Origins and age of this Dha "priests" knife

archer · 11th April 2015, 12:35 AM

Hi,
this caught my eye now I'm not sure of origins age etc. The "Priest" knife Dha is 8 inches overall with a perhaps unique 4 5/8s inch drop point false back blade. Your thoughts please overall the workmanship is high quality. Thanks, Steve

CharlesS · 11th April 2015, 02:39 AM

Lovely piece, but what makes this a 'priest's knife'?

Battara · 11th April 2015, 03:47 AM

I agree. Most "priests" knives I know are intricately carved.

archer · 11th April 2015, 06:39 AM

Exactly my question. I realize priest knife is a hackneyed term, so what is this knife called, where and how recent is it? Is it just a recent tourist tourist piece?

russel · 11th April 2015, 08:07 AM

I was watching this auction with interest, certainly not recent or tourist in my opinion!

CharlesS · 11th April 2015, 09:18 AM

Absolutely no tourist piece! The blade and fittings are both older and of excellent quality. I just don't think it's a so called priest's knife.

Perhaps dha-hmyaung (knife) is more appropriate??

archer · 11th April 2015, 06:48 PM

So Hmyaung it is. Searching old posts referencing the Hmyaung As having widely varying origins, i see why no attempts were made to pin down origins.
Thank you all for your input, Steve

Nathaniel · 11th April 2015, 08:15 PM

Hello Steve,

Lovely dress knife. Good blade, nice silverwork, great condition. I really like the multi sided handle and sheath, not as common.

dha-hmyaung (Dagger) would be a correct term in Burmese for this type of knife. The source of this name is the book from Sylvia Frazer Lu book Burmese Crafts Past and Present. In Thai, Meed = knife.

Priests knife I think usually is more associated with the Thai knives that have writing along the blades and scabbards ie Yantra..prayers usually for protection.

Having an item blessed with prayers for protection is very common...for things like safety when hunting in the jungle were there are wild beasts such as tigers, or when going into battle.

11th April 2015, 12:35 AM	#1
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Origins and age of this Dha "priests" knife Hi, this caught my eye now I'm not sure of origins age etc. The "Priest" knife Dha is 8 inches overall with a perhaps unique 4 5/8s inch drop point false back blade. Your thoughts please overall the workmanship is high quality. Thanks, Steve Attached Images

11th April 2015, 06:39 AM	#4
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Agree with both of you Exactly my question. I realize priest knife is a hackneyed term, so what is this knife called, where and how recent is it? Is it just a recent tourist tourist piece?

11th April 2015, 06:48 PM	#7
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Thank you all So Hmyaung it is. Searching old posts referencing the Hmyaung As having widely varying origins, i see why no attempts were made to pin down origins. Thank you all for your input, Steve

11th April 2015, 08:15 PM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hello Steve, Lovely dress knife. Good blade, nice silverwork, great condition. I really like the multi sided handle and sheath, not as common. dha-hmyaung (Dagger) would be a correct term in Burmese for this type of knife. The source of this name is the book from Sylvia Frazer Lu book Burmese Crafts Past and Present. In Thai, Meed = knife. Priests knife I think usually is more associated with the Thai knives that have writing along the blades and scabbards ie Yantra..prayers usually for protection. Having an item blessed with prayers for protection is very common...for things like safety when hunting in the jungle were there are wild beasts such as tigers, or when going into battle. Last edited by Nathaniel; 11th April 2015 at 08:43 PM.

11th April 2015, 02:39 AM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Lovely piece, but what makes this a 'priest's knife'?

11th April 2015, 03:47 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I agree. Most "priests" knives I know are intricately carved.

11th April 2015, 08:07 AM	#5
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	I was watching this auction with interest, certainly not recent or tourist in my opinion!

11th April 2015, 09:18 AM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Absolutely no tourist piece! The blade and fittings are both older and of excellent quality. I just don't think it's a so called priest's knife. Perhaps dha-hmyaung (knife) is more appropriate??