Tibet or Nepal ?

[Michel]

A strong blade, 5 mm thick, 14.5 cm long, heavily filed. An 8 cm long handle, rather short for European hands, with the distinctive style of the Himalaya. A scabbard with rather crude "repousse" work.
I think it is a recent work but a real weapon.
What would be its origin and name ?
Thanks for the help
Michel

[Jens Nordlunde]

I would say Tibet, it will be interesting to see what others with bigger knowledge of the area think.
Jens

PS. Come to think of it, it could also be from Buthan.

[dennee]

The form might more properly be considered Bhutanese, but such knives have presumably been made and used in both Bhutan and Tibet. But I certainly would not rule out Nepalese manufacture, as a lot of "Tibetan" stuff is now made there, whether by Tibetan exiles or others.

[Valjhun]

I would say Chinese....

[dennee]

Actually, not a bad point as a lot of modern "Tibetan" material--whether replicas or fantasy weapons--is presumably coming from places like Shenzhen.

[Lew]

It's nice but it looks to me like a modern repro.

Lew

[Michel]

Thanks to all of you for your answers.
LOUIEBLADES is certainly correct. This is a modern weapon.
But where ?
If it is modern (less than 50 years, which I think it is) I would rule out Tibet. That would leaves us with Nepal, Bhutan and China.
I have no idea but the idea of China looks quite interesting. In 1996 while looking in Hong Kong at weapons in antic shops, they told me that all the Manchurian and Tibetan weapons available in Hong Kong were in fact made presently in China. I do not remember where in china.
An additional information concerning that dagger: the inner scabbard is made in two crudely cut bamboos. It is obviously the cheapest available material. Is bamboo widely available in Shenzhen ?
Any clue about the name of this dagger ?
Thanks
Michel

[Bill M]

Here is a "modern" Nepalese knife used by a Hill person. (most likely 50 years plus or minus). I got this from a friend in Kathmandu. It was in dailiy use up until when I acquired it a few years ago. It is possible that it came from Bhutan.

[Bill M]

Here is a Bhutanese dagger I acquired from Lionsgate about 5 years ago when I first started collecting.

[Michel]

Hi Bill,
thank you for the 2 daggers presented.
The Nepalese one is of a higher quality than mine but clearly close, in particular the blade.
The Bhutanes one is distinctly a few classes higher in all its aspects:blade, scabbard with shark skin and repousse work.
Really thank you for showing us these weapons.
Do you have a name for these daggers ?
Regards
Michel

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Michel,
There has been considerable debate about edged weapons from Bhutan and Tibet, as the diffusion of preferred styles has of course ignored such geographic boundaries. However, it does seem that the knoblike pommel feature is most typically associated with Bhutan. This example does seem reasonably recent, as it is embossed while earlier edged weapons from these regions are typically pierced fretwork.
The geopolitical events throughout these regions over the last half century have obviously heightened the diffusion of these weapons, and the cottage industry of 'reproduced' weapons in China has of course further clouded the issue. Nepal has become a highly travelled region for tourists in this same period and with that being the case provides a ready market for authentic weapons from these regions, as well as pervaded with Chinese made products.

As for the term for these interesting daggers, I am not a linguist of course but I discovered the following:
"...every Bhutanese male regularly carries a knife, called a 'dossum', which he uses constantly in his daily chores".
- Bert Kerr Todd, in "Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon"
"National Geographic Magazine", December, 1952

I personally have always entertained the idea that these knob shaped swords and edged weapons, as well as the general features of the scabbards etc. of both Tibetan and Bhutanese weapons may reflect those of early Greek swords such as the phasganon and phasgana. While certainly geographically remote in relation to many regions known to have been visited or occupied by the early Greeks, it does seem that iconographically influenced weapons are prevalent over much of the Indian subcontinent and such diffusion does seem somewhat plausible. It would be interesting to hear other observations on this idea.

All the best,
Jim

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

As for the term for these interesting daggers, I am not a linguist of course but I discovered the following:
"...every Bhutanese male regularly carries a knife, called a 'dossum', which he uses constantly in his daily chores".
- Bert Kerr Todd, in "Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon"
"National Geographic Magazine", December, 1952

Jim

What a lovely name! Dossum! I realy like that!

As others say Nepal is full of Tibetan, Nepalese, Butanese,Indian & Chinese artifacts & weapons, deciding what was made by who & where can be rather difficult to work out.

The chinese even make fake Nepali tourist kukri with fake coins on nowadays! & probably millions of Tibetans live in Nepal & many still make such things.

The Victorean ones stand out, but anything else I realy havent a clue.

I concur with the mainstream opinion though, it looks recent to me.

Spiral

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Michel

Hi Bill,
thank you for the 2 daggers presented.
The Nepalese one is of a higher quality than mine but clearly close, in particular the blade.
The Bhutanes one is distinctly a few classes higher in all its aspects:blade, scabbard with shark skin and repousse work.
Really thank you for showing us these weapons.
Do you have a name for these daggers ?
Regards
Michel

Sure, I call them Dossum and Possum

[Michel]

You look great Bill,
But your dossum looks nicer than your possum !

Thanks to Jim for the name dossum.
Jim you have all my admiration to be able to find in a National Geographic Magazine of 1952, the name of these daggers.
To search in the National Geographic, you had to know you had seen something of the type and remember it.

Thanks
Michel

[~Alaung_Hpaya~]

The blade has similar proportions to that used by Burmese Kings as part of their regalia . I don't think I've seen any photos of one though .

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks very much for the kind words Michel
Theres no telling what can be found in these dusty archives, and I can only hope there wont be a cave in!! Anyway, glad I could be of help.

Now Bill......what the heck are you doin' in the woods wearing a bathrobe and a possum???!!!!

All the best,
Jim

[Battara]

Bill....you kill me.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Now Bill......what the heck are you doin' in the woods wearing a bathrobe and a possum???!!!!

All the best,
Jim

Umm, hunting with my dossum? I mean possum. . been a long day, better get back to Ethnographic studies.

[Jim McDougall]

Hey Spiral,
Good to hear from ya!
You're right, Nepal is quite the shopping mart for all kinds of 'collectibles' , and if you know the right people you can find the real deal. China has really advanced in thier production lines of uh, 'antiques' (anything older than 24 hours.
I think anyone serious about Tibetan arms & armour should get a copy of Mr.LaRocca's fantastic book, "Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet" .

All the best,
Jim