SE Asian Double Knives

CharlesS · 22nd January 2020, 06:42 PM

Here is a unique set of double knives from SE Asia, likely Thailand or Burma. At first glance, it's very tempting to label them as badeks/badiks, but the blade profiles are far more Thai or Burmese than Indonesian. The hilts are hardwood.

While some of these double knives always seem to stir up the collector's love of the unique, I don't think they were ever intended as combat weapons. I would suggest that they are martial arts weapons or perhaps even very early tourist pieces, which makes them no less interesting.

Comments welcomed.

Dimensions:
Overall length: 13in.
Blade length: 8.75in.
Blades' widest point: just over 1.5in.

Battara · 24th January 2020, 02:39 AM

Well this is a new one on me........

mariusgmioc · 24th January 2020, 04:14 PM

I would still go for Indonesian or maybe Malaysian, 20th century...

Not tourist but more likely an expression of the creativity of a local smith.

Very interesting! Thank you!

kronckew · 25th January 2020, 05:50 AM

The above are badik-like but aren't. They are Thai.

Similar "krich cab pun phk" or "มีดด้ามปืนพก" knives are commonly found in Thailand, old and newly made...Note the decorations

See also: http://www.arscives.com/historysteel...tionmusbkk.htm

Has some interesting weapons photos, include some of these "pistol grip knives".

kronckew · 25th January 2020, 05:57 AM

For comparison, an Indonesian badek with a pamour blade:

CharlesS · 25th January 2020, 01:16 PM

Likely from the same source as kronckew....Here are two images from the National Museum in Bangkok. There are two similarly hilted examples, but unfortunately, the blades are not shown. The hilts here are more akin to Indonesian types. The name for these in Thai is มีดด้ามปืนพก or krich cab pun phk, meaning quite literally "pistol grip knife".

The third pic shows another example much more like the original examples shown.

22nd January 2020, 06:42 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	SE Asian Double Knives Here is a unique set of double knives from SE Asia, likely Thailand or Burma. At first glance, it's very tempting to label them as badeks/badiks, but the blade profiles are far more Thai or Burmese than Indonesian. The hilts are hardwood. While some of these double knives always seem to stir up the collector's love of the unique, I don't think they were ever intended as combat weapons. I would suggest that they are martial arts weapons or perhaps even very early tourist pieces, which makes them no less interesting. Comments welcomed. Dimensions: Overall length: 13in. Blade length: 8.75in. Blades' widest point: just over 1.5in. Attached Images

25th January 2020, 05:50 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	The above are badik-like but aren't. They are Thai. Similar "krich cab pun phk" or "มีดด้ามปืนพก" knives are commonly found in Thailand, old and newly made...Note the decorations See also: http://www.arscives.com/historysteel...tionmusbkk.htm Has some interesting weapons photos, include some of these "pistol grip knives". Attached Images

25th January 2020, 05:57 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	For comparison, an Indonesian badek with a pamour blade: Attached Images

25th January 2020, 01:16 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Likely from the same source as kronckew....Here are two images from the National Museum in Bangkok. There are two similarly hilted examples, but unfortunately, the blades are not shown. The hilts here are more akin to Indonesian types. The name for these in Thai is มีดด้ามปืนพก or krich cab pun phk, meaning quite literally "pistol grip knife". The third pic shows another example much more like the original examples shown. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 25th January 2020 at 01:26 PM.

24th January 2020, 02:39 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Well this is a new one on me........

24th January 2020, 04:14 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	I would still go for Indonesian or maybe Malaysian, 20th century... Not tourist but more likely an expression of the creativity of a local smith. Very interesting! Thank you!