Another Naga Dao/Axe

drac2k · 28th October 2021, 09:31 PM

I just added another Naga Dao to my collection( I don't have any of the unusual shaped blades). This one is longer than my others, measuring 33" long, with a blade that measures 3.5" wide & 9.5" long.

ariel · 29th October 2021, 02:30 AM

Here is mine. Rattan is in excellent shape, and might be relatively new.
But the blade is interesting: first time I see damascus structure.
Any thoughts?

Montino Bourbon · 29th October 2021, 02:39 AM

Did you find that in a thrift store in Santa Barbara? I might have seen it. Not my area of interest, but a very fine find.

ariel · 29th October 2021, 04:19 AM

Got it from e-bay about 30 years ago, the seller was from Indiana.
Never seen damascus Dao before or after that.
Not my area of interest either:-)

David R · 30th October 2021, 02:25 PM

I have read that from the later 19thC on a lot of the blades were forged from a stolen Tea Plantation spade split down the middle to make two blades. Done because the steel was a lot better quality than they could make themselves, and this is why the blade shape is as it is. Still used in the traditional manner by the local tribesmen though.

If this is the actual case, then the odder shapes and laminated blades will be the earlier, from before the introduction of tea planting in the area.... and a real prize.

Sajen · 30th October 2021, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Here is mine. Rattan is in excellent shape, and might be relatively new.
But the blade is interesting: first time I see damascus structure.
Any thoughts?

Hello Ariel,

What you have is a Kachin dao and not a Naga dao. It seems that Naga used them but they are still Kachin.
The lamination is in most cases a hairpin lamination but I think to remember to have seen them with other laminations.

Regards,
Detlef

drac2k · 31st October 2021, 03:30 AM

Good to know about the laminations being on older blades; even though you can not tell by the pictures, mine does.

ariel · 1st November 2021, 10:39 PM

You might be right. But the blade on mine had been cleaned ( see area bu the handle). Your handle does show age, and mine does not. But as I said, the handle on mine ( especially the rattan) looks new-ish: organic parts tend to rot and be replaced.

I have read the same info about the source of blades as mentioned by David ( was it in Rawson?). I have never thought about the laminations being used for dating, but it sounds interesting and intriguing.

Ian · 2nd November 2021, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

... I have read the same info about the source of blades as mentioned by David ( was it in Rawson?). ...

Yes, that was from Rawson. He showed an example in his book. I think Rawson attributes the steel to stolen hoe blades. British tea plantations in Assam and neighboring areas began in the 18th C. These areas are generally considered "iron-poor" so a lot of recycling of old iron/steel occurred, and many weapons were imported from neighboring and distant tribal groups, including the Burmese, Shan, Kachin/Lisu and Achang.

28th October 2021, 09:31 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Another Naga Dao/Axe I just added another Naga Dao to my collection( I don't have any of the unusual shaped blades). This one is longer than my others, measuring 33" long, with a blade that measures 3.5" wide & 9.5" long. Attached Images

29th October 2021, 02:30 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Here is mine. Rattan is in excellent shape, and might be relatively new. But the blade is interesting: first time I see damascus structure. Any thoughts? Attached Images

29th October 2021, 02:39 AM	#3
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Did you find that in a thrift store in Santa Barbara? I might have seen it. Not my area of interest, but a very fine find.

29th October 2021, 04:19 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Got it from e-bay about 30 years ago, the seller was from Indiana. Never seen damascus Dao before or after that. Not my area of interest either:-)

30th October 2021, 02:25 PM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	I have read that from the later 19thC on a lot of the blades were forged from a stolen Tea Plantation spade split down the middle to make two blades. Done because the steel was a lot better quality than they could make themselves, and this is why the blade shape is as it is. Still used in the traditional manner by the local tribesmen though. If this is the actual case, then the odder shapes and laminated blades will be the earlier, from before the introduction of tea planting in the area.... and a real prize.

31st October 2021, 03:30 AM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Good to know about the laminations being on older blades; even though you can not tell by the pictures, mine does.

1st November 2021, 10:39 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	You might be right. But the blade on mine had been cleaned ( see area bu the handle). Your handle does show age, and mine does not. But as I said, the handle on mine ( especially the rattan) looks new-ish: organic parts tend to rot and be replaced. I have read the same info about the source of blades as mentioned by David ( was it in Rawson?). I have never thought about the laminations being used for dating, but it sounds interesting and intriguing.