What do I have here - Thailand or Indonesia/Malaysia?

wildwolberine · 21st May 2026, 01:14 AM

The hilt looks familiar but I can’t quite place it. Seller photos. No scabbard unfortunately. Appreciate the help, I’m sure there is a post on the forum with a similar example.

werecow · 21st May 2026, 01:43 AM

My guess would be Philippines but it's admittedly not based on much, just the overall look.

Sajen · 21st May 2026, 05:11 AM

Congrats, you have something very rare there, have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=tengger
How long is it? Do I see it correct, 72 cm? My one is 54,5 cm.

Regards,
Detlef

wildwolberine · 25th May 2026, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Congrats, you have something very rare there, have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=tengger
How long is it? Do I see it correct, 72 cm? My one is 54,5 cm.

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks Detlef! Excellent information. The sword came today, the length is about 56 cm so very close to your example. Posting photos below, along with a north Thailand or Burma dha from the same seller.

wildwolberine · 25th May 2026, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

My guess would be Philippines but it's admittedly not based on much, just the overall look.

Thanks werecow! I has the same thoughts but there was something about the hilt that threw me off.

wildwolberine · 25th May 2026, 01:59 AM

The knife came today, photos below. The accompanying dha (I believe from north Thailand or Burma) is not old but it’s nicely made. The maker is interesting, to me it looks like a Mauser C96!

Ian · 25th May 2026, 02:59 PM

WW,

The hilt on your dha is a typical Burmese, three-section design. The blade, however, is most likely to have been made by the HuSa people in the Achang area of southern Yunnan. While I have not seen the Mauser stamp before, they do have blades with a Winchester rifle or a Colt revolver stamp. Hard to judge the age of this piece. Perhaps WWII era. Nice find. We have other threads showing HuSa dha and blade stamps. Please post a full length picture of the dha after you receive it.

Regards,

Ian

wildwolberine · Today, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

WW,

The hilt on your dha is a typical Burmese, three-section design. The blade, however, is most likely to have been made by the HuSa people in the Achang area of southern Yunnan. While I have not seen the Mauser stamp before, they do have blades with a Winchester rifle or a Colt revolver stamp. Hard to judge the age of this piece. Perhaps WWII era. Nice find. We have other threads showing HuSa dha and blade stamps. Please post a full length picture of the dha after you receive it.

Regards,

Ian

Thanks! Here are full length photos of the dha.

Ian · Today, 05:19 AM

Thanks Jeff. I was expecting to see a squared off end or even a concave tip. I think there is a high likelihood that this sword was made for sale to the Kachin.

In the 1870s and 1880s there was a transition from a Naga style dao to a square-ended sword. Most of the latter were provided by Shan craftsmen. Scott suggested that this was an economic decision. The Shan and HuSa people are closely linked geographically and politically, so I am not surprised to see a blade of this style bearing a HuSa stamp and probably intended for the Kachin market.

Relationships between the Shan and Kachin have been close with respect to trade and at times politically. They are both ethnic minorities living largely in Burma (Myanmar). The relationship and cooperation between the Kachin and Shan was strong during WWII and both groups assisted in the fight against Japanese forces.

Your dha could be from the WWII period.

Regards, Ian

21st May 2026, 01:14 AM	#1
wildwolberine Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: San Antonio Posts: 153	What do I have here - Thailand or Indonesia/Malaysia? The hilt looks familiar but I can’t quite place it. Seller photos. No scabbard unfortunately. Appreciate the help, I’m sure there is a post on the forum with a similar example. Attached Images

21st May 2026, 05:11 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,779	Congrats, you have something very rare there, have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=tengger How long is it? Do I see it correct, 72 cm? My one is 54,5 cm. Regards, Detlef Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 21st May 2026 at 09:42 AM. Reason: spelling, add pic

25th May 2026, 01:59 AM	#6
wildwolberine Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: San Antonio Posts: 153	The knife came today, photos below. The accompanying dha (I believe from north Thailand or Burma) is not old but it’s nicely made. The maker is interesting, to me it looks like a Mauser C96! Attached Images

21st May 2026, 01:43 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 679	My guess would be Philippines but it's admittedly not based on much, just the overall look.

25th May 2026, 02:59 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,729	WW, The hilt on your dha is a typical Burmese, three-section design. The blade, however, is most likely to have been made by the HuSa people in the Achang area of southern Yunnan. While I have not seen the Mauser stamp before, they do have blades with a Winchester rifle or a Colt revolver stamp. Hard to judge the age of this piece. Perhaps WWII era. Nice find. We have other threads showing HuSa dha and blade stamps. Please post a full length picture of the dha after you receive it. Regards, Ian

Today, 05:19 AM	#9
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,729	Thanks Jeff. I was expecting to see a squared off end or even a concave tip. I think there is a high likelihood that this sword was made for sale to the Kachin. In the 1870s and 1880s there was a transition from a Naga style dao to a square-ended sword. Most of the latter were provided by Shan craftsmen. Scott suggested that this was an economic decision. The Shan and HuSa people are closely linked geographically and politically, so I am not surprised to see a blade of this style bearing a HuSa stamp and probably intended for the Kachin market. Relationships between the Shan and Kachin have been close with respect to trade and at times politically. They are both ethnic minorities living largely in Burma (Myanmar). The relationship and cooperation between the Kachin and Shan was strong during WWII and both groups assisted in the fight against Japanese forces. Your dha could be from the WWII period. Regards, Ian