Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 15th October 2020, 05:53 PM   #1
JeffS
Member
 
JeffS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 337
Default Dha for comment

Just picked this up off Ebay. It has an interesting mix of design features such as the hairpin blade, silver work, and strange jagged carving on the shoulder-carry open-scabbard. Photos are from the Ebay sell page.
Attached Images
    
JeffS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th October 2020, 08:21 PM   #2
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,254
Smile

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19472
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th October 2020, 08:36 PM   #3
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
Default

Hi Jeff,

Would agree with Kai, look like you have got a nice Achang HuSa dao!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=husa

Regards,
Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th October 2020, 01:26 AM   #4
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,194
Default

Hi Jeff,

While the maker of this blade is most likely from Yunnan, the customer was probably some distance from the HuSa homeland. There are Achang living in northern Burma/Assam. These long-bladed, straight, square-ended dha/dao are most commonly found in Assam and north-west Yunnan. The most common group in Yunnan to use this type pf sword are the Lisu (who are related ethnically to the Kachin). Scabbards are typically open-faced, and the toe projects well beyond the end of the blade.

You have found a nice example. The hilt looks to be Shan in style, and there is a close relationship between the Shan and Achang in south-western Yunnan.

Ian.
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th October 2020, 05:10 PM   #5
JeffS
Member
 
JeffS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 337
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajen
Hi Jeff,

Would agree with Kai, look like you have got a nice Achang HuSa dao!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=husa

Regards,
Detlef
Very cool sword. Do I understand correctly that Robert did the silver restoration work on the scabbard?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Hi Jeff,

While the maker of this blade is most likely from Yunnan, the customer was probably some distance from the HuSa homeland. There are Achang living in northern Burma/Assam. These long-bladed, straight, square-ended dha/dao are most commonly found in Assam and north-west Yunnan. The most common group in Yunnan to use this type pf sword are the Lisu (who are related ethnically to the Kachin). Scabbards are typically open-faced, and the toe projects well beyond the end of the blade.

You have found a nice example. The hilt looks to be Shan in style, and there is a close relationship between the Shan and Achang in south-western Yunnan.

Ian.
Thanks Ian. Great info.
JeffS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17th October 2020, 01:51 PM   #6
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffS
Very cool sword. Do I understand correctly that Robert did the silver restoration work on the scabbard?
Hi Jeff,

Thank you! Yes, Robert did the restoration of the scabbard and worked the fittings new from brass, they are silver washed.

Regards,
Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17th October 2020, 06:19 PM   #7
gp
Member
 
gp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 717
Default

silly question perhaps but why are these weapons not pointed ?
From an attacking perspective you lose one functionality I would say..
and it would require more force to thrust it into an opponent's body...
gp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2020, 02:14 AM   #8
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,194
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gp
silly question perhaps but why are these weapons not pointed ?
From an attacking perspective you lose one functionality I would say..
and it would require more force to thrust it into an opponent's body...
History and tradition. Many of these weapons were adapted from tools used mainly for chopping. The resulting swords were either a combination tool/weapon or weapons based on tools. Some Mainland SE Asian swords are indeed pointed, such as most Burmese and Shan dha, and Thai/Lao daab. These were used for both slashing and stabbing, although slashing was probably used more commonly against lightly armored opponents.
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2020, 02:35 PM   #9
JeffS
Member
 
JeffS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 337
Default

Regarding the tool origin. I did some field work a few year back in northern Myanmar. The Kachin (Rowang) with us had small working daos (made from blanks purchased in Putao market). The lower corner of the squared tip provides a vertical aligned point that they frequently used to to "spear" and pick up chunks of firewood with an easy downward chopping motion. A useful feature for a general purpose tool.
JeffS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th October 2020, 08:32 PM   #10
JeffS
Member
 
JeffS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 337
Default

Any thoughts on what was set in the two round depressions on the scabbard foot? There is a gummy resin at the bottom that was likely the adhesive used. One of these has shiny foil-like residue stuck to the resin.
Incidentally I found another example of this scabbard style on Ashoka Arts website.
Attached Images
  
JeffS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st June 2022, 12:15 AM   #11
SidJ
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 177
Default

Those depressions contained circular raised metal button like fixtures.
SidJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.