SE Asia Knife #3

lordkoos · 7th July 2012, 06:02 PM

This one is just under 8" / 20 cm. Carved bone handle with elephant motif & brass or bronze bolster. No writing or decoration on the blade, which is an unusual shape, does anyone know if this type of knife had a specific purpose as a tool? The blade is fairly sharp. Like some of the others, the tip of the handle looks to have been put in a fire and blackened, perhaps some type of ceremony -- the large knife I posted first also showed evidence of this.

Nathaniel · 12th July 2012, 03:55 AM

Lordkoos, the blackened areas are just pitting/ corrosion from rust over time. Active rust is red (bad) and inactive rust is black (unsightly, but no longer harmful). I would not clean or polish it in anyway...just put some oil on the blade to protect it.

lordkoos · 17th July 2012, 05:14 AM

Hi, I was talking about the top of the handle, rather than the blade. The top of the elephant's head looks to have been stuck in the fire for a moment. The big knife with the large carved ivory handle shows evidence of the same treatment. These knives were ceremonial so I was theorizing that they might have been put into the fire as part of some ritual.

Sajen · 17th July 2012, 04:40 PM

I think the material is blowy at the top and become dark by handling. The material is maybe bone or deer horn.

Regards,

Detlef

Nathaniel · 7th September 2012, 01:54 AM

I think it could be a decorative utility knife used for things like making offerings from banana leaf, beetle nut, flowers, etc...or even for beetle nut chewing.

T. Koch · 7th September 2012, 07:18 AM

I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone.

*Lordkoos* I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing!

All the best, - Thor

T. Koch · 7th September 2012, 07:42 AM

I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone.

*Lordkoos* I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing!

All the best, - Thor

7th July 2012, 06:02 PM	#1
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	SE Asia Knife #3 This one is just under 8" / 20 cm. Carved bone handle with elephant motif & brass or bronze bolster. No writing or decoration on the blade, which is an unusual shape, does anyone know if this type of knife had a specific purpose as a tool? The blade is fairly sharp. Like some of the others, the tip of the handle looks to have been put in a fire and blackened, perhaps some type of ceremony -- the large knife I posted first also showed evidence of this. Attached Images

12th July 2012, 03:55 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Lordkoos, the blackened areas are just pitting/ corrosion from rust over time. Active rust is red (bad) and inactive rust is black (unsightly, but no longer harmful). I would not clean or polish it in anyway...just put some oil on the blade to protect it.

17th July 2012, 05:14 AM	#3
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	Hi, I was talking about the top of the handle, rather than the blade. The top of the elephant's head looks to have been stuck in the fire for a moment. The big knife with the large carved ivory handle shows evidence of the same treatment. These knives were ceremonial so I was theorizing that they might have been put into the fire as part of some ritual.

17th July 2012, 04:40 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,597	I think the material is blowy at the top and become dark by handling. The material is maybe bone or deer horn. Regards, Detlef

7th September 2012, 01:54 AM	#5
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	I think it could be a decorative utility knife used for things like making offerings from banana leaf, beetle nut, flowers, etc...or even for beetle nut chewing.

7th September 2012, 07:18 AM	#6
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone. Lordkoos I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing! All the best, - Thor

7th September 2012, 07:42 AM	#7
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	I agree with Detlef, that the handle material is either antler or bone. Lordkoos I also agree with you that the top part indeed looks to be burned. These are some neat little knives - congrats and thanks for sharing! All the best, - Thor