'Dha' blade restoration, are they laminated?

Atlantia · 4th April 2010, 11:31 PM

Hi Y'all
I'm bumping this thread because the polishing is nearing completion and I'm still looking for a firm ID on this blade.
Essentially I'm going to need to make it a handle next and I'm absolutely clueless as to how it should look.

Gavin Nugent · 5th April 2010, 12:15 AM

Nice blade Gene, quite sought after in some circles too.

I passed a near complete example by a while ago, no scabbard but it had a pure Burmese look to it.
I am unsure what cataegory they fall under but they are a nasty looking chopper.
I'll see if the image is still on file, if not I'll make contact with another who may still have it on file.

Gav

Atlantia · 5th April 2010, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Nice blade Gene, quite sought after in some circles too.

I passed a near complete example by a while ago, no scabbard but it had a pure Burmese look to it.
I am unsure what cataegory they fall under but they are a nasty looking chopper.
I'll see if the image is still on file, if not I'll make contact with another who may still have it on file.

Gav

Oh Gav!
You're a star mate!!!!!!
Thank you so much

Gavin Nugent · 5th April 2010, 03:13 AM

I stand corrected Gene,

Thanks to James, a reader of the forum, I have received more exact detailing via email.

Some extact from the mail.

It is a meed or mead, it is the Thai - siam form of a kukri and it is from the lao thai people of the north of Siam
Some say they are related to the Tibetans and lower foothill tribal peoples from the himalaya and this is a slightly modified form of the kukri or at least thats where they originated from, some are shaped slightly different and have an upswept point and some are flat cutting edge but have a curved spine with a weighty mid to tip that is thicker and curved at the spine.

He notes many of them are very old as that yours is and probably early 19th century and northern Thai by the decoration.
He has also heard them called e nep and has seen them up to 2 feet long in the blade, the tribal guys in the north use them in everyday use..and the hilt is straight or slightly downcurving and usualy of hardwood and turned with a steel ferrule.

He also notes the tang is bent up the wrong way on yours, it should be curving very slightly downward and adds he has never yet seen one from Burma so I stand corrected.

Below is the image from the auction house some time back, quite a high end one from my perspective, great silver work and great ivory.

Gav

Nathaniel · 5th April 2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Y'all
I'm bumping this thread because the polishing is nearing completion and I'm still looking for a firm ID on this blade.
Essentially I'm going to need to make it a handle next and I'm absolutely clueless as to how it should look.

Why make a handle? I think it would look just as nice if you made a stand where you could appreciate the bare blade and tang

Gavin Nugent · 5th April 2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Why make a handle? I think it would look just as nice if you made a stand where you could appreciate the bare blade and tang

I also think it should be left as is. Display it well and have some notes on the item with it and it will stand alone and present well. They are seldom seen.
If you don't want it, I'll display it bare here :-)

Gav

Atlantia · 5th April 2010, 02:02 PM

Thanks chaps, and our very kind 'lurker' James.

Ah a mead!
I've never seen one like this before? Always the heavy ended hunting knife type. Even with this swollen bolo end it's still a mead is it?
I had no idea that there was a connection to the Khukri

Finally the mystery is solved!

Um.... you chaps wouldn't put a handle on it?

But it's sad without one

It wants to be a knife again.

I'm seeing a HUGE VARIETY of handles on search images.

Some appear to be wood, some Ivory, some horn/antler.

Atlantia · 5th April 2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

I also think it should be left as is. Display it well and have some notes on the item with it and it will stand alone and present well. They are seldom seen.
If you don't want it, I'll display it bare here :-)

Gav

Gav and Nate,

Um, when you say left 'as is'........
Don't know if you saw my first thread about this blade about 2 years ago? I found it in a box of rusty 'impliments' at some market years and years ago.
It was bent and knocked about to hell.
I managed to straighten it to an acceptable level, and have now almost finished repolishing the surfaces (properly, by hand without altering the profile).
I'm going to try a light etch once the repolish is done.
I know that 'restoring' old blades is contoversial, would you have not done any of the above?

Best
Gene

Gavin Nugent · 6th April 2010, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Gav and Nate,

Um, when you say left 'as is'........
Don't know if you saw my first thread about this blade about 2 years ago? I found it in a box of rusty 'impliments' at some market years and years ago.
It was bent and knocked about to hell.
I managed to straighten it to an acceptable level, and have now almost finished repolishing the surfaces (properly, by hand without altering the profile).
I'm going to try a light etch once the repolish is done.
I know that 'restoring' old blades is contoversial, would you have not done any of the above?

Best
Gene

Gene,

I think what you have done up to here is perfect.

Only my personal opinion...and opinions are like you know what, everyone has one, but I'd refrain from mounting it with a handle...though tentatively speaking, you may come across a period ivory and silver handle one day that may fit perfectly...then I would consider it...
Like I said before, I'd happily display it here at home as is in the cleaned state.

Gav

Atlantia · 6th April 2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Gene,

I think what you have done up to here is perfect.

Only my personal opinion...and opinions are like you know what, everyone has one, but I'd refrain from mounting it with a handle...though tentatively speaking, you may come across a period ivory and silver handle one day that may fit perfectly...then I would consider it...
Like I said before, I'd happily display it here at home as is in the cleaned state.

Gav

That picture is 'pre-cleaned' and just roughly straightened.
It's been repolished now mate.

Gavin Nugent · 6th April 2010, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

That picture is 'pre-cleaned' and just roughly straightened.
It's been repolished now mate.

Yeah I know from your posts that it is polished, no need to frown, cleaned and polished is ok, it is just the handle I would not make and fit.
I look forward to some images.

Gav

Nathaniel · 6th April 2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Gene,

I think what you have done up to here is perfect.

Only my personal opinion...and opinions are like you know what, everyone has one, but I'd refrain from mounting it with a handle...though tentatively speaking, you may come across a period ivory and silver handle one day that may fit perfectly...then I would consider it...
Like I said before, I'd happily display it here at home as is in the cleaned state.

Gav

Gene,

I think Gav & I are on the same page here...I think what you have done sounds good...just light polish & etch.

Here is something similar to what I think we are both suggesting...simple yet elegant...this way the focus is on the blade and nothing distracts from it.

Gavin Nugent · 6th April 2010, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Gene,

I think Gav & I are on the same page here...I think what you have done sounds good...just light polish & etch.

Here is something similar to what I think we are both suggesting...simple yet elegant...this way the focus is on the blade and nothing distracts from it.

Very Tastful Nathaniel and well spoken, I like it!!

What do you think Gene?

Gav

5th April 2010, 12:15 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Nice one Nice blade Gene, quite sought after in some circles too. I passed a near complete example by a while ago, no scabbard but it had a pure Burmese look to it. I am unsure what cataegory they fall under but they are a nasty looking chopper. I'll see if the image is still on file, if not I'll make contact with another who may still have it on file. Gav

5th April 2010, 03:13 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	I stand corrected Gene I stand corrected Gene, Thanks to James, a reader of the forum, I have received more exact detailing via email. Some extact from the mail. It is a meed or mead, it is the Thai - siam form of a kukri and it is from the lao thai people of the north of Siam Some say they are related to the Tibetans and lower foothill tribal peoples from the himalaya and this is a slightly modified form of the kukri or at least thats where they originated from, some are shaped slightly different and have an upswept point and some are flat cutting edge but have a curved spine with a weighty mid to tip that is thicker and curved at the spine. He notes many of them are very old as that yours is and probably early 19th century and northern Thai by the decoration. He has also heard them called e nep and has seen them up to 2 feet long in the blade, the tribal guys in the north use them in everyday use..and the hilt is straight or slightly downcurving and usualy of hardwood and turned with a steel ferrule. He also notes the tang is bent up the wrong way on yours, it should be curving very slightly downward and adds he has never yet seen one from Burma so I stand corrected. Below is the image from the auction house some time back, quite a high end one from my perspective, great silver work and great ivory. Gav Attached Images

4th April 2010, 11:31 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Y'all I'm bumping this thread because the polishing is nearing completion and I'm still looking for a firm ID on this blade. Essentially I'm going to need to make it a handle next and I'm absolutely clueless as to how it should look.

5th April 2010, 02:02 PM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Thanks chaps, and our very kind 'lurker' James. Ah a mead! I've never seen one like this before? Always the heavy ended hunting knife type. Even with this swollen bolo end it's still a mead is it? I had no idea that there was a connection to the Khukri Finally the mystery is solved! Um.... you chaps wouldn't put a handle on it? But it's sad without one It wants to be a knife again. I'm seeing a HUGE VARIETY of handles on search images. Some appear to be wood, some Ivory, some horn/antler.