MYSTERY KNIFE

Rick · 27th August 2006, 10:02 PM

This is a Taiwanese aboriginal knife .
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...wan+aboriginal

You can find more info using the forum search function located on the banner at the top of this page .

dogwood · 31st August 2006, 07:17 AM

How old would you all say the knife is?

not2sharp · 31st August 2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogwood

How old would you all say the knife is?

That is hard to say; but, it may have been collected by someone enroute to/from the Vietnam war.

I love the idea of finding stuff hidden under the floorboards. My old man was once on a works detail (mandatory public works assignment during the early months of Castro's government) tasked to remodel the recently nationalized parts of old Havana. They are tearing down an interior wall on a 16th century building when they discover a large cache of gold coins. There was no chance to identify the treasure; the security detail immediately cleared the work crews and by the time they return the loot is gone. So even the communist can be lucky at times; although, the world may have forever lost an interesting time capsule, or, the final resting place of Blackbeard's loot.

n2s

Ian · 31st August 2006, 01:54 PM

This is a type of Taiwanese knife made for sale to tourists. It is not strictly traditional in its style, especially the hilt. These became popular after WWII, notably from the late 1960s on. They come up on eBay quite frequently -- often misidentified as African because of the carvings.

This one probably dates from the late 1960s (circa Vietnam War era) but it could be a little earlier. I'm not aware of any of these appearing before 1950. Yuanzhumin might be able to provide more information about age, etc.

The blades are usually unsharpened and non-functional. I doubt the blades have been tempered although I've not tried to put an edge on one to find out what it can do.

BTW, the style of carving on your knife's scabbard and hilt is typical of Paiwan work. The slightly curved blade and open-faced scabbard with metal bands is consistent with Atayal work. So it is a hybrid of tribal designs. This is common with the knives prepared for sale to tourists. See this thread for discussion of tribal differences in Taiwanese knives: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000858.html

Ian.

yuanzhumin · 4th September 2006, 02:01 AM

Hello Ian, Rick, Dogwood and Not2sharp,
I received a private email telling me about this knife and prepared myself to post on the forum, but Ian perfectly sumed up what I had to say in a much shorter and clearer way, so I have nothing to add, except that he put me out of work.

Best to all of you,
yuanzhumin

31st August 2006, 07:17 AM	#2
dogwood Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2	MYSTERY KNIFE How old would you all say the knife is?

27th August 2006, 10:02 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	This is a Taiwanese aboriginal knife . http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...wan+aboriginal You can find more info using the forum search function located on the banner at the top of this page .

31st August 2006, 01:54 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	This is a type of Taiwanese knife made for sale to tourists. It is not strictly traditional in its style, especially the hilt. These became popular after WWII, notably from the late 1960s on. They come up on eBay quite frequently -- often misidentified as African because of the carvings. This one probably dates from the late 1960s (circa Vietnam War era) but it could be a little earlier. I'm not aware of any of these appearing before 1950. Yuanzhumin might be able to provide more information about age, etc. The blades are usually unsharpened and non-functional. I doubt the blades have been tempered although I've not tried to put an edge on one to find out what it can do. BTW, the style of carving on your knife's scabbard and hilt is typical of Paiwan work. The slightly curved blade and open-faced scabbard with metal bands is consistent with Atayal work. So it is a hybrid of tribal designs. This is common with the knives prepared for sale to tourists. See this thread for discussion of tribal differences in Taiwanese knives: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000858.html Ian.

4th September 2006, 02:01 AM	#5
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Hello Ian, Rick, Dogwood and Not2sharp, I received a private email telling me about this knife and prepared myself to post on the forum, but Ian perfectly sumed up what I had to say in a much shorter and clearer way, so I have nothing to add, except that he put me out of work. Best to all of you, yuanzhumin