Hmong Knife

Ian · 21st August 2020, 10:45 PM

Nice pair of recently made knives. Your friend is correct.

They are definitely of Thai manufacture, with typical "S" markings on the blade and the "turtle" stamp near the hilt. These marks started appearing in the late 1960s and apparently don't have any significance other than for decorative purposes. They show up a lot on pieces brought back to the U.S. by soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

Battara · 22nd August 2020, 01:24 AM

Never seen Hmong pieces before of any age. Thank you for posting these. Very interesting.

kronckew · 22nd August 2020, 08:11 AM

I've been told the Hmong (aka 'Montanyards') actually buy these too for themselves, some come with aluminium guards. They do not like them & remove the guards. Not sure if mine are Al yet.

Back story: with photo examples for battara

Himalayan imports has a 'Cantina' section for open discussion of just about anything legal and non-porn. One member is Vietnamese, about 20 years ago he saw a hmong knife from a village chief, but couldn't buy it, so he himself made one just like it. He posted it in the Cantina. It was so well liked HI was cajoled into making a few that were much like it. I saw it there and put it on my bucket list. Being human, in the decades that followed it has mutated and now comes in a khukuri type scabbard, the blade now has a cylindrical grip with brass bands and is not nearly as pointy as it started out. The original HI is the one in the horn scabbard below. The thai enep is ubiquitous in the SEA area, It's the thai version of a khukuri and comes in many sizes. Used in the kitchen, garden, hunting, self defence.

I've got 2, the one with a basket scabbard below is smaller than the one in the wood scabbard. Those two are also wickedly sharp.

kronckew · 22nd August 2020, 08:51 AM

...and the current HI mutation, the Hmong Friendship knife. Don't care for this version.

Battara · 22nd August 2020, 09:33 PM

So what I gather is that the Hmong knife forms shown are not indigenous?

Ian · 23rd August 2020, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

... the Hmong knife forms shown are not indigenous?

That's mostly correct Jose. After talking with several Hmong informants in Minneapolis, they tell me that Hmong knives are basic work knives that were adapted for other purposes. Most resemble the Thai enap knives with a wide belly (similar to the middle and bottom knives Wayne has posted in #4 of this topic), while others are more influenced by Chinese shapes such as the "river pirate" knives (somewhat similar to the top knife Wayne has posted in #4 of this topic). They come in various sizes. Wide-mouthed rectangular wooden scabbards are the norm. Their swords are long handled, similar to those of other Montagnard tribal groups and probably based on earlier Lao forms. My SEA swords and knives are not easily accessible at the moment but when I have more time I'll post some typical Hmong examples.

Sajen · 23rd August 2020, 10:29 AM

Here are two Hmong knives from my collection.

22nd August 2020, 08:11 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,237	I've been told the Hmong (aka 'Montanyards') actually buy these too for themselves, some come with aluminium guards. They do not like them & remove the guards. Not sure if mine are Al yet. Back story: with photo examples for battara Himalayan imports has a 'Cantina' section for open discussion of just about anything legal and non-porn. One member is Vietnamese, about 20 years ago he saw a hmong knife from a village chief, but couldn't buy it, so he himself made one just like it. He posted it in the Cantina. It was so well liked HI was cajoled into making a few that were much like it. I saw it there and put it on my bucket list. Being human, in the decades that followed it has mutated and now comes in a khukuri type scabbard, the blade now has a cylindrical grip with brass bands and is not nearly as pointy as it started out. The original HI is the one in the horn scabbard below. The thai enep is ubiquitous in the SEA area, It's the thai version of a khukuri and comes in many sizes. Used in the kitchen, garden, hunting, self defence. I've got 2, the one with a basket scabbard below is smaller than the one in the wood scabbard. Those two are also wickedly sharp. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 22nd August 2020 at 09:05 AM.

23rd August 2020, 10:29 AM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,269	Here are two Hmong knives from my collection. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 10:45 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Nice pair of recently made knives. Your friend is correct. They are definitely of Thai manufacture, with typical "S" markings on the blade and the "turtle" stamp near the hilt. These marks started appearing in the late 1960s and apparently don't have any significance other than for decorative purposes. They show up a lot on pieces brought back to the U.S. by soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

22nd August 2020, 01:24 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Never seen Hmong pieces before of any age. Thank you for posting these. Very interesting.

22nd August 2020, 08:51 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,237	...and the current HI mutation, the Hmong Friendship knife. Don't care for this version. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 22nd August 2020 at 09:05 AM.

22nd August 2020, 09:33 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	So what I gather is that the Hmong knife forms shown are not indigenous?