Copper Bladed Mak

[PUFF]

I know only this one,

[Nick Wardigo]

Re: Vietnamese parade swords

I have come across a few kiem that had copper blades. They were all very late and very clearly not meant for combat. Whereas steel-bladed kiem can be considered ceremonial swords, the copper-bladed ones might more correctly be considered ceremonial sword-like objects.

They are completely unlike your mak, which has some genuine heft and genuine age. I have seen nothing like it.

[Ian]

Puff:

Mak is a term used by some of the Montagnard tribes to describe the axe they use in agriculture and presumably for a weapon.

The markings on the blade of this one are consistent with those of some of the groups in northern Thailand/Laos/Vietnam.

There was a discussion of mak on the previous EEWRS Forum and a nice picture posted of Montagnard weapons that appeared in a National Geographic. Here is the thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002010.html And here is the picture from National Geographic.

Ian.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Nick Wardigo

Re: Vietnamese parade swords

I have come across a few kiem that had copper blades. They were all very late and very clearly not meant for combat. Whereas steel-bladed kiem can be considered ceremonial swords, the copper-bladed ones might more correctly be considered ceremonial sword-like objects.

They are completely unlike your mak, which has some genuine heft and genuine age. I have seen nothing like it.

Thanks, Nick. Good to see you.