Cambodian working knives

[DhaDha]

Great knives! Good to see them in this condition.
I have a Kokok (Mak) with the Cambodian attribution on the blade. Also some other features similar to the knives shown here.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by DhaDha

Great knives! Good to see them in this condition.
I have a Kokok (Mak) with the Cambodian attribution on the blade. Also some other features similar to the knives shown here.

Nice example, I have seen several of these all marked in the same way. Likely all coming from the same workshop.

[Ian]

Iain,

Thanks for posting these. Khmer influence certainly diffused to nearby areas, and I have seen Thai and Lao pieces that are reminiscent of some of the ones you show. What struck me as perhaps distinctive was the wooden lotus bud emerging from a brass rhizome on the hilt. This seems a more common representation of the lotus bud on Cambodian/Khmer edged weapons than seen on Thai or Lao swords. Thoughts?

The small "habaki" on your second example is reminiscent of some southern Vietnamese swords, perhaps traceable to past Japanese influence.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Ian

Iain,

Thanks for posting these. Khmer influence certainly diffused to nearby areas, and I have seen Thai and Lao pieces that are reminiscent of some of the ones you show. What struck me as perhaps distinctive was the wooden lotus bud emerging from a brass rhizome on the hilt. This seems a more common representation of the lotus bud on Cambodian/Khmer edged weapons than seen on Thai or Lao swords. Thoughts?

The small "habaki" on your second example is reminiscent of some southern Vietnamese swords, perhaps traceable to past Japanese influence.

Hi Ian, thanks for your comment. yes the lotus bud style is often associated with this area and also with Khmer items, although certainly not exclusive to them.

The habaki feature I think is harder to pin to direct influence given the large Chinese influence in these regions as well, habaki, tonku, tomato, tomahto...

I think we can safely say these sorts of working knives, with blades are are adept at splitting materials like palm leaves, rattan, bamboo etc. were common across a very wide area and that attribution is probably best made on little features like the bronze ferrules and lotus bud pommels etc.

[Iain]

Another a friend was kind enough to send me images of privately and gave permission to post here. His description, basically in agreement with my own thoughts on the use of these.

"Size 18-1.4 inches total, blade 12-1/4 inches, spine close to hilt thickness ½ inch.

Date second half of 19thc.

Likely Cambodian or khmer regions of Thailand bordering Cambodia.

The cutting edge is blunt for 2-3/4 inches into the blade, allowing for longer grip for use as knife for small jobs, splitting rattan, palm, bamboo etc, blunt edge also for use as a scraper for removing bark etc.
The lotus type is worn due to much use, was likely more pointed when it started its life, the pronounced tip on these would be used in removal of palm fruits etc from outer shells, thinning rattan or palm for cordage.
A general all purpose tool come weapon."

All of these seem to exhibit the same manner of sharpening leaving a significant portion of the blade by the base unsharpened and quite thick. They are all fairly heavy towards the grip meaning there is a great chopping capability with the last 1/3rd of the blade.