Dha Question

Ian · 16th March 2006, 05:04 AM

Hi Alan62:

I think you may be referring to the British Mk. 3 version of the military dah. The Mk. 3 came with a nicely fitted leather sheath, split down one side to allow easy unsheathing of the machete, and held in the scabbard with a leather strap and press stud. Rather fancy for a "crude" machete.

These machetes were produced in India for the Chindit forces under Major General Ord Wingate. The Chindits were behind the lines forces who were airlifted into Japanese occupied Burma and worked with local native groups, notably the Kachin, to harass the occupying Japanese army and help keep open the Burma Road between India and China.

There is a thread here about the Chindit machete: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=Chindit

The dha you show above is not an example of the Mk. 3, but rather a Kachin sword dha of the WWII period in a leather sheath. The Mk. 3 is quite short, wider, and squared off at the end, more of a dao like the Kachin working sword that is carried in an open-faced scabbard.

Ian.

spiral · 16th March 2006, 09:15 PM

Ive heard old Chindits {including my father.} use the term Dao as well as Dha for these. I think Dao is just Chinese for Knife though?

Anyway I digress.

Heres the mk.2 style although amore decorative versian than most. {link to Ians. on the old forum.} {I hope that is acceptable? if not contact me & I will happily delete it.} Incidently the firm DKW also made kukri.

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Heres the steryotypical & commonest mk.3, So far the earlyist I have seen is dated 1945 has anyone seen one actualy dated 1944? The often used mk.2 scabbards dated 43 & 44 I think? But of course may be mistaken.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Heres a photo to show that Chindits also carried standard Brit. army Machetes. {Not all the Chindits were English, the also included Indians, Nigerions,Kenyans, Nepalis & many Burmese tribes.} They also of course often carried kukri.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Heres another Chindit Dao Which is niether mk.2 or 3, I wonder if it is the mk.1? But have been unable to find any photographic reference of the mk.1.

Does anyone have any information on the mk.1 ?It would be great to find out.

This one seems much more weapon based than the mk.2/3 with a very slim distaly tapered blade, so much so that although it has a 16 inch blade it only weights 14 oz. in total.

The scabbard is higher quality but similar style & the pillar stud & attachment loop is fitted to open the opposite way.

& just for fun heres my fathers cloth Chindit badge, {only issued to him when going on leave at the end of the war. And an officers silver theatre made cap badge. In this case "theatre made" means jewelery type quality. perhaps made in Burma?

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

& a copy of the letter that went with the badge that basicly reading between the lines says dont " Youve done a good & tough job but please dont mash up or kill to many people while on leave"

Hope thats not all to far removed from Ethnographic blades? To me it all fits together.

Spiral.

Tim Simmons · 16th March 2006, 09:23 PM

Excellent, that man with the knife is a little frightening.

Alan62 · 17th March 2006, 01:26 AM

Thank you Spiral
That is a great bunch of information

spiral · 17th March 2006, 03:15 PM

Thankyou Alan ,Tim, Glad it was of use.

Indeed Tim, definatly looks like a fellow you would rather have on your side than the enemys in a rough & tumble!

I wonder what the Japanese thought of him?

Spiral

16th March 2006, 05:04 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	"Chindit machete" - British Mk. 3 Dah (1944) Hi Alan62: I think you may be referring to the British Mk. 3 version of the military dah. The Mk. 3 came with a nicely fitted leather sheath, split down one side to allow easy unsheathing of the machete, and held in the scabbard with a leather strap and press stud. Rather fancy for a "crude" machete. These machetes were produced in India for the Chindit forces under Major General Ord Wingate. The Chindits were behind the lines forces who were airlifted into Japanese occupied Burma and worked with local native groups, notably the Kachin, to harass the occupying Japanese army and help keep open the Burma Road between India and China. There is a thread here about the Chindit machete: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=Chindit The dha you show above is not an example of the Mk. 3, but rather a Kachin sword dha of the WWII period in a leather sheath. The Mk. 3 is quite short, wider, and squared off at the end, more of a dao like the Kachin working sword that is carried in an open-faced scabbard. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 16th March 2006 at 05:42 AM.

16th March 2006, 09:15 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Ive heard old Chindits {including my father.} use the term Dao as well as Dha for these. I think Dao is just Chinese for Knife though? Anyway I digress. Heres the mk.2 style although amore decorative versian than most. {link to Ians. on the old forum.} {I hope that is acceptable? if not contact me & I will happily delete it.} Incidently the firm DKW also made kukri. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Heres the steryotypical & commonest mk.3, So far the earlyist I have seen is dated 1945 has anyone seen one actualy dated 1944? The often used mk.2 scabbards dated 43 & 44 I think? But of course may be mistaken. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Heres a photo to show that Chindits also carried standard Brit. army Machetes. {Not all the Chindits were English, the also included Indians, Nigerions,Kenyans, Nepalis & many Burmese tribes.} They also of course often carried kukri. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Heres another Chindit Dao Which is niether mk.2 or 3, I wonder if it is the mk.1? But have been unable to find any photographic reference of the mk.1. Does anyone have any information on the mk.1 ?It would be great to find out. This one seems much more weapon based than the mk.2/3 with a very slim distaly tapered blade, so much so that although it has a 16 inch blade it only weights 14 oz. in total. The scabbard is higher quality but similar style & the pillar stud & attachment loop is fitted to open the opposite way. & just for fun heres my fathers cloth Chindit badge, {only issued to him when going on leave at the end of the war. And an officers silver theatre made cap badge. In this case "theatre made" means jewelery type quality. perhaps made in Burma? ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// & a copy of the letter that went with the badge that basicly reading between the lines says dont " Youve done a good & tough job but please dont mash up or kill to many people while on leave" Hope thats not all to far removed from Ethnographic blades? To me it all fits together. Spiral.

16th March 2006, 09:23 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Excellent, that man with the knife is a little frightening.

17th March 2006, 01:26 AM	#4
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	Thank you Spiral That is a great bunch of information

17th March 2006, 03:15 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thankyou Alan ,Tim, Glad it was of use. Indeed Tim, definatly looks like a fellow you would rather have on your side than the enemys in a rough & tumble! I wonder what the Japanese thought of him? Spiral