Another straight machete of uncertain origin

ausjulius · 24th February 2025, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

This is a recent acquisition and I'm not sure where it is from. I'm going to say Indonesia because it reminds me somewhat of the Tengger machete that was discussed here previously. The open-weave basketwork scabbard is quite different and the sword is not as well made as the Tenggerese one. The straight, single-edged blade is quite sturdy and is about 5 mm thick adjacent to the hilt. The hilt has a long tang, and two wooden scales flanking the tang.
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Hi this is from one of the tribes of the eastern Himalayas not Garo or Naga but one of the smaller groups. There is several YouTube videos sworing the making of similar (not the same) cane scabbarded weapons from members of a number of small ethnic groups arunchal Pradesh . I think this style might be Tani (apatani) but I could be wrong.

Sajen · 24th February 2025, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausjulius

Hi this is from one of the tribes of the eastern Himalayas not Garo or Naga but one of the smaller groups. There is several YouTube videos sworing the making of similar (not the same) cane scabbarded weapons from members of a number of small ethnic groups arunchal Pradesh . I think this style might be Tani (apatani) but I could be wrong.

That it could be from one of the several ethnic groups of Arunachal Pradesh was my guess as well but I wasn't sure about it.

Ian · 24th February 2025, 05:21 PM

I should add that the blade seems village-quality blacksmith work, and the sheath is also locally made. It looks like a tool (machete). NE India/Himal areas sounds like a likely place, and one of the less common tribal groups may account for the lack of similar examples shown on this Forum (as best I can recall).

JeffS · 6th March 2025, 11:24 AM

I recently saw a small form of this open weave oblong basket and similar rectangular (but shorter handle and different binding style) in Nagaland. Sumi Naga.

JeffS · 6th March 2025, 12:02 PM

Here are some rectangular knives from that trip. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of that particular basket style. Top photo are kitchen knife sized while the second photo is short sword sized. I've also added two knives, carried by Rawang, I brought back from northern Myanmar, maybe 7 years ago, that were carried with open top basket as shown. None of which are a match to yours but do point to common use of forged rectangular utility blades from NE India and northern Myanmar Himalayan foothills region.

6th March 2025, 12:02 PM	#5
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 423	Here are some rectangular knives from that trip. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of that particular basket style. Top photo are kitchen knife sized while the second photo is short sword sized. I've also added two knives, carried by Rawang, I brought back from northern Myanmar, maybe 7 years ago, that were carried with open top basket as shown. None of which are a match to yours but do point to common use of forged rectangular utility blades from NE India and northern Myanmar Himalayan foothills region. Attached Images

24th February 2025, 05:21 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	I should add that the blade seems village-quality blacksmith work, and the sheath is also locally made. It looks like a tool (machete). NE India/Himal areas sounds like a likely place, and one of the less common tribal groups may account for the lack of similar examples shown on this Forum (as best I can recall).

6th March 2025, 11:24 AM	#4
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 423	I recently saw a small form of this open weave oblong basket and similar rectangular (but shorter handle and different binding style) in Nagaland. Sumi Naga.