A question of Kachin dao

[Gavin Nugent]

I have a question that may or may not be simply answered.

Of all the Kachin dao that I have seen and handled the scabbard does contour the spine of the blade perfectly but why does the scabbard length go far beyond the length of the actual dao tip. In some cases quite a long way? I will continue to sit and ponder this until someone can point out this reason to me.

Gav