Dha for comments
 

Some arms collector from the neighborwood came around yesterday and left this example with me, for ID and comments.
Blade length 58 cms. Handle length 21 cms. Blade flat spine 8 m/m at forte and 2 m/m at tip. Weight 552 grams. The two outer sections and wirings of the handle cover are surely in silver and the central part in some 'braided' cord material that i am not able to identify.
I am not sure whether the handle interior is wood or bamboo, the orifice being either drilled or a natural hollow. Whatever secret contents that might having beeg hidden there, is gone :eek: .
Please Gentlemen, what do i have here ... type, provenance, age ?

Ah, almost forgot to tell, the blade is very sharp, judging by my bleeding finger, whilst picture taking :( .

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Hi 'Nando,
surprised 'Dha boys' have not replied ..... I believe this type is Burmese....nice Dha

All the best
David

Agreed--Burmese. Looks like early 20th century to me.

As for the handle material, 'Nando, can't really tell from that photo. My inclination is bamboo. :shrug:

More specifically, I believe this sword is Kachin (Jingpaw) and related/derived from that ethnic group's dao:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=kachin

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=kachin

Thank you David,

Well, i guess Dha boys are like Mohicans ... there aren't many left ;) .

Thank you so much for your qualified input, Andrew. :cool:.
I'll be busy digesting the contents of those links.
I would never guess that the handle material could be bamboo. The thickness of the braided 'strings' is so fine that my guess would go for some kind of (rope) thread :shrug: .

'Nando, I was referring to the hollow wood core of the handle as bamboo.

The woven textile grip could be any number of materials, including cotton, linen, coconut fiber, etc.

:)

Oh, and there was an older thread discussing these exact weapons in the context of a "link" between Kachin dao and Burmese dha...can't seem to locate it, but will post when/if I do. :o

Found it. :)

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=kachin

Sorry for my misinterpreting, Andrew :o .
Very hard (for me) to improve pictures. Looking again with a naked eye, there is too much texture in its profila to be wood. Also the hole is not concentric as that done with a drill. I will take for certain your inclination that it is bamboo.

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Grrreat stuff; thanks a million. :)

Hello Fernando,

yes, agree with Andrew, it seems to be bamboo.

Regards,

Detlef

It is bamboo. Structure of the wood, the hole and the end part of the hilt. 100%.

Alright; bamboo it is :) .

While I suspect it is Kachin, I'm not sure it would necesarrily be Jinghpaw.

Same same yet different :-)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingpo_people

Nice dha by the way Fernado! I like the herring bone weave on the handle and the engraving on the handle is nicely done. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks; i will consider that :cool: .

Thanks Nathaniel; for your words and for the Kachin girls link :D .

Say guys:
Any chance this sword is earlier than 20th century ?
... The silver patination is influencing me to think about (even if late) 19th century :o .

Pommel
 

Hello Fernando

This is the end of the one I recently posted. As you can see, it is almost identical to yours except that mine has been plugged.

I am not convinced that it is bamboo as the the wall thickness is much greater than I would expect.

Regards
Roy

Royston, I am even more certain that your's is bamboo--that "cell-like" structure viewing it from the distal end is a dead-giveaway. Some bamboo is quite thick...

Possibly. My estimate was just that. :shrug: The distinction of late 19th vs. early 20th c. is largely one without a real difference.

BTW, silver patination can be a difficult thing to base age estimates on--some silver alloys can develop dark, heavy patination very quickly...

:)

There are types of bamboo that do not have a hollow core, so I would agree with Andrew . :)

Hello Roy,

have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4093

Best regards,

Detlef

I have never seen thick walled bamboo like that. But I started Googling thick walled bamboo and found that it is common. Certain varieties like Bambusa burmanica (found in Thailand and Burma) have very thick walls. It's amazing how our interest in ethnographic weapons leads us into other areas!

Steve

OK Gents

I stand corrected on the wall thicknesses of bamboo. I'm too used to seeing the thin-walled types that we get here in the UK.

Detlef, your link appears to be about coconut, not bamboo. ( Nice pictures though )

Regards
Roy

Inevitable contamination
 

Absolutely.
I often tell people that a large (largest?) part of my present (insignificant) knowledge is due to arms collecting side efects.
... The launching base being this forum :cool: .

Oh, yes, my mistake! :rolleyes: Remembered the structure which is very similar. Better I don't post just after wake up! :D :D

In a mere counting way yes, you're right; but in certain other aspects ... means a lot ;) .

Sure thing; duly noted :cool:


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The woven part of the handle would be rattan, ie shredded palm leaf, some varieties produce very strong fibers.