Basic HTML Version
Intellectual Cultural Heritage
71
Aranyik
Knife
Aranyik
knives are made of steel rod that has
been beaten and tempered until it achieves an even
consistency and hardness. The blade is thin and sharp
but does not break and chip easily. The production
source is in Ban Ton Pho Village and Ban Phai Nong
Village in
Aranyik
Sub-district, Nakhon Luang District,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
The production process begins by the selection of
steel rod of a proper size, which is cut into the desired
length, heated and hammered into shape before it is
heated again and beaten again to forge a sharp edge.
After this it is heat again before it is fixed with a handle
in the last stage of the process.
Forging a blade is not a complicated work, but the
cutlers must be skilled craftsmen and must work in
collaboration with others. For example, the forgers must
hammer in the same rhythm and they must coordinate
their hammer strokes. They must know exactly where to
beat in order to forge a knife of a particular shape. They
must listen to the sound signal from the person who
holds the tongs or pincers, who is called the “
Na Tao
”
(“fire-front”) person and who must have excellent
knowledge and skill in knife-making.
The
Arayik
knives are appreciated nationwide
because of its high-quality and craftsmanship.