Whatzit ??

Mark · 30th January 2006, 03:28 PM

There was another sword discussed a while ago that had almost identical decoration on the scabbard. I can't remember anything more about it, except that I had posted how unusual the wood carving was on the scabbard (which makes me think that someone thought it might be a dha or dha-like weapon). I am sure it was not this sword, as overall it does not look familiar. I don't have time to search the archives, but maybe someone else can look through my posts, or dha posts or something.

I have an Assam/Naga/Kachin dao that has an animal jaw like this one. I know too little about vertibate anatomy to say what is is. The canine is sort of flattened and has a slight ridge along the back side. I was thinking small cat or monkey, but that is just a guess.

Tim Simmons · 30th January 2006, 04:55 PM

I am sure it is not Tiger or Leopard, I have looked into this before. I would also agree that this example is not "old" but I to have seen this form in the past, some definitely pre ww2. One day I hope to snap one up. Tim

Battara · 30th January 2006, 07:45 PM

Ok...so....how old do you think it is?

Tim Simmons · 30th January 2006, 07:49 PM

1950-60s, I have a Thai dha like knife with a similar type of decoration on the blade. Tim

ariel · 30th January 2006, 07:54 PM

I go on a limb first: less than 20 if it was stored well, less than 2 if it was made for a tourist sale.
Several Forumites have already noticed a mix of features each of which is interesting per se, but does not much sense in combination. My main beef with it is that everything looks far too pristine. This baby did not see any action at all.
Just like those mass produced Mandaus on e-bay: nice woodcarving and mechanical blade.....

Battara · 31st January 2006, 12:48 AM

Thank you....one day (when I grow up

) I'll get a dha too...

fearn · 31st January 2006, 05:15 AM

Not that I'm a dha expert, but I agree with Ariel. The scabbard looks like it was assembled from a bunch of odds and ends. I'm wondering if that scabbard was assembled using a bit of lattice-work carving from somewhere, along with the rattan and the Naga dao-type scabbard.

My unofficial-as-a-biologist guess is that the jaw is the front of half a dog's lower mandible. It's from a reasonable sized dog, though, not a Chihuahua. Notice that the canine is nearly the diameter of the handle, and extrapolate from there. It doesn't look like whatever the jaw was stained with stayed on, either....

F

ariel · 31st January 2006, 01:00 PM

Fearn,
Glad to have a friend on my side!
As to the jaw... I think the diameter of the tooth is comparable to that of the crossguard. My late cockapoo had something like that. Ain't no Rottweiler! I would vote for the Malay Jungle Dog : thousands of them roam around. They are smallish, look like Basenji, very independent and appealing. Pity one of them ended on that Dahb (I INSIST!)
With the multitude of styles and the poor pooch's earthly remains, this Dahb is a true "dog's breakfast"

30th January 2006, 03:28 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	There was another sword discussed a while ago that had almost identical decoration on the scabbard. I can't remember anything more about it, except that I had posted how unusual the wood carving was on the scabbard (which makes me think that someone thought it might be a dha or dha-like weapon). I am sure it was not this sword, as overall it does not look familiar. I don't have time to search the archives, but maybe someone else can look through my posts, or dha posts or something. I have an Assam/Naga/Kachin dao that has an animal jaw like this one. I know too little about vertibate anatomy to say what is is. The canine is sort of flattened and has a slight ridge along the back side. I was thinking small cat or monkey, but that is just a guess.

30th January 2006, 04:55 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I am sure it is not Tiger or Leopard, I have looked into this before. I would also agree that this example is not "old" but I to have seen this form in the past, some definitely pre ww2. One day I hope to snap one up. Tim

30th January 2006, 07:45 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Ok...so....how old do you think it is?

30th January 2006, 07:49 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	1950-60s, I have a Thai dha like knife with a similar type of decoration on the blade. Tim

30th January 2006, 07:54 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I go on a limb first: less than 20 if it was stored well, less than 2 if it was made for a tourist sale. Several Forumites have already noticed a mix of features each of which is interesting per se, but does not much sense in combination. My main beef with it is that everything looks far too pristine. This baby did not see any action at all. Just like those mass produced Mandaus on e-bay: nice woodcarving and mechanical blade.....

31st January 2006, 12:48 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Thank you....one day (when I grow up ) I'll get a dha too...

31st January 2006, 05:15 AM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Not that I'm a dha expert, but I agree with Ariel. The scabbard looks like it was assembled from a bunch of odds and ends. I'm wondering if that scabbard was assembled using a bit of lattice-work carving from somewhere, along with the rattan and the Naga dao-type scabbard. My unofficial-as-a-biologist guess is that the jaw is the front of half a dog's lower mandible. It's from a reasonable sized dog, though, not a Chihuahua. Notice that the canine is nearly the diameter of the handle, and extrapolate from there. It doesn't look like whatever the jaw was stained with stayed on, either.... F

31st January 2006, 01:00 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Fearn, Glad to have a friend on my side! As to the jaw... I think the diameter of the tooth is comparable to that of the crossguard. My late cockapoo had something like that. Ain't no Rottweiler! I would vote for the Malay Jungle Dog : thousands of them roam around. They are smallish, look like Basenji, very independent and appealing. Pity one of them ended on that Dahb (I INSIST!) With the multitude of styles and the poor pooch's earthly remains, this Dahb is a true "dog's breakfast"