Opium for the dha guys

Tim Simmons · 9th June 2006, 04:54 PM

Picked this up in a junk shop. I do not know anything really. It looks like an opium poppy pod. low grade silver covering. Total length 255mm, blade section 176mm, blade 65mm. It comes with a tool consisting of a piece of a nail wrapped in very thin copper, one end is a little crumpled. Something might have been in this end? which is house in hole in the hilt and scabbard. Must be from Burma, Thailand.

VANDOO · 9th June 2006, 05:02 PM

A INTERESTING ITEM

CONGRADULATIONS.
THEY DO USE A KNIFE TO CUT THE POPPY SEED PODS AND THEN COLLECT THE SAP THAT COMES OUT FOR MAKEING OPIUM. THE KNIFE MUST HAVE SOME ASSOCIATION WITH THAT JUDGING FROM ITS LOOKS BUT LOOKS IMPRACTICAL FOR ACTUAL USE IN THE POPPY FIELDS SO PERHAPS A CEREMONIAL ITEM

Ian · 9th June 2006, 05:04 PM

Hi Tim:

That's an interesting item. Opium-related seems a good guess, but I don't know the function of the small accessory piece -- perhaps to scoop up or store some of the resin from the poppy.

The decoration looks Shan or "hill tribe" from the northern Thai/Burma/Laos /Southern China (Yunnan) area -- that is, the Golden Triangle region and we know that there is a substantial amount of opium trading there!

Perhaps one of our Thai members will recognize it.

Ian.

Mark · 9th June 2006, 05:26 PM

I've never seen anything like it, but the decoration is what you often see on some Shan dha. I wonder if the copper tube is supposed to stay in the "scabbard," as a lining to the wood? So when you pull out the knife you have the little spike sticking out of the scabbard? What is that residue on the end of the spike? It looks gummy, meaning it might be poppy resin.

Tim Simmons · 9th June 2006, 07:17 PM

It looks a lot like carbon. Not having smoked raw opium I am unsure of my facts but I believe a small ball of sticky opium is heated up prior to smoking. Perhaps gathered and heated on the crumpled end of the rolled copper, the nail is to hold and avoid heat transference. Just a wild guess you understand.

9th June 2006, 04:54 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Opium for the dha guys Picked this up in a junk shop. I do not know anything really. It looks like an opium poppy pod. low grade silver covering. Total length 255mm, blade section 176mm, blade 65mm. It comes with a tool consisting of a piece of a nail wrapped in very thin copper, one end is a little crumpled. Something might have been in this end? which is house in hole in the hilt and scabbard. Must be from Burma, Thailand. Attached Images

9th June 2006, 05:04 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Something from the Golden Triangle maybe ... Hi Tim: That's an interesting item. Opium-related seems a good guess, but I don't know the function of the small accessory piece -- perhaps to scoop up or store some of the resin from the poppy. The decoration looks Shan or "hill tribe" from the northern Thai/Burma/Laos /Southern China (Yunnan) area -- that is, the Golden Triangle region and we know that there is a substantial amount of opium trading there! Perhaps one of our Thai members will recognize it. Ian.

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9th June 2006, 05:02 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A INTERESTING ITEM CONGRADULATIONS. THEY DO USE A KNIFE TO CUT THE POPPY SEED PODS AND THEN COLLECT THE SAP THAT COMES OUT FOR MAKEING OPIUM. THE KNIFE MUST HAVE SOME ASSOCIATION WITH THAT JUDGING FROM ITS LOOKS BUT LOOKS IMPRACTICAL FOR ACTUAL USE IN THE POPPY FIELDS SO PERHAPS A CEREMONIAL ITEM

9th June 2006, 05:26 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I've never seen anything like it, but the decoration is what you often see on some Shan dha. I wonder if the copper tube is supposed to stay in the "scabbard," as a lining to the wood? So when you pull out the knife you have the little spike sticking out of the scabbard? What is that residue on the end of the spike? It looks gummy, meaning it might be poppy resin.

9th June 2006, 07:17 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It looks a lot like carbon. Not having smoked raw opium I am unsure of my facts but I believe a small ball of sticky opium is heated up prior to smoking. Perhaps gathered and heated on the crumpled end of the rolled copper, the nail is to hold and avoid heat transference. Just a wild guess you understand.