Montagnard Dagger, C 1964, souvenired by Major Ian McKeown, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV). The Central Highlands emerged as a strategically important area during the Vietnam War, because it included the Ho Chi Minh trail, the North Vietnamese supply line for Viet Cong forces in the south. communists passing through the highlands had, however, to contend with the Montagnards who they called Thurong (highlanders). The Montagnards were a formidable opponent in their home terrain and were not adverse to using their traditional weapons when dispatching their enemies, particularly when maintaining silence was critical. On loan courtesy the collection of Ian McKeownWooden handle. Metal reinforcement both ends of handle. Metal curved blade with concaved tip.maj mckeown, aattv, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), montagnard dagger, montagnards

Montagnard Wooden handle blade with a wooden scabbard decorated with wound string. There is a red tassel attached to the scabbard.montagnard dagger, aattv, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), montagnard, knife, dagger, sheath, scabbard

Laminated photo grey scale, depicting Vietnamese village, including stilted house, with a Montagnard Vietnamese man sitting on a wooden ladder holding a Montagnard dagger c1964.photograph, vietnamese village scene