Thai Blade Tools (pict.)

Santi · Apr 11, 2001

Just to show you guys four of our popular native/local blade. I wish you'll find it interesting.

(Big thanks to DeathDancer aka Rene, for the scans.)

1:- The first one with the curved spine is called E-To. Literally means "big" or ""big-head."
Every household upcountry seem to have one. Really good for firewood choping.

2:- The second with curved blade is called Phra. Good for cutting crop 'n' work in the orchard.

3:- And the last one here, from what I know, do not really have a proper name. . .people just call it the Grass Chopper or Grass Cutter "Cause that waht it most used for.
(Though some people might also call it E-To, for the misunderstanding that one could refer to any big chopper as E-To. )

All blade above is at about its typical size. . .the first E-To is about 17" long and the last Grass Chopper is 22" approx.

4:- This one is my favorite. It's called E-Nep
OAL 19" approx = blade 12" + bolater 1" + handle 6"

Almost every local hunter carries one of this, generally in a small of back in the home-made rattan/wood/leather sheat.

All of the above blade is made of leaf spring of an old pickup truck. Probably by stock removal, as you still could be able to see the horizontal remnants near the spine of E-Nep. And then processing a home-made heat-treat. (Red hot blade dips in cold water/oil.)

. . . Do you like what you see? . . .

not2sharp · Apr 11, 2001

Thanks for sharing. It is always interesting to see something "new". You wouldn't know where I could get a nice E-nep (really cool knife)?

N2S

Santi · Apr 11, 2001

not2sharp:- Hehe! I surely know how to get one.

Look here for more detail, as I'll be sending one for Dawkind aka Dudley.

[This message has been edited by Santi (edited 04-11-2001).]

Boriqua · Apr 11, 2001

Thanks for sharing the pix Santi. I love to look at Bladeware from other parts of the world. Especially parts of the world where they are really using them as part of everyday life. Seems if a design can survive generations ... it must work.
Thanks again
Alex

tknife · Apr 11, 2001

Very cool! I love seeing "indigenous" type blades. They seem to flow, and look to be good quality and useful. Dare I say, another BIG blade I need?!

Dannyc · Apr 12, 2001

Santi! big, bad blades there.. lol..

The handle reminds me of the CS Bushman.

Wonder if they also use a wooden pole and transform those into some kind of scythe.

Bugs3x · Apr 12, 2001

Thanks for the pictures, Santi. Interesting looking knives. I too noticed the similarity of the handles of the 3 to the CS Bushmaster.

I also like very much the E-nap. Unfortunately, not in the best of financial situations right now. Would it be possible in the future to ask you to get one for a person?

I'm curious or puzzled by your saying you believe the knives are made via stock removal. More than a year ago, in Blade magazine, there was a very interesting story about a US bladesmith who went to Tailand, and visited at least 2 knife-making shops. From that article, I assumed that all the "local" Thai knives were made by forging. The E-nap reminds me of the Nepalese Khukuri, and I know those are forged.

Do you know anything about the tang of the E-nap?

Sorry for so many questions. Again, thank you for sharing the interesting pictures with us.

------------------
Asi es la vida

Bugs

Santi · Apr 12, 2001

Glad you like it.

Hi Dan:- LOL

, When I first saw the Bushman, it's remind me of these blade handle.

Yes, some Phra comes with the longer handle, as long as 2 feet. But haven't seen one with the wooden pole added though.

Santi · Apr 12, 2001

Bugs3x:-

Originally posted by Bugs3x:
Would it be possible in the future to ask you to get one for a person?

No problem, just let me know.

Originally posted by Bugs3x:
From that article, I assumed that all the "local" Thai knives were made by forging.

I'm not 100% sure about this. You may be right.

Originally posted by Bugs3x:
Do you know anything about the tang of the E-nap?

That's exactly what I was wondering.

Really, I don't have a clue.

Tyr · Apr 12, 2001

They look like these knifes which are shown in Apocalypse now.
I mean these things when they slaughter the cow at the end of the film when he kill the colonel.