Burmese, East Asian Mak Chopper?

Battara · 9th October 2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Hey Battara!! I was hoping you'd come in on this!

The symbolism of the eye is indeed key on these sacrificial weapons and thanks for adding the detail on Durga. What I'm wondering is if every ram dao was sacrificial, and how widely was the ram dao (realizing of course degree of variants) diffused?

To my knowledge every ram do was sacrificial and has eye on both sides. Not every sacrificial Indian subcontinental knife is associated with the ram do however.

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 09:21 AM

This picture next to a large kitchen knife might help get a better feel. The kitchen knife is pretty much the same weight perhaps a few grams more, 250g but my kitchen scales are not the most sensitive. The knife could chop some chicken bones like wings or legs once the flesh is parted. It might cut off a finger of if placed on a board but one would need force, unlike the kitchen knife it is not as wieght forward. It is not as well tempered as the kitchen knife. So it is a slashing cut knife. I am getting dizzy with this one. I will try and put what we have so far in some kind of order.

Indian/Bengal,Nepal? origin.
prestige wood handle with some mythology, and in it's usage. {something about Kali the mother, great fire and coromandel wood being the result and link to Kali}
similarity to certain sacrificial weapons.
cuts rather than chops.

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 05:29 PM

The butchers knife has got soaring to new dizzying heights. This knife has been used to do some chopping.

I might speculate that the crenelations represent the jingles to ward off demons during the ritual.

The blade is of a form related the sacrificial knives.

The black wood to associate with kali in the act of destroying the ego.

Sky Burial?

Incidentally the Ram Dao in the link, the figure at the handle end is Shiva with the staff thing in CourseEights post "what did I just buy?" so that Ram dao appears to have Shiva and Kali present not only as the black wood and ivory.

fearn · 9th October 2007, 07:50 PM

Hi Tim,

A sacrificial knife for chickens and oranges, maybe?

Maybe it's time to hunt up a Hindu priest for this one. Or maybe a psychic...

F

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 08:07 PM

I might be that psychic

fernando · 9th October 2007, 08:11 PM

As anybody considered it being a circumcision knife?
If this is a silly idea, just forget it

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 08:13 PM

Stop boasting. lets keep the top on.

fernando · 9th October 2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Stop boasting. lets keep the top on.

I don't get it ... i am quite serious

I have been all the afternoon consulting sites on this theme ... i even saw a couple knives for such exercize. Only none looked like this one.
I have seen some such tools when i was in Africa, reason why the idea came to my mind.
But if it is not wellcome, i will draw it back.
Sorry
Fernando

Mark · 9th October 2007, 08:43 PM

Two thoughts. A sacrificial knife for slitting the throat of the (hopefully) animal sacrifice does not need to be practical in form, so the odd curve doesn't rule that out I think. On another tact, this kind of broad sweep is seen on skinning knives, so perhaps it is one of these, ritual or otherwise.

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 09:05 PM

Well it strikes it was made to serve a purpose. It was clearly cared for in a previous collection, does not necessarily make it special. It is so much like other things I have which are serious stuff. It does not have the feel of a domestic item like a betel nut cutter. Unless somebody comes forward with the full low down I could say anthing I might even say African. Which it jolly well could be.

9th October 2007, 09:21 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Forget axe or chopper it's not helping. This picture next to a large kitchen knife might help get a better feel. The kitchen knife is pretty much the same weight perhaps a few grams more, 250g but my kitchen scales are not the most sensitive. The knife could chop some chicken bones like wings or legs once the flesh is parted. It might cut off a finger of if placed on a board but one would need force, unlike the kitchen knife it is not as wieght forward. It is not as well tempered as the kitchen knife. So it is a slashing cut knife. I am getting dizzy with this one. I will try and put what we have so far in some kind of order. Indian/Bengal,Nepal? origin. prestige wood handle with some mythology, and in it's usage. {something about Kali the mother, great fire and coromandel wood being the result and link to Kali} similarity to certain sacrificial weapons. cuts rather than chops. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 9th October 2007 at 09:39 AM.

9th October 2007, 05:29 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Ritual Dissection The butchers knife has got soaring to new dizzying heights. This knife has been used to do some chopping. I might speculate that the crenelations represent the jingles to ward off demons during the ritual. The blade is of a form related the sacrificial knives. The black wood to associate with kali in the act of destroying the ego. Sky Burial? Incidentally the Ram Dao in the link, the figure at the handle end is Shiva with the staff thing in CourseEights post "what did I just buy?" so that Ram dao appears to have Shiva and Kali present not only as the black wood and ivory. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 9th October 2007 at 05:42 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

9th October 2007, 07:50 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Tim, A sacrificial knife for chickens and oranges, maybe? Maybe it's time to hunt up a Hindu priest for this one. Or maybe a psychic... F

9th October 2007, 08:07 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I might be that psychic

9th October 2007, 08:11 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	As anybody considered it being a circumcision knife? If this is a silly idea, just forget it

9th October 2007, 08:13 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Stop boasting. lets keep the top on.

9th October 2007, 08:43 PM	#9
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Two thoughts. A sacrificial knife for slitting the throat of the (hopefully) animal sacrifice does not need to be practical in form, so the odd curve doesn't rule that out I think. On another tact, this kind of broad sweep is seen on skinning knives, so perhaps it is one of these, ritual or otherwise.

9th October 2007, 09:05 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Well it strikes it was made to serve a purpose. It was clearly cared for in a previous collection, does not necessarily make it special. It is so much like other things I have which are serious stuff. It does not have the feel of a domestic item like a betel nut cutter. Unless somebody comes forward with the full low down I could say anthing I might even say African. Which it jolly well could be.