Thai daab/katana fusion

[Nathaniel]

Some Thai friends I've chatted with feel that this piece has a strong Lao influence...that was kind of the reason for my mentioned the Lao Aranyik smith connection...but they felt this piece came at least from the Lao border region.

[Mark]

By "this piece" do you mean mine, our Shawn's?

[Nathaniel]

Both.

Here is one from Luang Prabang

[DhaDha]

Interesting. Seems plausible. Although, I need to leave the origins and history to the e experts. Most of what I "know" I learned from this forum, so I usually have little to add to these discussions. However, the pic of the sword from the National Museum in Bangkok says it is on loan from the descendants of a Thai Prince. Don't really know what that means if anything. Could have been a gift, or maybe he just enjoyed collecting swords from the region. Same as me. At any rate discussion is always a good thing. It is how I've learned the bits that I know.

Anyway, my new piece was photographed and described well on the OA site. One thing I might add is a detail from the pommel. What I believe is a horse. Worn a little bit smooth over time but the detail still shows. Love this sword.
Cheers

[Nathaniel]

Shawn,

Thanks for the added detail pics. The horse is interesting...haven't seen that commonly depicted on dha/daab...makes me think of the Thai animal Zodiac, which is similar to the Chinese animal zodiac, but instead of a dragon there is a Naga serpent

http://www.chiangmaichimes.com/magic...ai-zodiac.html

[HangPC2]

Originally Posted by Mark

Here is an interesting example of the fusion between daab and nihon-to that was popular during the middle and late Ayutthaya Period. According to Khun Nattapat, Director of Research at the Thai National Museum (interview by Dan Wilke), as the popularity of Japanese swords increased, the Monarch required that they must show a Thai influence (i.e., Thai decorative features and motifs). This resulted not only in katana blades mounted in a Thai style, but blades such as this, which are purely Thai in manufacture yet display a distinct Japanese flavor. The grip is done with a pattern that somewhat abstractly depicts the kind of silk cord wrapping found on nihon-to. The grabang (guard) is larger than is typical, more like a Japanese tsuba. The handle has a slightly oval cross-section, not round as is more typical for daab, yet not as much as found on nihon-to. It has a neat demon/ogre face on the pommel cap. Interestingly, the blade profile is remarkably like that of a Chinese liuwei dao. The scabbard, while well-make, is a later replacement. The original would likely have had metal fittings en suite with the handle decoration.

My guess is that this is an 18th C sword.

Sources : Kedah - Siam Invasion War (Kedah Blockade of 1838)

[Nathaniel]

Good Point HangPC2....

I think this symbol is also from the Kirithimukha (Face of Glory) origin from India


You see it in thai temples as well.


Also reminds me of the Chinese tiger shields:

[Nathaniel]

Pictures from my recent trip similar to DhaDha's another Thai Daab/Katana Fusion.

[Nathaniel]

Here are three that will make you all drool....from the Thai National Museum in Bangkok

[Nathaniel]

[DhaDha]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Pictures from my recent trip similar to DhaDha's another Thai Daab/Katana Fusion.

Great shots! Thanks for posting these. Do you have any pics of the blade?
Cheers

[Nathaniel]

Here you go Shawn...it's not a clear shot...tricky with the reflection from the glass...the one similar to yours is the 7th one down from the top.

[DhaDha]

Great! Thanks.

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Both.

Here is one from Luang Prabang

The owner wanted me to give recognition of his sword from Luang Prabang, Laos...from the Thai forum Kon Rak Meed (people who love knives).