Mongol Dogpa knife?

blue lander · 31st August 2014, 08:29 PM

I just won the auction for this, the seller describes it as a "Mongol Dogpa" knife. It doesn't look Mongol to me, at least not Khalkha Mongol, but it seems to fit somewhere along the Mongol/Tibet/China spectrum.

After some googling it seems that there a couple different ethnic groups called Dogpa or Brogpa. One is a group of Aryans living in India while the other seem to be an ethnic group in Tibet. Can anybody help me narrow the origin down?

Sajen · 31st August 2014, 08:47 PM

This type of knives seems to be found in the great area you have already mentioned. By your one I see some ornaments which look chinese.

I have a similar one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=tibet
Your one look relative recent but made in traditional manner. I know that these knives sometimes are called lothi, see here: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=5657

Regards,
Detlef

blue lander · 1st September 2014, 03:13 PM

It does look a little bit like the lothi in your second link. What struck me as most different about this one compared to what you usually see is that the scabbard is sort of bow shaped rather than tubular. It also seems to have a belt loop of some sort. I've never seen those on a Mongol/Tibetan/Chinese one as they were usually carried by tucking them into your belt or sash.

I've attached a picture of my Mongolian knife, which is more or less tubular like your Tibetan one. Both look like they've been sharpened quite a few times. I'm sure mine had dispatched countless sheep during its working life.

Sajen · 1st September 2014, 06:43 PM

I have seen several with this bow shaped scabbards, special by ebay. I think that your second one is indeed from Mongolia, the handle seems to be typical for the Mongolian version. Like you I have noticed that there are tubular scabbards and more rectangular scabbards, some of these are set with stones. But I know not enough about this knives to say from where the different forms coming.

Regards,
Detlef

blue lander · 1st September 2014, 08:57 PM

Hmm, maybe its a newer style. I'll keep an eye on eBay for similar ones.

That other one came from a seller in Ulan baatar so I'm pretty confident its Mongolian. Obviously a work knife rather than a fancy outfit holiday knife. Still trying to track one of those down.

spiral · 1st September 2014, 09:03 PM

Love the second one B.L., you can see its old style steel & truly an ethnographic piece!

The first one is modern fake Tibetan in style, the curved blade is usual, saw loads like it in Nepal in 2005, all I saw were either modern Nepali fakes or mostly modern Chinese made imports....{Also fake...} Original Tibetan pieces obviously exist but there a lot more fake than real out there, & that isn't one of them.

Get more stuff like the second one!

spiiral

31st August 2014, 08:29 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Mongol Dogpa knife? I just won the auction for this, the seller describes it as a "Mongol Dogpa" knife. It doesn't look Mongol to me, at least not Khalkha Mongol, but it seems to fit somewhere along the Mongol/Tibet/China spectrum. After some googling it seems that there a couple different ethnic groups called Dogpa or Brogpa. One is a group of Aryans living in India while the other seem to be an ethnic group in Tibet. Can anybody help me narrow the origin down? Attached Images

1st September 2014, 03:13 PM	#3
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	It does look a little bit like the lothi in your second link. What struck me as most different about this one compared to what you usually see is that the scabbard is sort of bow shaped rather than tubular. It also seems to have a belt loop of some sort. I've never seen those on a Mongol/Tibetan/Chinese one as they were usually carried by tucking them into your belt or sash. I've attached a picture of my Mongolian knife, which is more or less tubular like your Tibetan one. Both look like they've been sharpened quite a few times. I'm sure mine had dispatched countless sheep during its working life. Attached Images

31st August 2014, 08:47 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,630	This type of knives seems to be found in the great area you have already mentioned. By your one I see some ornaments which look chinese. I have a similar one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=tibet Your one look relative recent but made in traditional manner. I know that these knives sometimes are called lothi, see here: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=5657 Regards, Detlef

1st September 2014, 06:43 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,630	I have seen several with this bow shaped scabbards, special by ebay. I think that your second one is indeed from Mongolia, the handle seems to be typical for the Mongolian version. Like you I have noticed that there are tubular scabbards and more rectangular scabbards, some of these are set with stones. But I know not enough about this knives to say from where the different forms coming. Regards, Detlef

1st September 2014, 08:57 PM	#5
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Hmm, maybe its a newer style. I'll keep an eye on eBay for similar ones. That other one came from a seller in Ulan baatar so I'm pretty confident its Mongolian. Obviously a work knife rather than a fancy outfit holiday knife. Still trying to track one of those down.

1st September 2014, 09:03 PM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Love the second one B.L., you can see its old style steel & truly an ethnographic piece! The first one is modern fake Tibetan in style, the curved blade is usual, saw loads like it in Nepal in 2005, all I saw were either modern Nepali fakes or mostly modern Chinese made imports....{Also fake...} Original Tibetan pieces obviously exist but there a lot more fake than real out there, & that isn't one of them. Get more stuff like the second one! spiiral