will do when the auction is ended.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 12:05 PM   #13
Henk
Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,209
Default

I'm rather convinced this is not a puukko. If it was a puukko you would have also a nice catch.

But the blade is different to that of the puukko or other scandinavian knives. Also the dress is a bit different. I can understand that Lew is seeing a puukko, but the difference in the dress is the metal strip or clip on the backside of the scabbard on wich the ring is attached. I've never seen something like that on scandinavian knives or puukkos.

The marking i don't know. Arabic? Maybe, but could also be an old asian language. As far as i know it is certainly not common on the puukko.
Henk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 12:33 PM   #14
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henk
I'm rather convinced this is not a puukko. If it was a puukko you would have also a nice catch.

But the blade is different to that of the puukko or other scandinavian knives. Also the dress is a bit different. I can understand that Lew is seeing a puukko, but the difference in the dress is the metal strip or clip on the backside of the scabbard on wich the ring is attached. I've never seen something like that on scandinavian knives or puukkos.

The marking i don't know. Arabic? Maybe, but could also be an old asian language. As far as i know it is certainly not common on the puukko.

Hello Henk,

agree with all you have written. And I am with you that I don't think that is an arabic writing. Would be nice to read what our arabic friends will say about this.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 02:40 PM   #15
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

You learn something new every day that's what I love about the forum .
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 04:22 PM   #16
Henk
Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,209
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew
You learn something new every day that's what I love about the forum .
I agree absolutely with you Lew
Henk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2012, 04:52 PM   #17
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

This is the reason why I love to be a member here!
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd May 2012, 10:27 AM   #18
Timo Nieminen
Member
 
Timo Nieminen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 422
Default

Here's my one-and-only eunjangdo. Horn grip and scabbard, with silver(?) mounts. Unfortunately missing the mount over the underside and tip of the scabbard. It's very thin; the blade is 2.35 mm thick at the hilt, and the grip is 6.5 mm thick. The other side of the blade is flat.

I'm told by Koreans that these are, in terms of knife-use, purely suicide/self-defense knives (either being seen as acceptable for rape prevention), rather than being used for any kind of everyday utility tasks. Primarily for suicide, but killing the attacker would not be seen as dishonorable. For upper-class women only. Whether that means nobility or nobility + yangban (i.e., Korean gentry), I don't know, but I think the latter.

It also functioned as decoration and, more importantly, an indicator of class.
Attached Images
  
Timo Nieminen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd May 2012, 07:43 PM   #19
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Hello Timo,

thank you for sharing the pictures of your nice example as well the further informations.

Here one which was sold recently by ebay but I believe that this one is not very old but a nice looking one with a similar mark at the blade. Grip and scabbard from white horn.

Regards,

Detlef
Attached Images
        
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd May 2012, 02:13 AM   #20
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,295
Default

I have concerns about the 'antiquity' of many of these pieces .

'Vintage' as a word covers a very wide swath ..
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd May 2012, 06:55 PM   #21
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
I have concerns about the 'antiquity' of many of these pieces .

'Vintage' as a word covers a very wide swath ..
Hello Rick,

agree with you. The one I buy seems to be purchased from a american vet who fight in the Korea War. The seller told me like this and he have sold some other Korea items recently. So when my one is from this time it isn't antique. And the pictures don't show the age so I have to wait until I have it in my hands. Will post pictures when I have received it.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd May 2012, 10:46 PM   #22
Timo Nieminen
Member
 
Timo Nieminen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 422
Default

They still make these, and jangdo in general (jangdo = decorated knife, eunjango = silver decorated knife). Jangdo also includes knives for men (which can be much larger than the tiny women's eunjangdo), and eating/utility knives.

Some of them are of very high quality, with high prices to match. The modern cruder ones might be the cheap version. So not fakes as such, but modern costume pieces.

Up to the Japanese colonisation, these were everyday wear (for the appropriate classes).
Timo Nieminen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th May 2012, 10:13 PM   #23
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Thank you Timo, I think this thread is now very informative about this knifes. So i think when I see nice ones I will post them here.

Here one just ended by ebay but wasn't sold.

Regards,

Detlef
Attached Images
  
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 02:01 AM   #24
Timo Nieminen
Member
 
Timo Nieminen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 422
Default

Here is one rather like the one in post #6. Simple compared to the fancier ones in this thread. The "inscription" on the blade is the same as the ones in posts #6 and #19.
Attached Images
  
Timo Nieminen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 10:42 AM   #25
Dom
Member
 
Dom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG)
Posts: 1,142
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajen
Would be nice to read what our arabic friends will say about this.
Hi
very fancy knife,
but the writting is what ever you want ... as language
except ... Arabic

all the best

à +

Dom
Dom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 11:42 AM   #26
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen
Here is one rather like the one in post #6. Simple compared to the fancier ones in this thread. The "inscription" on the blade is the same as the ones in posts #6 and #19.
Hello Timo,

is it yours? When yes, can you post better pictures from the writing on the blade?

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 11:43 AM   #27
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dom
Hi
very fancy knife,
but the writting is what ever you want ... as language
except ... Arabic

all the best

à +

Dom
Hi Dom,

think that it will be korean writing.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 12:39 PM   #28
Timo Nieminen
Member
 
Timo Nieminen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 422
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajen
Hello Timo,

is it yours? When yes, can you post better pictures from the writing on the blade?
Yes, mine. A picture good enough to see it clearly will require a visit to a better camera than mine (even if mine cooperates and focusses, I don't think it will be clear enough). Will see if I can get a better one.

Essentially, the same as the other ones. I don't know what it means. It isn't recognised as writing by (typical modern) Koreans. If it is a script, it is probably
Siddham, a Sanskrit-derived script still used for Buddhist inscriptions in East Asia (called "Bonji" in Japan).
Timo Nieminen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 01:16 PM   #29
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

AFAIK, old Korean weapons are very rare. Thus, sudden appearance of large number of them on e-bay, all belonging to the same subgroup ( women's dagger), many with identical markings makes me think you know what:-)
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st October 2012, 04:46 PM   #30
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
AFAIK, old Korean weapons are very rare. Thus, sudden appearance of large number of them on e-bay, all belonging to the same subgroup ( women's dagger), many with identical markings makes me think you know what:-)

Of course I can only speak for the one I have had (I have resell it again), it was definitely used and old, the signs of wear told me this.

Regards,

Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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 08:45 AM.


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.