Trip to Thailand & Vietnam - a few souvenirs

[USMCPOP]

I spent September and October over there. Mostly in Thailand but did bop around Vietnam for about 10 days. Didn't go hog wild on knife/tool purchases but did add a few to the collection. Prices ranged from about $2.00 to maybe $9.50 at worst. The 2 rusty ones were free, courtesy of my Sis-in-law, the junk dealer, LOL.

 

[USMCPOP]

I really like the two rusty ones. Just need a little loving care, but well made I think. Sometimes the older cast-off "junk" is a lot better. 40+ years ago, I would go to scrap yards and buy old knife blades for maybe 50 cents and take them back to a blacksmith to refurbish them for a dollar or two.

 

[Triton]

That's really interesting, proof that form follows function I guess. If you put a haft on several of those they would fit right into medieval wood cuts or paintings.

 

[Triton]

Why the heck didn't you pick up a dha or dharb while you were there?

 

[The Grendels]

This picture reminds me of a book on historic weapons of the Indian subcontinent, where all the knives in one region looked like spatulas.

 

[KenHash]

I like the Cold Steel Bushman. lol

 

[rpn]

Did you see/price any dha’s while you were there?

 

[Triton]

This picture reminds me of a book on historic weapons of the Indian subcontinent, where all the knives in one region looked like spatulas.

India never ceases to amaze. They probably WERE combat spatulas!

 

[Deino]

That's really interesting, proof that form follows function I guess. If you put a haft on several of those they would fit right into medieval wood cuts or paintings.

This picture reminds me of a book on historic weapons of the Indian subcontinent, where all the knives in one region looked like spatulas.

The spatulas are short machete and chopper. These steels don't hold an edge for long, so they are made with wider head to add more mass, more power to the swing, brute force through whatever we cut. Pointy tip is easy to break, they are used on other thing. I don't know about Thailand, there are better quality from Vietnam than those, which is already considered junk in there. Batoning with those at your own risk.

 

[shane45-1911]

Interesting.

I wouldn't put much faith in the quality/consistency of the heat treatment - but clean them up, add some nice wooden "broom handles" to them, and they definitely would look good on your mancave wall.

 

[1911bphil]

Those are very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TC]

I see you picked up some hoes down there...

 

[USMCPOP]

Why the heck didn't you pick up a dha or dharb while you were there?

Did you see/price any dha’s while you were there?

I have a Thai sword that I got maybe 30 years ago or more. Don't recall what it cost. It has a 20" blade and a 12" handle. It's not etched and plated like some of the newer tourist models. Blade has some patina and is nicely made.

 

[USMCPOP]

Interesting.

The spatulas are short machete and chopper. These steels don't hold an edge for long, so they are made with wider head to add more mass, more power to the swing, brute force through whatever we cut. Pointy tip is easy to break, they are used on other thing. I don't know about Thailand, there are better quality from Vietnam than those, which is already considered junk in there. Batoning with those at your own risk.

I wouldn't put much faith in the quality/consistency of the heat treatment - but clean them up, add some nice wooden "broom handles" to them, and they definitely would look good on your mancave wall.

It's a crap shoot these days unless you know the maker. I have some from over 40 years ago made by hill tribe smiths, and they seem to do a good job. I helped an old farmer/blacksmith who had been making knives for years and years. He made 3 knives for me as gifts, and I trust his workmanship. I used to watch him at work. He used a charcoal forge, but was very particular when it came to quenching and tempering.

Here's one of the nicer hill tribe knives (Yao/Mien) and a curved chopper made by the old guy.

 

[USMCPOP]

The spatulas are short machete and chopper. These steels don't hold an edge for long, so they are made with wider head to add more mass, more power to the swing, brute force through whatever we cut. Pointy tip is easy to break, they are used on other thing. I don't know about Thailand, there are better quality from Vietnam than those, which is already considered junk in there. Batoning with those at your own risk.

Funny you should mention batoning. The rusty Thai billhook was "liberated" from my sis-in-law's recycling shop where it was apparently used to baton various scrap into manageable pieces. The middle of the spine is mushroomed from hitting it with a big hammer. Edge needs some work, but there are no big chunks out of it. All of these knives are edge hardened, so the majority of the blade is soft.

That big Bowie style knife in the center has quite a thin edge for such a big knife. The white handled one is much beefier. Most everything is convexed edge but the hoes and diggers.