Chinese (?) knife

David · 17th December 2007, 12:16 AM

I ran across this little utility knife in an antique mall and the price seemed right so i bought it. 9" overall in the sheath, blade alone just under 4", 7 1/2" with the hilt.
The hilt grips could be ivory or some kind of horn. It gets translucent near the ferrule so it doesn't look like bone to me. I don't know what the black material is nor the "white" metal, but there does seem to be some copper involved.
The sheath seems to be some kind of low grade silver or maybe just nickel silver with a band of ray skin in the middle.
Any ideas as to place, date, usage would be welcome.

kronckew · 17th December 2007, 08:16 AM

looks tibetan.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2007, 08:34 AM

Mongolia? I like the scabbard.

Bill M · 17th December 2007, 01:27 PM

Never seen one like it, but I would agree with Wayne. Tibetan side of the Chinese border.

josh stout · 17th December 2007, 03:04 PM

I have one that is very similar that a friend collected from the North West of China in a region of the Tibetan plateau that is outside the former border of Tibet. While it is inside China itself, it is an area that strangely has fewer Han and recent Han Chinese influence than Tibet itself. I am seeing more and more pieces coming out of far eastern Tibet/far western China, so I suspect that modernization and development are now reaching the area. In the early to late nineties when I had friends traveling in the region, men still commonly carried swords at their sides.
Josh

Jim McDougall · 17th December 2007, 04:36 PM

Tibetan puuko.

17th December 2007, 12:16 AM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,100	Chinese (?) knife I ran across this little utility knife in an antique mall and the price seemed right so i bought it. 9" overall in the sheath, blade alone just under 4", 7 1/2" with the hilt. The hilt grips could be ivory or some kind of horn. It gets translucent near the ferrule so it doesn't look like bone to me. I don't know what the black material is nor the "white" metal, but there does seem to be some copper involved. The sheath seems to be some kind of low grade silver or maybe just nickel silver with a band of ray skin in the middle. Any ideas as to place, date, usage would be welcome. Attached Images

17th December 2007, 08:16 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,167	looks tibetan.

17th December 2007, 08:34 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,781	Mongolia? I like the scabbard.

17th December 2007, 01:27 PM	#4
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Never seen one like it, but I would agree with Wayne. Tibetan side of the Chinese border.

17th December 2007, 03:04 PM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I have one that is very similar that a friend collected from the North West of China in a region of the Tibetan plateau that is outside the former border of Tibet. While it is inside China itself, it is an area that strangely has fewer Han and recent Han Chinese influence than Tibet itself. I am seeing more and more pieces coming out of far eastern Tibet/far western China, so I suspect that modernization and development are now reaching the area. In the early to late nineties when I had friends traveling in the region, men still commonly carried swords at their sides. Josh

17th December 2007, 04:36 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,896	Tibetan puuko.