Any Knife Collectors out there??

[DonT]

I was out Grouse hunting the other day and when I came back to the truck my buddy and I were standing around chatting when I looked down and say a rusty piece of metal sticking out of the grass. I picked it up and realized it was a knife, a very large knife (see pic). It is 17 inches from tip to tip and blade itself is 11 inches long and 2 inches at it's widest spot. I decided to toss it in truck and bring it home, my buddy asked if there was anything I "wouldn't" bring home... LOL...

Well today I had a few minutes to clean off the rust and look it over. From the marks it appears to be hand forged (if you blow up the pic you can see just above where the blade widens there are marks consistent with forging. the handle material appears to be black buffalo horn that is riveted in place. I was surprised that after laying in the field for god only knows how long it was still very very sharp. Note that is isn't worn that shape from use but appears to have been actually forged to that shape.

I am sure it is not a collector piece but it is very interesting and I would like to know what part of the world it may have originated in. My first thought is Asia somewhere but I would like to narrow it down a little if possible.

So any thought would be appreciated...

Thanks,
Don

[dismal]

Not an expert, but it looks like a Hmong knife.

[DonT]

That is a good possibility as I was told there are a lot of Hmong Hunters that frequent this area. I am curious why this big and the purpose of this particular shape...

Don

[Ivan45]

Oddly enough, I found one similar to that last year when I was out grouse hunting. My buddy and I came to the same conclusion as to it's culture of origin.

[hard h2o]

Post it here in the "Bernard Levine's Knife Collecting & Identification" sub-forum. Someone might have an idea.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forum.php

[2in2out]

A very utilitarian knife that has seen better days. I like it, though - a great conversation starter.

[dismal]

Here's some old discussions about Hmong knives (among other things...)

http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=28447&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=hmong&start=15

[DonT]

Thanks for the help folks... Much Appreciated.... Don

[qualcorp]

Philippines...?

[Vashjir]

Just saw this and wanted to share where to find these great knifes. I've owned a couple that were gifts, but recently found a booth at the hmong village that sells fantastic, if a bit crude, handmade knives like this. Hes located in the produce area of the Hmong Village at Phalen Blvd and Johnson Pkwy. The little old guy and his wife who run it are very nice, but limited in their english, so be prepared to point at things.