burmese/ kachin dha for comment

Gehazi · 10th March 2015, 05:42 PM

if I had to carry a sword it would be this one, it feels massive like a tool but has finesse, its short enough that it does not get in the way , the balance is better than you would think, it fairly spoiled me when I look at distal taper as I am always looking for a solid forged line with a minimal taper or almost none.

all the fittings are still good and tight, minus the scabbard-- once I better figure on the compression will post pictures of what I think is the forge mark and some micro pictures with my scope on the steel, has some very interesting crystallization patterns .

Ian · 11th March 2015, 10:43 PM

Gehazi:

The more I look at this one and the more you describe its metallurgical qualities, I am convinced that the most likely origin of the blade is from the the small ethnic group known as Husa, whom we have discussed many times recently. A quick search of the site will turn up several descriptions of them and their products. The quality of their blades, their forging skills, and the wide geographic areas over which their goods were sold have been discussed.

Incidentally, the curious dha that you acquired from Artzi (posted in your first thread) has the "running tiger" stamp that is unique to Husa manufacture also.

Ian.

PS. I would be happy to resize some pictures if that is that is needed.

Nathaniel · 13th March 2015, 02:09 AM

Welcome to the forum Gehazi. Glad to see you are enjoying the sword we made a deal on

Here are some more pictures of the sword.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5426

I'm not familiar with the "hornet" or "hummingbird" forgemark.

Very interested to hear more about it

fearn · 13th March 2015, 04:07 PM

As an aside, in the Nova documentary episode "Rat Attack" (about how bamboo flowering leads to a rat plague that devours nearby crops and produces famine) (link to video on YouTube), you can see how flat-ended dhas are used in planting fields in the Indian state of Mizoram by the Myanmar border. The pictures are scattered throughout the early video, but you can see it fairly clearly at the 19:40 mark.

They use the square ends of their dhas as digging sticks, and I'm willing to bet they don't have a distal taper on their blades either. The lack of a distal taper may be functional.

F

Gehazi · 19th March 2015, 10:41 PM

very cool info fearn I love the region's blades.

also nathaniel , after asking another forum member, you are right I think it was a forge flaw that just looked interesting!! -- either way thanks everyone for comment and thanks most to nathan for selling this beautiful blade to me a year or so ago ( maybe more !)

this sword remains one of my favorites , I will eventually post my entire shan/husin style dha collection along with my naga and kachin examples!

thanks everyone!

10th March 2015, 05:42 PM	#1
Gehazi Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: TN, USA Posts: 21	if I had to carry a sword it would be this one, it feels massive like a tool but has finesse, its short enough that it does not get in the way , the balance is better than you would think, it fairly spoiled me when I look at distal taper as I am always looking for a solid forged line with a minimal taper or almost none. all the fittings are still good and tight, minus the scabbard-- once I better figure on the compression will post pictures of what I think is the forge mark and some micro pictures with my scope on the steel, has some very interesting crystallization patterns .

11th March 2015, 10:43 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Gehazi: The more I look at this one and the more you describe its metallurgical qualities, I am convinced that the most likely origin of the blade is from the the small ethnic group known as Husa, whom we have discussed many times recently. A quick search of the site will turn up several descriptions of them and their products. The quality of their blades, their forging skills, and the wide geographic areas over which their goods were sold have been discussed. Incidentally, the curious dha that you acquired from Artzi (posted in your first thread) has the "running tiger" stamp that is unique to Husa manufacture also. Ian. PS. I would be happy to resize some pictures if that is that is needed.

13th March 2015, 02:09 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Welcome to the forum Gehazi. Glad to see you are enjoying the sword we made a deal on Here are some more pictures of the sword. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5426 I'm not familiar with the "hornet" or "hummingbird" forgemark. Very interested to hear more about it

13th March 2015, 04:07 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	As an aside, in the Nova documentary episode "Rat Attack" (about how bamboo flowering leads to a rat plague that devours nearby crops and produces famine) (link to video on YouTube), you can see how flat-ended dhas are used in planting fields in the Indian state of Mizoram by the Myanmar border. The pictures are scattered throughout the early video, but you can see it fairly clearly at the 19:40 mark. They use the square ends of their dhas as digging sticks, and I'm willing to bet they don't have a distal taper on their blades either. The lack of a distal taper may be functional. F

19th March 2015, 10:41 PM	#5
Gehazi Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: TN, USA Posts: 21	very cool info fearn I love the region's blades. also nathaniel , after asking another forum member, you are right I think it was a forge flaw that just looked interesting!! -- either way thanks everyone for comment and thanks most to nathan for selling this beautiful blade to me a year or so ago ( maybe more !) this sword remains one of my favorites , I will eventually post my entire shan/husin style dha collection along with my naga and kachin examples! thanks everyone!