'Aranyik" is a traditional name from the Ayutthaya period, when wars were fought in hand-to-hand battles. Aranyik Village made its fame as a place where swordsmiths specialised in battle blades.
The village hopes to use its history to establish itself as a centre for knife and sword manufacturing and development.
To this day, Aranyik Village remains at the forefront as the country's leading producer of hand-made, high-quality knives and swords.
Now also noted for its five-star One Tambon One Product (Otop) items, Aranyik has diversified its product range to suit modern-day markets and requirements. Cutlery, dinnerware and other table accessories are made and exported.
Fighting for the distinction of a 200-year heritage, Aranyik's knife makers find themselves under growing pressure, and they have never yielded.
A group of knife makers from Aranyik recently paid a visit to Seki, Japan, to study how the Japanese have kept their reputation as swordsmiths for more than seven centuries.
Boonsom Srisuk, the owner of Sor Arunyig Co, a maker of knives, swords and tableware for 45 years, says a meeting will be called among the smiths to discuss the direction of product development and packaging, as well as modernisation of machinery.
"The strength of Seki swordsmiths lies in cooperation and no price-cutting policy, as each maker has its own unique products," said the 65-year-old knifesmith.
He started the business making knives and later swords, the first of which sold for 9,999 baht to a foreigner. The firm now makes several types of knives and samurai swords at prices ranging from 200 to 100,000 baht. It draws about 10 million baht in revenue a year.
Four or five families still make swords and knives, down from a peak of 1,000.
But the problem for Aranyik right now is that while makers compete on price, the number of knifesmiths has fallen from a peak of 1,000 households to just four or five families, with the new generation showing little interest in carrying on the heritage.
The market for knives and swords has been shrinking for a long time, as customers now want swords just for conservation. Sor Arunyig once produced imitation ancient swords and weapons based on original items in the National Museum.
Many families have shifted to making garden equipment or farm machinery.
Mr Boonsom, who is also chairman of the Aranyik community, wants to see a museum in the village featuring weapons, equipment and other items used by royalty as a way to share the country's history and attract more tourists to Aranyik village.
"A swordsmith show could be arranged at Wat Si Champa, an ancient temple on the soldier movement route in the Ayutthaya period," he suggested.
Suebpong Sornphrom, headman of Moo 6 in Aranyik's Ban Tonpho, said his village has 200 households, but only eight are knife makers with their own retail shops. An additional 20-30 households are small entrepreneurs, while the rest work on a daily earning basis.
Almost all households used to work as knifesmiths, but after they completed their mission in supporting their children's education, they ceased the strenuous job. One weak point of the village is smiths use local wisdom, not an education in metal science as in Japan.
"I want to see Aranyik village develop as a cultural village showing sword making so that the community will have tourism income for people who haven't lived as a smith," said Mr Suebpong.
Thai knifesmiths will have to develop the market _ even within Thailand, people do not recognise Aranyik as the capital of knife production.
Mr Suebpong said many knife makers in Aranyik produce kitchen knives that can be sold at less than 100 baht each, with low added value and sometimes a low margin of 5%.
Preecha Pun-klum of Silpakorn University's Design Innovation Centre says the development of Aranyik village will require cooperation from villagers to accept a central brand. Products should be extended to other general utensils, not just knives.
Success will likely depend on the village's attitude towards change and market demand, said Assoc Prof Preecha, who has assisted the Support Arts & Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT).
Yoshiharu Suzuki, president of the Japan Export Cutlery Industrial Association in Seki, says the city used to produce samurai swords 750 years ago.
Production has moved to industry with 310 industrial members, and the city is now recognised worldwide as a centre of knife production at a level comparable with Germany. A knife festival each October welcomes 260,000 visitors on average.
Mr Suzuki sees no competition among makers in the city, as each has uniqueness and a knack for introducing new products to meet customer demand. The makers exchange knowledge and mind each other's trademarks and patents.
Seki's goal has been to create a connection between traditional and modern techniques. Products from the city have an export value of 10 billion (3.95 billion baht) a year, down from 30-35 billion due to yen appreciation and competition from countries such as China.
Wanwiwat Ketsawa, the SACICT's managing director of trade promotion and business development, says the centre chose to send a handicraft group from Aranyik to Seki to study the city's model. Seki's knives have outstanding added value through aspects such as engraved patterns on the blades.
The centre hopes to bring Aranyik village up to speed so it can compete in a globalising industry.