An interesting knife from the Southeast Asian peninsula

[Ian]

Hi Detlef,

That's an interesting knife and scabbard. I don't know where it is from and have not seen a similar ensemble. There are a few features that I found interesting.

• The blade is heavy and the edge approaches the tip abruptly. This profile is fairly common and also seen on Chinese knives—I wonder about a southern Chinese (Yunnan) influence.
• The spine is thick adjacent to the hilt, and there is an unusual depression on the spine adjacent to the hilt. I've thought that such depressions were a place to rest the forefinger or thumb while cutting forcefully with the blade, suggesting a specific function for the knife as a tool.
• The brass ferrule does not strike me as distinctive and could be village work from many areas of mainland SE Asia.
• The hilt is rather short (10 cm; 4 in.), perhaps for a small (woman's?) hand or for a palmar grip with the forefinger or thumb resting on the spine.
• I agree that the single brass ferrule could be from one of the mountain tribal groups of former French Indochina, but would include groups extending east and further north towards Yunnan as well.
• The wooden scabbard with upturned toe is somewhat suggestive of Cambodian work, but I don't recall seeing the upturn being this marked, especially for a straight-bladed knife. This feature may offer you the best chance for a more specific ID.

Jeff's suggestion has some merit too, although I don't recall seeing an example like this one being attributed to NE India.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Detlef,

That's an interesting knife and scabbard. I don't know where it is from and have not seen a similar ensemble. There are a few features that I found interesting.

• The blade is heavy and the edge approaches the tip abruptly. This profile is fairly common and also seen on Chinese knives—I wonder about a southern Chinese (Yunnan) influence.
• The spine is thick adjacent to the hilt, and there is an unusual depression on the spine adjacent to the hilt. I've thought that such depressions were a place to rest the forefinger or thumb while cutting forcefully with the blade, suggesting a specific function for the knife as a tool.
• The brass ferrule does not strike me as distinctive and could be village work from many areas of mainland SE Asia.
• The hilt is rather short (10 cm; 4 in.), perhaps for a small (woman's?) hand or for a palmar grip with the forefinger or thumb resting on the spine.
• I agree that the single brass ferrule could be from one of the mountain tribal groups of former French Indochina, but would include groups extending east and further north towards Yunnan as well.
• The wooden scabbard with upturned toe is somewhat suggestive of Cambodian work, but I don't recall seeing the upturn being this marked, especially for a straight-bladed knife. This feature may offer you the best chance for a more specific ID.

Jeff's suggestion has some merit too, although I don't recall seeing an example like this one being attributed to NE India.

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your comment! And yes, I agree that the depression on the spine behind the handle is most probably for resting the thumb there. And I also agree that the upturned scabbard end is somewhat typical for Cambodia.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

[*]The wooden scabbard with upturned toe is somewhat suggestive of Cambodian work, but I don't recall seeing the upturn being this marked, especially for a straight-bladed knife. This feature may offer you the best chance for a more specific ID.[/LIST]

Here is a sword with a similar upturned scabbard end.