New life for a file

drdavid · 26th March 2006, 05:28 AM

Hi all
here is another recent purchase, this from Bhutan I believe (well it looks like the few other Bhutanese knives I have seen). It has obviously been made from a file and is some serious steel. It is close to 25 cms (10") of blade and is obviously meant for heavy use. The sheath is beautifully worked. The forumites often show examples of old blades being given new lives, here is an old tool resurrected as a knife.
DrD

Tim Simmons · 26th March 2006, 09:24 AM

Nice scabbard, this shows nicely the value of a good piece of steel in some parts of the world. I wonder if old files and other scrap metal utensils were traded as a commodity. I think this is more Tibetan with the very eastern motifs on the scabbard. Nice to see a real one.

Battara · 28th March 2006, 08:06 PM

Incredible repousse on the scabbard work. Thank you for posting this one.

eftihis · 29th March 2006, 01:20 PM

Battara, since you liked the silverwork, i am posting photos of another with the same great work.
Regards!

drdavid · 29th March 2006, 09:36 PM

Lovely knife eftihis
do you have any idea on the symbols used, are they just decorative. There is certainly similarity between the symbols on the two scabbards
DrD

eftihis · 30th March 2006, 12:26 AM

Hi DrD!
The symbols are not just decorative, they have a meaning from Buddist teachings.
As far as i know, this is not my field:
the 2 fishes: mean prosperity, regeneration, harmony.
the "mystical" knot:for longer life
Maybe someone knows more!

Alan62 · 30th March 2006, 02:08 AM

Very Nice Knife

Alam Shah · 30th March 2006, 05:12 AM

Just a thought on a possible translation of the scabbard from down upwards.
"Enlightenment brings everlasting life, harmony, reincarnation and prosperity."

(I may be wrong) and need to be enlighthen.

drdavid · 30th March 2006, 07:39 AM

Hi Eftihis and Alam Shah
I am sure you are onto something here. I have posted 3 close ups of the sheath from my knife to show just how similar the iconography is. (the rear of the sheath is different and just decorative). I hope others have something to contribute here.
DrD

Battara · 1st April 2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Battara, since you liked the silverwork, i am posting photos of another with the same great work.
Regards!

Thank you so much.

One day when I grow up, I will be able to do repousse of this quality as well.

IT is rare to find really good repousse work anymore, except in Bali today. Thanks to the others as well.

drdavid · 2nd April 2006, 01:54 AM

Well after a bit of research I think I have found the meaning of the symbols on these sheaths. They are traditional Tibetan buddhist symbols (there are mongolian and sanskrit equivalents) known as the Eight Auspicious symbols. In general these symbols occur all together or in pairs or singularly and are often found on religious objects or objects of personal significance.
Starting at the bottom of the sheaths shown we have in order:

A Wheel, A Banner Proclaiming Victory, An Endless Knot, A Conch Shell, A Lotus, A Treasure Vase, A Pair of Golden Fishes and A Parasol (Umbrella).

Each of the symbols is steeped in Buddhist meaning, for those curious it can be further explored at this link.
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/symbols

DrD

Ian · 2nd April 2006, 05:49 AM

David:

Interesting that the theme of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism comes up again in relation to a weapon. We had a discussion three or four years ago about the Eight Auspicious Symbols in relation to decorations on a Thai or Cambodian dha. That discussion is on the old forum, at this link:

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002182.html

Ian.

26th March 2006, 05:28 AM	#1
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	New life for a file Hi all here is another recent purchase, this from Bhutan I believe (well it looks like the few other Bhutanese knives I have seen). It has obviously been made from a file and is some serious steel. It is close to 25 cms (10") of blade and is obviously meant for heavy use. The sheath is beautifully worked. The forumites often show examples of old blades being given new lives, here is an old tool resurrected as a knife. DrD Attached Images

29th March 2006, 01:20 PM	#4
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Another one! Battara, since you liked the silverwork, i am posting photos of another with the same great work. Regards! Attached Images

30th March 2006, 07:39 AM	#9
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	Hi Eftihis and Alam Shah I am sure you are onto something here. I have posted 3 close ups of the sheath from my knife to show just how similar the iconography is. (the rear of the sheath is different and just decorative). I hope others have something to contribute here. DrD Attached Images

2nd April 2006, 01:54 AM	#11
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	The 8 symbols shown Well after a bit of research I think I have found the meaning of the symbols on these sheaths. They are traditional Tibetan buddhist symbols (there are mongolian and sanskrit equivalents) known as the Eight Auspicious symbols. In general these symbols occur all together or in pairs or singularly and are often found on religious objects or objects of personal significance. Starting at the bottom of the sheaths shown we have in order: A Wheel, A Banner Proclaiming Victory, An Endless Knot, A Conch Shell, A Lotus, A Treasure Vase, A Pair of Golden Fishes and A Parasol (Umbrella). Each of the symbols is steeped in Buddhist meaning, for those curious it can be further explored at this link. http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/symbols DrD

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26th March 2006, 09:24 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Nice scabbard, this shows nicely the value of a good piece of steel in some parts of the world. I wonder if old files and other scrap metal utensils were traded as a commodity. I think this is more Tibetan with the very eastern motifs on the scabbard. Nice to see a real one.

28th March 2006, 08:06 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Incredible repousse on the scabbard work. Thank you for posting this one.

29th March 2006, 09:36 PM	#5
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	Lovely knife eftihis do you have any idea on the symbols used, are they just decorative. There is certainly similarity between the symbols on the two scabbards DrD

30th March 2006, 12:26 AM	#6
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Hi DrD! The symbols are not just decorative, they have a meaning from Buddist teachings. As far as i know, this is not my field: the 2 fishes: mean prosperity, regeneration, harmony. the "mystical" knot:for longer life Maybe someone knows more!

30th March 2006, 02:08 AM	#7
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	Very Nice Knife

30th March 2006, 05:12 AM	#8
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Just a thought on a possible translation of the scabbard from down upwards. "Enlightenment brings everlasting life, harmony, reincarnation and prosperity." (I may be wrong) and need to be enlighthen.

2nd April 2006, 05:49 AM	#12
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	David: Interesting that the theme of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism comes up again in relation to a weapon. We had a discussion three or four years ago about the Eight Auspicious Symbols in relation to decorations on a Thai or Cambodian dha. That discussion is on the old forum, at this link: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002182.html Ian.