Na-mai, Thailands Crossbows
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Day trip from Chang Mai
Hmong village - 3 crossbows. 2 from a suvenier shop. while walking around the village we meet a man who owned 5 crossbows. 2 for his kids and 3 for hunting. I bougth the largest one he had. We also visited the museum which had a crossbow demonstration. He also made new crossbows shaped like rifles. They were different, than the slimer shaped older Hmong crossbows. The Thai turist preferred this shape; I was told. I tested his new crossbow. Then he wanted to tested the old one, the one I had just bought. After shooting he tells Moo that it is more powerfull than his new crossbows even though they where the same size. I also notised the difference in the arrow flight. The arrow hit the target a melon and penetrated it completely.
Om Koi Trip
Navi was my new driver. We rented a Suzuki 4WD so we could reach the villages that had poor dirt roads.
Karen village, Ban Ma Lai Tian Ang - 8 crossbows, 1 bow. This Karen village was ½ hour drive before Om Koi. Their we found a helpful member off the tribe. He spread the news and walked with us through the village. I bought 7-8 crossbows and one bow. The crossbows from this area had ‘ears’ and was some of the nicest I found on all my trips. The triggers are made from bone or ivery. The crossbows are made from a red/brown colored wood. The age off the crossbows varies. One crossbow was made when the maker was a child or young man. He was probably 80-90 years old. Another old man sold me a large crossbow with the string missing. Navi asked if he could make the string, and he said yes. When we came back 40 min later after looking at more crossbows, he had the string ready.
Karen village - 2 crossbows. The next day we drove all day on dirt roads, with little luck in finding crossbows. However we bought 2 from a small Karen village. One has a good layer of sot and dirt. This comes from the fact that the crossbows often are stored on the rafters close to the cocking area in the house.
Hang Dong near Chang Mai- 8 crossbows. We stoped at an antique store on the way back and bought more crossbows their. The origen is unsurten but Om Koi was mentioned. They are weathered from laying outside.
Nan - Chang Rai Trip
Tai Lu village north of Nan- 4 crossbows. They had arrow cases made from blue plastic tubes. The crossbow style was pointy similar to a Hmong style. I was informed that the correct arrow length was; the length, from the trigger to the tip off the bow when the bow is strung.
Tai Jai village Ta Tong near Mae Chan- 2 crossbows; one from a person named U-Tai. They were similare to other crossbows in the region. U-Tai said the trigger mekanism was named; Jam and the tip called Hoa Krang; monkey(small) head. The Tai Jai are not hill tribe people but indigenus Thai people that live in the north next to the Burma border.
Aka village Mae Ai- 1 Crossbow (have strings supporting or decorating the bow) 800 bath. The Aka tribe had a suvenier shop next to the road selling arts and craft. I went in to the village looking for used crossbows. After asking a few people one person wanted to show us one but he did not want to sell it. I did not have any Aka crossbow so I was willing to go high to get one and after a long bargening prosess he finaly exepted 800 bath. The reason he did not want to sell, was that he still used it. Another possible reason for the high price is that the Aka tribes are custome to turist and know they can charge high prices.
Taj Jai village Fang- 1 crossbow bought from a 94 years old with tatooes all over his upper body. He was a relucten seller but his wife bargend on his behalf. He was clearly redused by his old age and had to sit croutched while we talk to him. The crossbow had not been used for many years and it was not likely he would ever go hunting again. My driver thought he was also redused in his head because he did not understand how much money that was offered for it. However his wife took charge and finaly accepted 600 bath (3 times what I normaly payed for a crossbow) The old man clearly head fond memories off the crossbow because he was holding it and studed it more than I did.
Lahu (Laho) village Ban Ma Kram- 1 crossbow (Kra). I took some pictures from this village. It was situated on a ridge, typical of the hill tribes. The crossbow was similar to the Hmong and Thai Lu style.
