I am reading some old threads and stumble across this old thread and direct remember this not long ago sold dagger (see pictures). It is certainly from the same family. I think it is important for further resarch to add the pictures and as well the description from the seller:
"A VERY UNUSUAL AND RARE DHA - DAAB - DAO DAGGER - KNIFE WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE FROM THE UPPER VIETNAM LAOS YUNNAN BORDERS AND AGE 19THC.
THE INFLUENCES OF BOTH CHINA AND SOUTH EAST ASIA ARE HERE AND IT IS EVEN POSSBLE THAT THIS KNIFE HAILS FROM VIETNAM AS IT WAS PART OF A FRENCH INDO CHINESE 19THC COLLETION, I WOULD GO WITH ANY OF THE 3 ABOVE COUNTRIES FOR ORIGIN BUT IT IS A MYSTERY AND VERY HARD TO GET EXACT.
THE BLADE IS A HEAVY AND WELL MADE HAND FORGED ONE WITH TOP SINGLE BLOOD LET AND HOLLOW GROUND LARGER LET IN THE MIDDLE,IT HAS THE TYPICAL CHINESE STYLE TONKU FITTING IN BRONZE THAT I HAVE SEEN ON A NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE AND LAOS SWORDS IN THE PAST BUT NOT KNIVES AS SUCH, THE DECORATION ON THE BLADE TIO ME DOES SHOW VIETNAMESE INFLEUNCE BUT I COULD BE WELL WRONG HERE AND IT COULD EVEN BE CHINESE ?, THE LAMINATED PATTERNS THAT SHOW IN THE BLADE AFTER ETCH L;OOK VERY LAOS OR THAI TO ME AS I HAVE WORKED ON AND ETCHED AND POLISHED MANY BLADES FROM THIS AREA AND IT DOES REMIND ME OF THAT TYPICAL RANDOM PATTERN, THE SPINE OF THE BLADE IS THICK FOR THE SIZE OF THE KNIFE AT JUST OVER 1/ OF AN INCH AT THE FORTE, THE HILT FITTINGS AT TOP AND BOTTOM ARE MADE FROM A BRONZE TYPE ALLOY AND ARE THICK AND HEAVY, THERE IS ALSO A SECTIONAL GRIP WHICH IS MADE FROM HORN BONE SILVER AND BRASS, THE SPACERS IN BETWEEN THE PIECES OF HORN AND BONE BEING SILVER AND BRASS.
THE SCABBARD IS OF A PALM TYPE WOOD AND HAS ITS ORIGINAL WRAPPED CORD BINDING WITH FANCY NOT ON THE REAR, IT ALSO HAS ONE RATTAN PLATED RING BELOW THE CORD SECTION.
A VERY VERY UNUSUAL KNIFE FROM AN UNUSUAL AREA AND ALSO VERY WELL CONSTRUCTED AND HEAVY IN WEIGHT FOR ITS SIZE, MAYBE EVEN A THROWING KNIFE ?? A RARE ONE FOR THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN COLLECTOR OF EDGED WEAPONS.
size 10 ins in scabbard, blade 6 ins hilt 3-1/2 ins... heavy for size."
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