Paem Phra (Northern Thai Folded-Strip Machete Sheath, Paem Pha) — Flat 1 × 60 cm Bamboo or Rattan Strips Laid Side by Side and Folded in Half, a Flared Woven Mouth, Rattan-Bound Rim

"This paem phra is woven from flat bamboo skin or rattan, about 1 centimetre wide and 60 centimetres long, laid side by side and folded in half, as the place to slide in the knife." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan), CC BY 4.0)

Split bamboo skin or rattan into flat strips about 1 cm wide and 60 cm long.

Lay the strips side by side and fold them in half together, to take the knife.

Make the remaining strip ends into a flared mouth, woven with rattan or strips in the tan pattern as the rim, and braid fine rattan over it, inside and out.

Photos of a real paem phra (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan), CC BY 4.0).

Slide the machete in and carry it to clear fields and forest; it takes machetes of many kinds, not just one.

Knife sheaths are made of wood, hide, metal or woven bamboo; this kind of paem phra is common in the North, sometimes called paem pha, and is made simply. Take care with the blade when sheathing it. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "แปมพร้า", author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan) (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no strip count and no method for binding the sleeve, and there is no listing for rattan, so it is named in the text.