Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · Today, 01:44 PM

Hi Detlef,

The "turtle mark" was discussed in the old UBB Forum on this site, but unfortunately that platform was hacked and the files corrupted. IIRC, the mark was thought to be found on northern Thai/Lao daab starting in the 20th C, around the 1920s or so. It also extended into the 1970s and later on the poor quality tourist swords that U.S. Vietnam vets and other travelers brought home.

As I look at the three latest examples you posted, I would say the top one is probably post-WWII, the bottom one maybe WWII-era or thereaboiuts, and the middle one (a nice Lao daab) maybe pre-WWII). However, my earlier caveat about dating these daab from pictures applies--it is very difficult to estimate age without having them in hand, and even then not easy. My approximate ranking of their ages would still put them in my "vintage" category.

Iain Norman may have more information about these.

Regards, Ian.

Today, 01:44 PM	#15
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,449	Hi Detlef, The "turtle mark" was discussed in the old UBB Forum on this site, but unfortunately that platform was hacked and the files corrupted. IIRC, the mark was thought to be found on northern Thai/Lao daab starting in the 20th C, around the 1920s or so. It also extended into the 1970s and later on the poor quality tourist swords that U.S. Vietnam vets and other travelers brought home. As I look at the three latest examples you posted, I would say the top one is probably post-WWII, the bottom one maybe WWII-era or thereaboiuts, and the middle one (a nice Lao daab) maybe pre-WWII). However, my earlier caveat about dating these daab from pictures applies--it is very difficult to estimate age without having them in hand, and even then not easy. My approximate ranking of their ages would still put them in my "vintage" category. Iain Norman may have more information about these. Regards, Ian.