Proud new owner of a Ram Dao! (Pic)

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I've finally found one of those Ram Daos I've been craving for years! It's not here yet, but from the pic it seems to have the proper features, especially the Eye that has its counterpart in the Nepalese Kora.
 
Very interesting, Ruel. During what time period and where and how were these primarily used?
 
According to Rawson's "Indian Sword," it evolved in the early part of the second millenium from the same source as the khukuri: forward-curving Kopis blades brought to India by Alexander's armies. It's apparently at the stylized end of a long evolutionary process, and used for ritual decapitation in Tantric rituals, which are popular in the region of NW India (including Nepal).

I wish there were more info about it, but if there is I'm just not aware. I think John Powell could help, as he has two of his own. All I know is that the Ram Dao is closely associated with the goddess Kali, who is usually seen carrying it in one of her many hands.

Also, I can't help but note the resemblance between the Ram Dao and this other sword of mine from the Madras area which I posted before; Rawson places it in the same large 'Kopis' tree, though in a divergent branch. However, the blade on this is clearly not up to the heavy chopping of the Ram Dao, and must have had a different purpose.

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Here's an even MORE recent one, from January 1999, though fortunately the police prevented the attack so nobody was hacked:
http://www.nation-online.com/199901/25/n9012506.htm#BODY2

Strange that in both incidents, Ram Daos and "Chinese Axes" were found together. I wonder what these "Chinese Axes" are -- are they a name of a specific type of weapon/tool, or are they just made in China?
 
This is bizarre, but as I search the web for Ram Dao info, these Bengali news articles keep turning up in which Ram Dao take a part. Apparently it is alive and well is a weapon: A frightening thought!
http://www.dailystarnews.com/199711/15/n7111502.htm#BODY1
http://www.dailystarnews.com/199711/13/n7111301.htm#BODY2

A really strange one -- the Ram Dao is confiscated together with modern firearms: http://dailystarnews.com/199808/15/n8081507.htm#BODY2

This one is fictional but terrifying nonetheless, and the matter-of-fact way a Ram Dao just happens to be around the house, ready to strike a young mother and child, reveals how 'normal' they are in the modern Bengali domestic scene. http://www.dailystarnews.com/199904/03/n9040309.htm#BODY3
 
Wow - I'd never heard of a ram dao before today. A couple of questions: are they normally sharp on the inside or the outside of the curve? and how long is the handle?

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Namaste
 
Wow, that is an impressive piece!!!
Hate to be on the wrong end of that.

As long as we are featuring "choppers", here's a pic of a "Panabas" I was recently given as a gift by Larry Brahms of BladeArt.

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This is the somewhat humorous "job description" for this piece excerpted from the Kris Cutlery catalog:

"Primarily used for chopping bushes/weeds and public execution. Single blade 17 1/2"long flaring out to 4 1/2"wide. The tang is fastened 5 3/4" into the handle and is pinned in two areas. Two brass rings help secure the tang to the 15 1/4" hardwood handle that flares out towards the butt. Used by the Moros of Lanao and Cotabato."

I just use it to dress up one of the less traveled corners of the apartment, and to frighten away lizards and palmetto bugs.
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Blues




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Live Free or Die

Blues' Knife Pix
 
1. Uncle Bill, I can send you the piece itself if you want -- I'm not too handy with making stuff. It's still shipping and probably won't arrive for a couple weeks, but when it gets here I'll take better pix and you can decide if you want to copy it.

2. Jeff, I believe they're only sharpened on the convex side; however, some pictures of Kali show her wielding it with the concave edge forward, which would imply that at least some Ram Dao had the inside curve sharpened.

That other sickle-sword from Malabar I posted is like that -- sharp on both sides of the curve but only on the convex length..

3. Blues, that's an impressive looking Panabas. Why don't people give me gifts like that? (Why don't people give me gifts at_all?)

It's funny in a tragic kind of way, but the Panabas, like the Ram Dao in Bengal, is still used to this day to hack people in the Philippines.
 
Ruel --- Is it one eyed Ram Dao?
... Panabas ... for chopping bushes/weeds and public execution ... Used by the Moros of Lanao and Cotabato ... I just use it to dress up one of the less traveled corners of the apartment, and to frighten away lizards and palmetto bugs.
Click to expand...
Blues.

Moros are actually Malays. The name Panabas is derived from Malay word tebas which means grass/bushes/weeds cutting; Lanao is derived from Malay word lanun which means pirate; and Cotabato is derived from two Malay words kota which means castle and batu which means rock. Back to your Panabas ... I like it very much ... if ever those lizards and palmetto bugs around your house were not scared by your Panabas any longer ... you just send that Panabas to me!
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NEPAL HO!


 
Mohd, I'll let you know how many eyes there are when it comes in. I would guess there are two, since koras have two (don't they?).

Uncle Bill, however you want to do it is fine with me. I was actually hoping you'd revive the Ram Dao style you had before, but whatever comes, comes!...
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Mohd, Ruel,

Thanks for the info.

I didn't know much about the Panabas. Just what the Kris catalog said.

When Larry gave it to me all I could think of was what my wife's reaction would be when she saw it.

Luckily, she more than indulges my peculiar collecting habits.

Must be the Sicilian blood!
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I even broke down and gave my dad my only Arabian jambiya today. Gotta spread the wealth around.

Blues

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Live Free or Die

Blues' Knife Pix
 
"Primarily used for chopping bushes/weeds and public execution"

Its amazing how the lines of weapon and tool overlap. The Ram Dao is looks quite similar to a bush hook I recently saw at the hardware store. It was definitely not as nice looking.

Will
 
That Panabas is staring at me to buy it.
Anyhow, the rarest type has a (gasp) kukri/scimitar type blade.

 
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