Help ID'ing a spear-head/knife

kronckew · 7th July 2017, 11:52 AM

the atayal of taiwan had open socket knives/swords similar to this. a forum search on 'atayal' might be informative.

shayde78 · 8th July 2017, 03:35 AM

You people are amazing! I had never heard of the atayal before.
I looked thru the threads, and found one example with a clear socket hilt. Some of the face on the carved wooden hilts seem somewhat similar to the carving of my pommel.
Does anyone know if the four-faced head has a known significance? It seems yuanzhumin is the resident authority one this form. Is he still an active member?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 8th July 2017, 06:59 AM

Try http://www.functionalselfdefense.org...l-truku-knife/ I think this is a knife ... Truku. The one below is considered a sword...

Sajen · 8th July 2017, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Try http://www.functionalselfdefense.org...l-truku-knife/ I think this is a knife ... Truku. The one below is considered a sword...

Hello Ibrahiim,

the sword you show is a tourist item, sorry.

Best,
Detlef

45Auto · 8th July 2017, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Try http://www.functionalselfdefense.org...l-truku-knife/ I think this is a knife ... Truku. The one below is considered a sword...

Back in the early 1960's, when I as a kid, someone bought a sword like that for me from a souvenir shop on the board walk of Atlantic City NJ I had it hanging in my room for many years. The one in your image looks exactly like it! Is the scabbard open on the other side?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 9th July 2017, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45Auto

Back in the early 1960's, when I as a kid, someone bought a sword like that for me from a souvenir shop on the board walk of Atlantic City NJ I had it hanging in my room for many years. The one in your image looks exactly like it! Is the scabbard open on the other side?

Salaams 45 Auto ~I have no idea as I got this photo rumbling about on the web.. glad it brings back memories.

shayde78 · 13th July 2017, 02:08 AM

I'm wondering if anyone knows the significance of the four-faced pommel? It seems to follow an (unknown to me) convention of a happy, angry, sad, and peaceful face. Any thoughts?

yuanzhumin · 18th December 2017, 12:40 PM

Hello,

Well, its the first time I see such a four faced figures added on a Northern Taiwanese aboriginal knife. This is absolutely not traditional, even if the face appears not recently done.

This is an Atayal/Sediq/Truku knife, and non of them had carved human figures except the one made much later, starting mid-40s, and only to sell to outsiders in order to make money.

The design with a happy or sad and 2 other different faces is more a western concept.

kronckew · 18th December 2017, 02:00 PM

I suspect the butt plug was not original and was added sometime after, possibly by a favoured child pushing one of it's toys into daddy's knife & dad liked it.

or a crude early version of:

The four faces of the Buddah: https://www.novica.com/p/balinese-bu...uddhas/219486/

kronckew · 18th December 2017, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuanzhumin

Hello,

The design with a happy or sad and 2 other different faces is more a western concept.

See my edited post above re: the four faces of the Buddah.

8th July 2017, 06:59 AM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Try http://www.functionalselfdefense.org...l-truku-knife/ I think this is a knife ... Truku. The one below is considered a sword... Attached Images

13th July 2017, 02:08 AM	#7
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	I'm wondering if anyone knows the significance of the four-faced pommel? It seems to follow an (unknown to me) convention of a happy, angry, sad, and peaceful face. Any thoughts? Last edited by Ian; 19th December 2017 at 04:08 PM. Reason: Font size

7th July 2017, 11:52 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	the atayal of taiwan had open socket knives/swords similar to this. a forum search on 'atayal' might be informative.

8th July 2017, 03:35 AM	#2
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	You people are amazing! I had never heard of the atayal before. I looked thru the threads, and found one example with a clear socket hilt. Some of the face on the carved wooden hilts seem somewhat similar to the carving of my pommel. Does anyone know if the four-faced head has a known significance? It seems yuanzhumin is the resident authority one this form. Is he still an active member?

18th December 2017, 12:40 PM	#8
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Hello, Well, its the first time I see such a four faced figures added on a Northern Taiwanese aboriginal knife. This is absolutely not traditional, even if the face appears not recently done. This is an Atayal/Sediq/Truku knife, and non of them had carved human figures except the one made much later, starting mid-40s, and only to sell to outsiders in order to make money. The design with a happy or sad and 2 other different faces is more a western concept.

18th December 2017, 02:00 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	I suspect the butt plug was not original and was added sometime after, possibly by a favoured child pushing one of it's toys into daddy's knife & dad liked it. or a crude early version of: The four faces of the Buddah: https://www.novica.com/p/balinese-bu...uddhas/219486/