A rather nice Thai/Laos chopper for sharing

Sajen · 9th December 2018, 08:53 AM

Hello dear members,

I want to show you this rather nice Thai or Laos chopper with lotus bud pommel I've recently purchased from epray in a sad condition. After it has received some TLC and restore work at the wooden pommel it is a very nice agent of this seldom seen utility knife. I don't know if this sort of chopper was shown at this place before. When there are others in collections of members it would be nice to see them here when the owners would like to share them. Enjoy!

Like usual all comments are very welcome!

kronckew · 9th December 2018, 09:47 AM

Cool, which edge is the sharp one? Is it a Laotian khukuri-like object?

Sajen · 9th December 2018, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Cool, which edge is the sharp one? Is it a Laotian khukuri-like object?

Hello Wayne,

the sharp side or edge is on the opposite of the ruler. I think that it's mainly a utility knife and not a weapon but of course it would be the job as weapon very well.

Best regards,
Detlef

Mercenary · 9th December 2018, 04:01 PM

I think this is a weapon.

Sajen · 9th December 2018, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercenary

I think this is a weapon.

Hello Mercenary,

I don't know how long the from you shown examples (both are very nice) are but they look much longer as my example which is a little bit longer as 45 cm, so I think that it is a utility knife.

Regards,
Detlef

DaveA · 9th December 2018, 07:15 PM

Thanks for posting. I believe this is mead peek nok. Here is a photo of mine along with a description. My information comes from a anthropologist/sociologist an long time collector of dha who spent years in the arc from from northern Burma to the Tonkin gulf in Vietnam.
———-

This is a large and heavy "chopper" dha originating in northern Thailand or Laos c. mid-18th to early 19th C. It is called "mead peek nok" (birds wing knife) in the Thai language. In other areas the name would be different. This style is found in various lengths. It is a rare example of a weapon from this region and era, and is in very good condition This style is also found in northern Vietnam (Tonkin). Like many such edged weapons, this one could have been used as a working tool (e.g., agriculture) but due to its size, sturdiness, excellent balance in the hand, and "posh" decoration it was more likely used as a weapon. The overall length is 21 inches. The blade 11 inches and hilt 10 inches. There is no damage to the hilt or looseness in either blade or hilt.

The blade very robust is nearly ½ thick along the spine, with a distal taper along a concave back leading towards an clipped-type point. The edge is convex, sweeping up to the tip in concord with the beginning of the clipped top edge. The steel is watered-laminated as clearly shown on both sides of the blade. The edge shows a differentially heat treated cutting edge.

The hilt is made of rosewood or similar native hardwood and has a dark red/brown color and aged patina. The ferrule and pommel are made of a samrit type metal alloy of beautiful yellow-gold color. The alloy is possibly of copper and gold, a combination that was typical to the region and era.

9th December 2018, 08:53 AM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	A rather nice Thai/Laos chopper for sharing Hello dear members, I want to show you this rather nice Thai or Laos chopper with lotus bud pommel I've recently purchased from epray in a sad condition. After it has received some TLC and restore work at the wooden pommel it is a very nice agent of this seldom seen utility knife. I don't know if this sort of chopper was shown at this place before. When there are others in collections of members it would be nice to see them here when the owners would like to share them. Enjoy! Like usual all comments are very welcome! Attached Images

9th December 2018, 04:01 PM	#4
Mercenary Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 421	I think this is a weapon. Attached Images

9th December 2018, 07:15 PM	#6
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	mead peek nok — birds wing knife)l Thanks for posting. I believe this is mead peek nok. Here is a photo of mine along with a description. My information comes from a anthropologist/sociologist an long time collector of dha who spent years in the arc from from northern Burma to the Tonkin gulf in Vietnam. ———- This is a large and heavy "chopper" dha originating in northern Thailand or Laos c. mid-18th to early 19th C. It is called "mead peek nok" (birds wing knife) in the Thai language. In other areas the name would be different. This style is found in various lengths. It is a rare example of a weapon from this region and era, and is in very good condition This style is also found in northern Vietnam (Tonkin). Like many such edged weapons, this one could have been used as a working tool (e.g., agriculture) but due to its size, sturdiness, excellent balance in the hand, and "posh" decoration it was more likely used as a weapon. The overall length is 21 inches. The blade 11 inches and hilt 10 inches. There is no damage to the hilt or looseness in either blade or hilt. The blade very robust is nearly ½ thick along the spine, with a distal taper along a concave back leading towards an clipped-type point. The edge is convex, sweeping up to the tip in concord with the beginning of the clipped top edge. The steel is watered-laminated as clearly shown on both sides of the blade. The edge shows a differentially heat treated cutting edge. The hilt is made of rosewood or similar native hardwood and has a dark red/brown color and aged patina. The ferrule and pommel are made of a samrit type metal alloy of beautiful yellow-gold color. The alloy is possibly of copper and gold, a combination that was typical to the region and era. Attached Images

9th December 2018, 09:47 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Cool, which edge is the sharp one? Is it a Laotian khukuri-like object?