Dha and tying the baldric?

Jason Anstey · 21st May 2007, 02:08 PM

Hi there,

I have just purchased a new baldric from Serge from Cozun. I believe that this is a new product they are offering and may not be up one their website yet. Having just received mine I am hoping that someone might have some instructions on the tying to the scabbard? Thanks to Mark B for sending me some pics of the finished knots, as a rope dummy I am hoping for some help in how to do a knot.

Cheers

Jason

PS. the one I received was a very nice high quality thick red cotton as opposed to the nylon jobbies found on most modern dha.

kronckew · 22nd May 2007, 01:00 AM

as i have a few dha that i acquired without the baldrics, i've replaced them with brightly coloured climbing rope which seemed more appropriate than the more mundane marine varieties. i've used my limited knowledge of fancy knot work acquired in my earlier merchant marine & coast guard careers, however i'd like to see some photos of how to properly tie them.

sample:
closeup of knotwork

the whole mess

slightly more decorative knots:

on a slightly better dha

jason, if you can post the finished photos on what a proper knot looks like, mebbe i can figure out how to duplicate them & post some more sequential photos on 'how to'.

Jason Anstey · 22nd May 2007, 08:54 AM

Many thanks Kronckew!

Nice knots you got going there! Here are a some pics courtesy of Mark Bowditch

[IMG]

[/IMG]

thanks

Jason

Oriental-Arms · 22nd May 2007, 03:41 PM

Actually it is a rather simple process. One needs about 4 meters of rope, depends on the size of the Dah, the required length of binding and the thickness of the rope. Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Fold the rope at about third of its length to make a loop

Step 2: With the long leg of the rope, start binding upward

Step 3: After several binds, continue the binding below the loop

Step 4: Make several binds below the loop and again continue above the loop

Step 5: Pass the rope into the loop and pull tight

Step 6: Pull the short leg of the rope to tighten the loop

This complete the binding.

Binding the rope below and above the loop can be repeated several times or not needed at all, depends on the taste of the Dah owner.

Good luck

kronckew · 22nd May 2007, 04:12 PM

thanks,OA, that's basically how i did my 1st one, just not as many turns. i'd figured it out from jason's photos & was gonna try it for real & take some photos tonight. now i don't have to

yours turned out better than mine would have anyway.

the free ends could be tied in a reef knot (a granny knot will pull loose and a double overhand knot will be difficult to untie) to complete the loop, on my best dha (the scabbard bit i used a bunch of lark's head knots) i've macraméd it a bit so its a broader braided knot to distribute the weight over the shoulder. what is the traditional knot to join the ends?

the bitter ends i have served with a string whipping to keep them from unravelling - very similar to the main binding. (with rope or small line like these i generally cheat by dipping the end after whipping into a waterproof glue or varnish to ensure the whipping stays in place. the link shows alternate ways, which are more difficult on small stuff.)

these kinds of hitches have a lot of friction between the line & the scabbard and when tied nice & tight, there's no way the scabbard will pull loose so they don't really need to be nailed to the wood or anything....

Jason Anstey · 22nd May 2007, 06:15 PM

... I knew I had come to the right place!!!

Thanks very much for the help.

Cheers

Jason

ALEX · 23rd May 2007, 09:07 AM

Thanks to all for sharing the information and to Artzi for nice how-to pictures.
Since we're on a knot subject:-), does anyone know how to tie baldric on a sword with two suspension rings, such as Arabic Shamshir? I have a few already tied, but have no clear understanding on how it's done from scratch.

Mark · 23rd May 2007, 02:31 PM

The tassels just hang, with about an inch or two of cord between them and the knot (just enough to give them some play).

21st May 2007, 02:08 PM	#1
Jason Anstey Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 102	Dha and tying the baldric? Hi there, I have just purchased a new baldric from Serge from Cozun. I believe that this is a new product they are offering and may not be up one their website yet. Having just received mine I am hoping that someone might have some instructions on the tying to the scabbard? Thanks to Mark B for sending me some pics of the finished knots, as a rope dummy I am hoping for some help in how to do a knot. Cheers Jason PS. the one I received was a very nice high quality thick red cotton as opposed to the nylon jobbies found on most modern dha.

22nd May 2007, 01:00 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,187	as i have a few dha that i acquired without the baldrics, i've replaced them with brightly coloured climbing rope which seemed more appropriate than the more mundane marine varieties. i've used my limited knowledge of fancy knot work acquired in my earlier merchant marine & coast guard careers, however i'd like to see some photos of how to properly tie them. sample: closeup of knotwork the whole mess slightly more decorative knots: on a slightly better dha jason, if you can post the finished photos on what a proper knot looks like, mebbe i can figure out how to duplicate them & post some more sequential photos on 'how to'. Last edited by kronckew; 22nd May 2007 at 07:31 AM.

22nd May 2007, 08:54 AM	#3
Jason Anstey Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 102	Many thanks Kronckew! Nice knots you got going there! Here are a some pics courtesy of Mark Bowditch [IMG][/IMG] thanks Jason

22nd May 2007, 03:41 PM	#4
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Tying baldric on the Dah scabbard Actually it is a rather simple process. One needs about 4 meters of rope, depends on the size of the Dah, the required length of binding and the thickness of the rope. Just follow the steps below: Step 1: Fold the rope at about third of its length to make a loop Step 2: With the long leg of the rope, start binding upward Step 3: After several binds, continue the binding below the loop Step 4: Make several binds below the loop and again continue above the loop Step 5: Pass the rope into the loop and pull tight Step 6: Pull the short leg of the rope to tighten the loop This complete the binding. Binding the rope below and above the loop can be repeated several times or not needed at all, depends on the taste of the Dah owner. Good luck

22nd May 2007, 04:12 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,187	thanks,OA, that's basically how i did my 1st one, just not as many turns. i'd figured it out from jason's photos & was gonna try it for real & take some photos tonight. now i don't have to yours turned out better than mine would have anyway. the free ends could be tied in a reef knot (a granny knot will pull loose and a double overhand knot will be difficult to untie) to complete the loop, on my best dha (the scabbard bit i used a bunch of lark's head knots) i've macraméd it a bit so its a broader braided knot to distribute the weight over the shoulder. what is the traditional knot to join the ends? the bitter ends i have served with a string whipping to keep them from unravelling - very similar to the main binding. (with rope or small line like these i generally cheat by dipping the end after whipping into a waterproof glue or varnish to ensure the whipping stays in place. the link shows alternate ways, which are more difficult on small stuff.) these kinds of hitches have a lot of friction between the line & the scabbard and when tied nice & tight, there's no way the scabbard will pull loose so they don't really need to be nailed to the wood or anything.... Last edited by kronckew; 22nd May 2007 at 04:45 PM.

22nd May 2007, 06:15 PM	#6
Jason Anstey Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 102	... I knew I had come to the right place!!! Thanks very much for the help. Cheers Jason

23rd May 2007, 09:07 AM	#7
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Thanks to all for sharing the information and to Artzi for nice how-to pictures. Since we're on a knot subject:-), does anyone know how to tie baldric on a sword with two suspension rings, such as Arabic Shamshir? I have a few already tied, but have no clear understanding on how it's done from scratch.

23rd May 2007, 02:31 PM	#8
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	The tassels just hang, with about an inch or two of cord between them and the knot (just enough to give them some play).