small dha

Freddy · 4th August 2009, 06:16 PM

katana · 4th August 2009, 06:54 PM

Hi Freddy,
so it was you that 'out bid' me ....I think it would be just called a Meed Morph or possibly, a meed eneb, a utility knife, however I think the blade shape is different.

The Meed Maw, I believe are slightly more decorated and are generally talismatic.

Regards David

Freddy · 4th August 2009, 07:21 PM

Sorry, David. I just couldn't control myself. I had to go for it.

It looked (and is) a nice knife.

And what about these two other pieces ?

The middle one is a more decorative piece with a bone handle and silver sheath. (total length : 22 cm)

The top piece is recent, but still a nice, functional knife. (length : 26,5 cm)

wilked aka Khun Deng · 11th August 2009, 04:56 AM

Freddy meed maw (lit. doctor knife) or meed phra (lit. preist knife) are as katana stated talismanic and while they come in varying sizes from penknife to full blown dha what makes them meed phra is the blessing they receive from a Buddhist priest. The more venerated the Buddhist priest the more potent and expensive they are. Sometimes the priests would wrap a hair or a small paper prayer around the tang before the smith finished assembly.

Different temples and makers will have different designs on the blades generally near the hilt. While I haven't seen one with this particular blade profile or design it does show some age and the handle wrap and scabbard manufacture are of the old technique so I'd say you have a nice piece there.
BTW these can be QUITE expensive in Thailand.

As for the other two;
The top one I'm at a loss it almost looks like someone mixed styles when they added the new scabbard, but the blade itself with the upturned tip follows the profile of other meed phra I've seen and I've seen a similar handle (although using pewter instead the brass ferrules) but that scabbard doesn't seem to fit at all.

The middle knife is a newer example of a northern hill tribe knife (Mark has the actual name - it escapes me right now). Every male member of the hill tribes carries these. The blades are generally of less than stellar quality and the ivory on this one shows none of the yellowing I'd expect with age, but a very nice piece none the less.

Dan

Nathaniel · 11th August 2009, 05:12 AM

Good to hear from Khun Deng.

Here are my some more to add:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5162

Nathaniel · 11th August 2009, 05:14 AM

Any more of the working type:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5163

wilked aka Khun Deng · 11th August 2009, 05:40 AM

Thanks Nathaniel, there was an old post where I discussed these previously and posted pictures from a vendor at Chattu Chak market who specializes in these (but the search feature has defeated me yet again). I picked up one from Lung Phra Derm along with the hardback book that details the amulets and priest knifes of that particular monk (and mine was in the book). I became an instant celebrity with the wife's relatives in country

4th August 2009, 06:16 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	some more pics

11th August 2009, 04:56 AM	#4
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Meed Maw Freddy meed maw (lit. doctor knife) or meed phra (lit. preist knife) are as katana stated talismanic and while they come in varying sizes from penknife to full blown dha what makes them meed phra is the blessing they receive from a Buddhist priest. The more venerated the Buddhist priest the more potent and expensive they are. Sometimes the priests would wrap a hair or a small paper prayer around the tang before the smith finished assembly. Different temples and makers will have different designs on the blades generally near the hilt. While I haven't seen one with this particular blade profile or design it does show some age and the handle wrap and scabbard manufacture are of the old technique so I'd say you have a nice piece there. BTW these can be QUITE expensive in Thailand. As for the other two; The top one I'm at a loss it almost looks like someone mixed styles when they added the new scabbard, but the blade itself with the upturned tip follows the profile of other meed phra I've seen and I've seen a similar handle (although using pewter instead the brass ferrules) but that scabbard doesn't seem to fit at all. The middle knife is a newer example of a northern hill tribe knife (Mark has the actual name - it escapes me right now). Every male member of the hill tribes carries these. The blades are generally of less than stellar quality and the ivory on this one shows none of the yellowing I'd expect with age, but a very nice piece none the less. Dan

4th August 2009, 06:54 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Freddy, so it was you that 'out bid' me ....I think it would be just called a Meed Morph or possibly, a meed eneb, a utility knife, however I think the blade shape is different. The Meed Maw, I believe are slightly more decorated and are generally talismatic. Regards David

4th August 2009, 07:21 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Sorry, David. I just couldn't control myself. I had to go for it. It looked (and is) a nice knife. And what about these two other pieces ? The middle one is a more decorative piece with a bone handle and silver sheath. (total length : 22 cm) The top piece is recent, but still a nice, functional knife. (length : 26,5 cm)

11th August 2009, 05:12 AM	#5
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Good to hear from Khun Deng. Here are my some more to add: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5162

11th August 2009, 05:14 AM	#6
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Any more of the working type: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5163

11th August 2009, 05:40 AM	#7
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Thanks Nathaniel, there was an old post where I discussed these previously and posted pictures from a vendor at Chattu Chak market who specializes in these (but the search feature has defeated me yet again). I picked up one from Lung Phra Derm along with the hardback book that details the amulets and priest knifes of that particular monk (and mine was in the book). I became an instant celebrity with the wife's relatives in country