Southeast Asian knife Identification

Pitt1999 · 12th May 2022, 02:02 AM

Hello,

Today I bring, for your comments and consideration, a knife that I can only assume is from somewhere in the general Southeast Asian region. It was sold as being from the Philippines, but I have not seen any similar examples of knives like this from that area. The scabbard has a section broken off (and missing) and a crack near the tip. There is twisted brass wire forming a loop on one side and another pair of holes on the opposite side which probably had a similar arrangement. The blade is simple and without any major flaws, other than two small nicks in the edge. The blade starts off thick at the base and tapers towards the point. The ferrule, handle and scabbard all have simple carved decoration. The rattan binding looks similar to the binding found on Igorot/Ifugao/Bontoc knives. I am eager to see if any of you have any similar examples to share!

Thanks for looking,
Pitt

Tim Simmons · 12th May 2022, 01:30 PM

The scabbard construction looks Ifugao Philippines.

Pitt1999 · 12th May 2022, 10:28 PM

Aren't their scabbards normally open on one side though?

Tim Simmons · 13th May 2022, 12:47 PM

Yes they most often are but there is always variation, the back part is very Ifugao. It could possibly be from a hill tribe India/Burma.

Pitt1999 · 14th May 2022, 01:17 AM

The only other feature that I can find a comparison to is the tip of the scabbard being similar in shape to the tip of a Naga/Kachin dao scabbard.

Sajen · 14th May 2022, 10:49 PM

I would search in the direction of Burma, Arunachal Pradesh and so on, for sure not Ifugao IMVHO.

Regards,
Detlef

Pitt1999 · 27th May 2022, 03:58 AM

Thanks for the info and replies! The Arunachal Pradesh dao seem to be the most similar to my knife, with the exception of the scabbard construction and handle shape of my knife. While the blade shapes are similar, the origin of my knife still seems to be uncertain. I guess I'll have to wait for other examples of this type to pop up.

RobT · 27th May 2022, 08:09 PM

Hi All,

Is everybody sure that the sheath and blade go together? To me, the knife is very slender and the sheath looks as if it was meant for a wider blade (especially from what I can see of the throat). I know that the design on the hilt sort of matches the one at the tip of the sheath but its a rather generic design that may be commonly found on many objects from a particular group (or on many objects of a number of related groups). Also, I know that the sheath wood is very often different from the hilt but in this case, to my eye, the color difference appears to be jarring.

Sincerely,
Robt

12th May 2022, 02:02 AM	#1
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 107	Southeast Asian knife Identification Hello, Today I bring, for your comments and consideration, a knife that I can only assume is from somewhere in the general Southeast Asian region. It was sold as being from the Philippines, but I have not seen any similar examples of knives like this from that area. The scabbard has a section broken off (and missing) and a crack near the tip. There is twisted brass wire forming a loop on one side and another pair of holes on the opposite side which probably had a similar arrangement. The blade is simple and without any major flaws, other than two small nicks in the edge. The blade starts off thick at the base and tapers towards the point. The ferrule, handle and scabbard all have simple carved decoration. The rattan binding looks similar to the binding found on Igorot/Ifugao/Bontoc knives. I am eager to see if any of you have any similar examples to share! Thanks for looking, Pitt Attached Images Last edited by Pitt1999; 12th May 2022 at 05:20 AM.

27th May 2022, 08:09 PM	#8
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 493	Sheath & Blade Match? Hi All, Is everybody sure that the sheath and blade go together? To me, the knife is very slender and the sheath looks as if it was meant for a wider blade (especially from what I can see of the throat). I know that the design on the hilt sort of matches the one at the tip of the sheath but its a rather generic design that may be commonly found on many objects from a particular group (or on many objects of a number of related groups). Also, I know that the sheath wood is very often different from the hilt but in this case, to my eye, the color difference appears to be jarring. Sincerely, Robt

12th May 2022, 01:30 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The scabbard construction looks Ifugao Philippines.

12th May 2022, 10:28 PM	#3
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 107	Aren't their scabbards normally open on one side though?

13th May 2022, 12:47 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes they most often are but there is always variation, the back part is very Ifugao. It could possibly be from a hill tribe India/Burma.

14th May 2022, 01:17 AM	#5
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 107	The only other feature that I can find a comparison to is the tip of the scabbard being similar in shape to the tip of a Naga/Kachin dao scabbard.

14th May 2022, 10:49 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	I would search in the direction of Burma, Arunachal Pradesh and so on, for sure not Ifugao IMVHO. Regards, Detlef

27th May 2022, 03:58 AM	#7
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 107	Thanks for the info and replies! The Arunachal Pradesh dao seem to be the most similar to my knife, with the exception of the scabbard construction and handle shape of my knife. While the blade shapes are similar, the origin of my knife still seems to be uncertain. I guess I'll have to wait for other examples of this type to pop up.