Vietnamese talismanic knife?

[blue lander]

The seller didn't mention what the blade was, but he did mention it was over 5mm thick.

It reminds me a lot of those Thai amulet knives, but the writing looks more like Burmese and I've never seen an amulet knife in this shape. They seem to usually look more like miniature E-neps or Kerises.

I've attached two more pictures that show the figure on the hilt better. Seller says it's bone but I bet it's tooth.

[Tim Simmons]

I think Burmese without a doubt. Google Chinthe. Just that handle looks funny? It might even be hamster bone {aka vandoo}

[blue lander]

That looks like a dead ringer for the figure on the handle. I guess it's Burmese after all. Dare I ask what hamster bone is?

Edit: I just reread the auction description and he says it's a betel nut knife. It doesn't look like any of the betel knives I've seen on google though.

[Sajen]

Interesting item! But not a betel knife. Would like to see some better pictures. The handle material look a little bit odd, would like to see some better pictures when you have received it.
Hamster bone : Barry has written recently in a other thread what people used to describe ivory in ebay and it seems that one seller has described it as hamster bone!

Regards,
Detlef

[VANDOO]

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS ITS A TOOL RELATED TO OPIUM. THERE IS QUITE A RANGE OF IMPLEMENTS INVOLVED IN ITS PRODUCTION AND USE. I THINK THERE IS SOME OPIUM INFORMATION AND PICTURES IN AN OLD FORUM POST. A NICE AND INTERESTING ITEM I HOPE ITS A TOOTH OR HAMSTER BONE HANDLE HERES A LINK

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=OPIUM

[Andrew]

Thai. My understanding is these are Buddhist ceremonial "knives."

[Battara]

Could the pommel be sperm whale tooth?