Origin of scabbards

ariel · 15th November 2007, 12:50 AM

Well, boys, you had your laugh

Now, for the second part of my question: is there a link between the three ( or more?) open scabbards from Taiwan, Philippines and Assam?

Tim Simmons · 15th November 2007, 08:03 PM

You forgot Bhutan. Is there a link? I would only say in form and function, materials to hand and wealth. Nothing to do with technique as very good and expressive metalwork can be found in all the afore mentioned lands.

VANDOO · 16th November 2007, 06:43 AM

TAIWAN WW2, MOST LIKELY TOURIST OR JAPANESE WAR SOUVINEER BUT MIGHT BE A STYLE STILL IN USE LOCALLY. OVER PRICED UNLESS YOU GO BY THE PRICES IN THE $80.00 BOOK I WARNED ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS POST.

THE FOUR COUNTRYS MENTIONED USE THE OPEN SCABBARD TAIWAN AND BUTHAN USE THE METAL BANDS OR STAPLES BUT THE PHILIPPINE AND NAGA MODELS ONLY HAVE A FEW WOVEN BANDS NO METAL USED ON ANY I HAVE SEEN. THE OPEN SCABBARD SEEMS TO BE A GOOD IDEA IN WET RAINFOREST, TROPICAL JUNGLE AREAS AND PERHAPS HAS LINKS IN THE MIGRATIONS OF THE DISTANT PAST BEFORE HISTORICAL RECORDS. EVERYTHING FROM CUSTOMS, BELIEFS TO DRESS,ART AND WEAPONS SEEMS TO BE LINKED IN MANY WAYS ALL OVER THE WORLD. COMMON THEMES RUN THRU-OUT MANS HISTORY AS WELL AS A FEW BIG DIFERENCES IN SOME AREAS AND TIMES.

ariel · 16th November 2007, 04:25 PM

I was unaware of the Bhutanese examples: does anybody have pictures to post?

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2007, 06:15 PM

These are commonly known as being Bhutanese but I do wonder if they are more likely to be from the foot hills rather than the Kingdom of Bhutan.

PUFF · 17th November 2007, 01:24 PM

Hi,
My hypothesis 's they are linked by their Austro-Indonesian root, especially between (Aboribinese)Taiwan and Philippine people.
I 'm currently in Taiwan. And I had mannaged to meet an aboriginese knife smith on eastern part of the island.
http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh20...sh/craft02.htm

In his shop, many knives are "real" enough. Although wooden parts and decoration are some distance away from custom/genuine quality but the blades are well heat treated and the tangs are secured with pins. His situation 's very much similar to those in Thailand, where many tradition knife making bussiness 's on their transformation from "knife/tool smith" to "souvineir manufacturer".

By the way, I have got 3 samples from him. They are souvineir/tool quality at reasonable prices.

PUFF · 17th November 2007, 01:37 PM

Their prices are range from 20 USD for boar hunter to 40-45 USD for longer peices.

As I told you, the blades are well treated and tangs are secured. They are absolutely functional.

But their down side 's the scabbards/handle are made of softwood (pine?) instead of hardwood. The rattan string are replaced with metal wire. And the decorations were burn-in instead of carve-in. But I could be wrong, though.

Do you guys have any genuine piece of austro-indonesian aboriginese knife/scabbard ?

15th November 2007, 12:50 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, boys, you had your laugh Now, for the second part of my question: is there a link between the three ( or more?) open scabbards from Taiwan, Philippines and Assam?

15th November 2007, 08:03 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,929	You forgot Bhutan. Is there a link? I would only say in form and function, materials to hand and wealth. Nothing to do with technique as very good and expressive metalwork can be found in all the afore mentioned lands.

16th November 2007, 06:43 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	TAIWAN WW2, MOST LIKELY TOURIST OR JAPANESE WAR SOUVINEER BUT MIGHT BE A STYLE STILL IN USE LOCALLY. OVER PRICED UNLESS YOU GO BY THE PRICES IN THE $80.00 BOOK I WARNED ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS POST. THE FOUR COUNTRYS MENTIONED USE THE OPEN SCABBARD TAIWAN AND BUTHAN USE THE METAL BANDS OR STAPLES BUT THE PHILIPPINE AND NAGA MODELS ONLY HAVE A FEW WOVEN BANDS NO METAL USED ON ANY I HAVE SEEN. THE OPEN SCABBARD SEEMS TO BE A GOOD IDEA IN WET RAINFOREST, TROPICAL JUNGLE AREAS AND PERHAPS HAS LINKS IN THE MIGRATIONS OF THE DISTANT PAST BEFORE HISTORICAL RECORDS. EVERYTHING FROM CUSTOMS, BELIEFS TO DRESS,ART AND WEAPONS SEEMS TO BE LINKED IN MANY WAYS ALL OVER THE WORLD. COMMON THEMES RUN THRU-OUT MANS HISTORY AS WELL AS A FEW BIG DIFERENCES IN SOME AREAS AND TIMES.

16th November 2007, 04:25 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I was unaware of the Bhutanese examples: does anybody have pictures to post?

16th November 2007, 06:15 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,929	These are commonly known as being Bhutanese but I do wonder if they are more likely to be from the foot hills rather than the Kingdom of Bhutan.

17th November 2007, 01:24 PM	#6
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Hi, My hypothesis 's they are linked by their Austro-Indonesian root, especially between (Aboribinese)Taiwan and Philippine people. I 'm currently in Taiwan. And I had mannaged to meet an aboriginese knife smith on eastern part of the island. http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh20...sh/craft02.htm In his shop, many knives are "real" enough. Although wooden parts and decoration are some distance away from custom/genuine quality but the blades are well heat treated and the tangs are secured with pins. His situation 's very much similar to those in Thailand, where many tradition knife making bussiness 's on their transformation from "knife/tool smith" to "souvineir manufacturer". By the way, I have got 3 samples from him. They are souvineir/tool quality at reasonable prices.

17th November 2007, 01:37 PM	#7
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Their prices are range from 20 USD for boar hunter to 40-45 USD for longer peices. As I told you, the blades are well treated and tangs are secured. They are absolutely functional. But their down side 's the scabbards/handle are made of softwood (pine?) instead of hardwood. The rattan string are replaced with metal wire. And the decorations were burn-in instead of carve-in. But I could be wrong, though. Do you guys have any genuine piece of austro-indonesian aboriginese knife/scabbard ?