Easyerb Sword - (Tibet?)

[Tim Simmons]

Nepalese? The handle looks like I Nepalese knife I once had.

[kronckew]

Yup, that is a possibility too, looks very Ban-like. The weapon styles of the region do tend to blur a bit as they get sold and distributed beyond national borders. I'm tending towards the Nepali possibility at the moment, my initial thought on it was Nepali due to the grip. Blade looked a bit Ban-like, and the scabbard & dragons could be from anywhere (kothimora). The chape area looks a bit odd...


It does remind me of my Nepali version:

[JBG163]

It seems you have a Taotie depicted on the upper part of the scabbard.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taotie

The guard seems an unusual feature for Bhutanese weapons

I would rather say a vintage or touristic knife.
For the origine .... Difficult to say. You pointed out some nepali features. Taotie are depicted in Nepal, Tibet and China. Coral and turquoise mostly used in Tibet/Nepal.
We can probably narrow to Nepal/Tibet

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by JBG163

It seems you have a Taotie depicted on the upper part of the scabbard.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taotie

In India and Nepal has a similar mythical character "kirtimukha".

[JBG163]

So Nepal should be a good target.
Nonetheless, quite late 20th in my opinion

[kronckew]

Figure is more like a MARA, a Buddhist demon associated with death, rebirth and desire. Or Mahakala, one of the many forms of Shiva from Nepal, and also a Buddhist demon. I have a Nepali Doctor friend, a Buddhist, and I have been advised it is not a Taotie, and is probably from possibly as early as the 1920's, and not younger than 1950.


I'll of course post better photos when it arrives.


Painting of a Mara, And a statue of Mahakala:

[JBG163]

Will be easier with better picture for sure