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Thai Laap Blade for ลาบหมู (Larb)

Regular price $165.00 USD

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SPECIFICATIONS:

  • STEEL: 1095 STEEL

  • NARROWING TANG

  • BLADE LENGTH:10.5" 

  • HANDLE LENGTH: 7"

  • WIDEST WIDTH: 6.2cm (TOP OF BLADE)

  • HANDLE MATERIAL: THAI MAHKA WOOD 

  • STAINLESS STEEL PIN & BOLSTER

  • BLADE THICKNESS: 6MM SPINE

  • HANDMADE LEATHER SHEATH OR RATTAN SHEATH AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

  • FREE SHIPPING INCLUDED! 

Larb, or laap, laab, is  the North Thailand region’s dish consisting of finely minced raw meat topped with dried herbs & spices.  The finely minced meat is chopped using a very special tool often referred to as a Laap blade. It is designed especially for chopping laap or larb. This blade features a long, wide, relatively front-heavy, flat-tipped high carbon steel blade that lets the long length and heft weight do all the hard work. Northern Thai laap blades are traditionally made from recycled heavy duty truck leaf springs. In this case, the thickness and forge finish patina on these blades all vary with the blacksmith’s personal touch, as well as the mood of the maker in the village who lathes the wooden handles. We’ve improved the design to include a stainless steel bolster and pin into the narrowing tang to allow sturdy construction for prolonged use by home chefs. The beautifully hand made handle is made from with Makha wood or Burma Padauk wood. This Laap blade also doubles as a cleaver and is great for batoning while bushcrafting.

MAHKA WOOD: 

What is Makha Wood?

DARK, BLACKISH Makha wood is a rare hardwood, highly prized for its outstanding finish. Also known as Burl Wood and sometimes Monkey Pod Wood, Makha wood is grown in the deciduous forests of S.E. Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma.

The wood is hard, heavy, and dense and develops a beautiful patina as it ages. The wood is finely figured and highly valued for it's attractive and luxurious looking reddish tones. Used in furniture industry and in the construction of fine musical instruments, Makha wood is also used in cabinetry, home building, and even artistic sculpture and wood carvings.

The tree that yields Makha wood is considered a large-sized tree with an average life of 200-300 years. It can reach 100' high and more than 6-1/2' dia. The seed pulp is used in making cigarettes and the bark is used in traditional herbal health drinks.

To get a large piece of Makha wood takes nearly a generation, making it extremely rare and difficult to get; therefore, Makha wood products are typically not made in large quantities. Each piece is made by hand and hand-rubbed to enhance the beauty of its unique burled grain.

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