hmong knife from French Guiana

blue lander · 9th October 2014, 02:19 PM

The seller says it was purchased in Cacao, French Guiana in 1977. Cacao is apparently the center of the Hmong community that was established there after the Vietnam war. According to Wikipedia the first wave of refugees arrived in 1977, the year this knife was acquired, and they lived off government subsidies until they could pool enough money to buy farming equipment.

According to this article there is a Hmong blacksmith in Cacao who made knives. But given that this knife was purchased the same year they arrived, I wonder if it was made in Cacao or was brought over from Laos? The article does say the first thing the guy did when he landed was set up his forge to make tools to clear the land, so he probably was making knives in '77

Here's a Hmong knife made in Cacao for comparison

spiral · 9th October 2014, 05:43 PM

Cool!

Its always great to learn about the people & there story's attached to the stuff we collect.

spiral

Sajen · 9th October 2014, 06:50 PM

Wow Blue, very interesting thread. First time that I read about Hmong blacksmith in Cacao. Great to have a knife with this provenance!

Regards,
Detlef

Robert · 9th October 2014, 07:53 PM

Blue Lander, Very nice knife and great information as well. Could you post a few more detailed photos of the knife showing the blade and hilt in a better light? Having the knife with its original scabbard, the story behind how it was acquired as well as all the other information you have been able to put together is what makes our hobby/passion/addiction meaningful and then to be able to pass this all along to its next caretaker so important. My congratulations.

Best,
Robert

blue lander · 9th October 2014, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

Blue Lander, Very nice knife and great information as well. Could you post a few more detailed photos of the knife showing the blade and hilt in a better light? Having the knife with its original scabbard, the story behind how it was acquired as well as all the other information you have been able to put together is what makes our hobby/passion/addiction meaningful and then to be able to pass this all along to its next caretaker so important. My congratulations.

Best,
Robert

Thanks. Once the knife arrives I'll take better pictures. The wood ought to be snakewood, but it's hard to tell what it is from that picture. The seller says the knife was never used, but it looks like it wasn't stored very carefully. That other guy etched and polished the blade on his Hmong knife which revealed a very nice edge quench, I'll probably attempt to do the same.

blue lander · 22nd October 2014, 12:03 AM

It just arrived. Man is this thing a beast. The blade was coated in some dark grease, sort of like what you find on old military rifles and bayonets. I've wiped it off and gave it a quick once over with windex in order to take a picture.

The blade's really thick like a khukri. There's a split in the wooden hilt I'll need to seal up.

In the picture I've attached there's also a Brazilian pocket knife I bought from the same guy. No brand name on it, it just says "stainless Brazil". He was also selling a Dutch pocket knife from Bequia, Grenadines which I didn't buy. So perhaps the previous owner was some sort of aid worker in that part of the world.

blue lander · 9th October 2014, 08:20 PM

Thanks both. Agreed, the best part about collecting is that it opens the door to further learning about other cultures.

It sounds like the land is similar to Laos, and the Hmong were able to farm land previously considered unfarmable. Even though they only make up a tiny fraction of the population they produce the vast majority of the fruit .

Although it doesn't have anything to do with the knife, This thread has some interest info about the Hmong society over there. It appears that Hmong have had a much easier time assimilating in Cacao than those who migrated to cities in the US

9th October 2014, 02:19 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	hmong knife from French Guiana The seller says it was purchased in Cacao, French Guiana in 1977. Cacao is apparently the center of the Hmong community that was established there after the Vietnam war. According to Wikipedia the first wave of refugees arrived in 1977, the year this knife was acquired, and they lived off government subsidies until they could pool enough money to buy farming equipment. According to this article there is a Hmong blacksmith in Cacao who made knives. But given that this knife was purchased the same year they arrived, I wonder if it was made in Cacao or was brought over from Laos? The article does say the first thing the guy did when he landed was set up his forge to make tools to clear the land, so he probably was making knives in '77 Here's a Hmong knife made in Cacao for comparison Attached Images Last edited by blue lander; 9th October 2014 at 02:49 PM.

22nd October 2014, 12:03 AM	#6
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	It just arrived. Man is this thing a beast. The blade was coated in some dark grease, sort of like what you find on old military rifles and bayonets. I've wiped it off and gave it a quick once over with windex in order to take a picture. The blade's really thick like a khukri. There's a split in the wooden hilt I'll need to seal up. In the picture I've attached there's also a Brazilian pocket knife I bought from the same guy. No brand name on it, it just says "stainless Brazil". He was also selling a Dutch pocket knife from Bequia, Grenadines which I didn't buy. So perhaps the previous owner was some sort of aid worker in that part of the world. Attached Images

9th October 2014, 05:43 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Cool! Its always great to learn about the people & there story's attached to the stuff we collect. spiral

9th October 2014, 06:50 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,775	Wow Blue, very interesting thread. First time that I read about Hmong blacksmith in Cacao. Great to have a knife with this provenance! Regards, Detlef

9th October 2014, 07:53 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Blue Lander, Very nice knife and great information as well. Could you post a few more detailed photos of the knife showing the blade and hilt in a better light? Having the knife with its original scabbard, the story behind how it was acquired as well as all the other information you have been able to put together is what makes our hobby/passion/addiction meaningful and then to be able to pass this all along to its next caretaker so important. My congratulations. Best, Robert

9th October 2014, 08:20 PM	#7
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks both. Agreed, the best part about collecting is that it opens the door to further learning about other cultures. It sounds like the land is similar to Laos, and the Hmong were able to farm land previously considered unfarmable. Even though they only make up a tiny fraction of the population they produce the vast majority of the fruit . Although it doesn't have anything to do with the knife, This thread has some interest info about the Hmong society over there. It appears that Hmong have had a much easier time assimilating in Cacao than those who migrated to cities in the US