One more Indian Knife

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gogogubbins
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One more Indian Knife

Post by gogogubbins » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:29 am

I got this one on a trip to Arunachal Pradesh, somewhere near Tipi. A well used blade but I loved the clever sheath and the fact that it was an Indian knife. Who khows what it has helped bring down.
Seems like mild steel, 4 mm X 28 mm, bone/wood/copper handle
Probably a Miji tribe knife.
Think it was called 'dao' locally. Any of you guys know for sure?
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gogogubbins
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by gogogubbins » Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:59 am

28 cm
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dany
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by dany » Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:16 pm

All 7 north east states tribes has their own knifes. So we have lotz of different kind of knifes for various uses. That knife in pic is not "dao". Dao is a traditional knife of assam. Generally used for day to day activities. Not for hunting or attacking or self defense. The knife in pic is a nyishi traditional knife called "Ryukchak" And there is no tribe called miji exist in arunachal pradesh.

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brihacharan
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by brihacharan » Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:20 pm

Hi gogo,
> Nice looking blades :D
> It certainly isn't a Daw - As basically Daws do not sport a point - the tip normally looks like an awl without the curvature (blade aficianados can correct me)
> The Kukhri is a nice piece...
> Happy collection.... waiting to see more of them :D
Briha

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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by gogogubbins » Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:43 pm

Thanks Brihaji.
I am only calling it a dao as a placeholder. The guy who sold it to me called it a dao, but I know that it could not be one as other Miji dados were indeed not pointed, although they had a similar sheath. I was unable to get the local name then so remain ignorant.
Btw there is some excellent fishing in Tipi.
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by moulindu » Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:25 pm

Hi
In Arunachal Pradesh there are 3 major tribes Nyishi, Adi & Apatani. These blades are called "Dao" & their size vary according to the hierarchy of each tribe. I have seen Nyishi tribe Dao ranging upto 3 feet & my friend had hard time taking it out from sheath in one go & believe me they are heavy. In Nyokum festival (Nyishi tribe) they sacrifice Mithun (Yak n Cow,hybrid if i am not mistaken) with a single strike. This is probably an Apatani "Dao" used for multipurpose works. You would be glad to see some fancy sheath with Hornbill beaks & feathers to it, treated as status symbol. Arunachalis are very passionate about their "Dao"s, I have seen every friend of mine were in possession of one. Though the present generation doesnt carry with them any more, but if you happen to visit Itanagar, Nirjuli or Naharlagun you can see elderly people carrying it with pride.
regards Moulindu
Last edited by moulindu on Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

surajshuresh
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by surajshuresh » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:55 pm

Hi never seen one like that... You got some good collection mate...
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Moin.
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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by Moin. » Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:25 pm

Awesome find Gogo........ Any pics of the shops that sell this.... Thanks

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Re: One more Indian Knife

Post by gogogubbins » Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:35 am

I actually called a friend in Arunachal to seek more infor but no luck. He maintains that all arunachali knives are daos! Will keep pursuing more info.
@Moin I got this off a villager I met while fishing near Tipi, not from a shop. I do have some pics of the fishing trip but no shops, sorry.
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