The biggest dha I've had

rumpel9 · 3rd December 2020, 08:09 AM

I want to share my new dha. It is really very large - its total length is about one meter and quite heavy - it weighs about 3 kg. Given its weight, it can be assumed that this dha was not a combat weapon, but rather a ceremonial one.
In one of the photos, I put it next to a regular-sized dha and a large dha knife for comparison.

Ian · 3rd December 2020, 12:01 PM

Hi Rumpel,

There are a few of these large dha around, and they seem to get recycled among collectors. I have one that was previously owned by two other members of this Forum.

These are sometimes called "elephant dha" from their supposed use by an elephant holding such a sword in its trunk, but there is little supporting evidence for such a use. Others have thought them to be ceremonial in nature, especially given the ivory and silver hilts seen on these massive blades. They do seem to be prestige pieces. Mine has some residual gold koftgari work on the blade and seems to be of Burmese manufacture.

Ian

kronckew · 4th December 2020, 03:13 AM

Executioner's dha?

rumpel9 · 4th December 2020, 09:02 AM

Ian, thank you for the info.
kronckew, I dont think that thist dha for execution. For all its massiveness, it does not have the best balance for a chopping blow.

kronckew · 4th December 2020, 10:37 AM

Are you holding it one-handed at the bolster? Dha are not two handed. It looks like the blade shape is similar to Vietnamese truongdao and Chinese dadao blades. It'd be rather ungainly if you held it near the pommel, or even on the ivory/bone bit of the grip. Generally they use Draw cuts rather than straight chops...

Ian · 4th December 2020, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Executioner's dha?

Hi Wayne.

Unlikely to be an executioner's dha. Executions were carried out generally with ordinary dha of regular length. I think I heard this from a mutual friend some time ago.

Ian

kronckew · 4th December 2020, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Wayne.

Unlikely to be an executioner's dha. Executions were carried out generally with ordinary dha of regular length. I think I heard this from a mutual friend some time ago.

Ian

He's the dha expert, so I guess my guess is wrong.

ariel · 4th December 2020, 02:50 PM

“ My dha is bigger than your dha” :-)

kronckew · 4th December 2020, 04:33 PM

It's not how big, it's how you use it.

3rd December 2020, 08:09 AM	#1
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	The biggest dha I've had I want to share my new dha. It is really very large - its total length is about one meter and quite heavy - it weighs about 3 kg. Given its weight, it can be assumed that this dha was not a combat weapon, but rather a ceremonial one. In one of the photos, I put it next to a regular-sized dha and a large dha knife for comparison. Attached Images

3rd December 2020, 12:01 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,195	Hi Rumpel, There are a few of these large dha around, and they seem to get recycled among collectors. I have one that was previously owned by two other members of this Forum. These are sometimes called "elephant dha" from their supposed use by an elephant holding such a sword in its trunk, but there is little supporting evidence for such a use. Others have thought them to be ceremonial in nature, especially given the ivory and silver hilts seen on these massive blades. They do seem to be prestige pieces. Mine has some residual gold koftgari work on the blade and seems to be of Burmese manufacture. Ian

4th December 2020, 03:13 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Executioner's dha?

4th December 2020, 09:02 AM	#4
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	Ian, thank you for the info. kronckew, I dont think that thist dha for execution. For all its massiveness, it does not have the best balance for a chopping blow.

4th December 2020, 10:37 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Are you holding it one-handed at the bolster? Dha are not two handed. It looks like the blade shape is similar to Vietnamese truongdao and Chinese dadao blades. It'd be rather ungainly if you held it near the pommel, or even on the ivory/bone bit of the grip. Generally they use Draw cuts rather than straight chops...

4th December 2020, 02:50 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	“ My dha is bigger than your dha” :-)

4th December 2020, 04:33 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	It's not how big, it's how you use it.