Writing on a SE asian knife
 

I won this knife in auction, it appears to be in the Thai E-nep or Hmong family. The blade's quite well made with obvious edge hardening. Overall the blade's really nice, the hilt and scabbard not so much. The scabbard is some sort of rubbery fabric with a wooden sheath inside it. I wonder if they're original.

It has some writing near the hilt. Any idea what language it might be or what it means?

Thai e-nep. Close but not Hmong blade shape, but this one has the belly, and then the second curve hear the hilt.

"Saw Sua. Dee" = most likely the makers nick name.

Working piece. Unusual, the cloth sheath. Most of the time you see them made after market of wood or a long wooden basket with a wide open mouth.

How long is the blade and handle?

I wonder if the cloth sheath was made by a western owner.

I haven't measured the whole thing but the blade is about 25.5 cms.
The inside of the sheath is made of two pieces of wood that aren't bound together in any way, they just slip in the sheath. Maybe it's the Thai interpretation of a western sheath.