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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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I just added another Naga Dao to my collection( I don't have any of the unusual shaped blades). This one is longer than my others, measuring 33" long, with a blade that measures 3.5" wide & 9.5" long.
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Here is mine. Rattan is in excellent shape, and might be relatively new.
But the blade is interesting: first time I see damascus structure. Any thoughts? |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Posts: 301
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Did you find that in a thrift store in Santa Barbara? I might have seen it. Not my area of interest, but a very fine find.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Got it from e-bay about 30 years ago, the seller was from Indiana.
Never seen damascus Dao before or after that. Not my area of interest either:-) |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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I have read that from the later 19thC on a lot of the blades were forged from a stolen Tea Plantation spade split down the middle to make two blades. Done because the steel was a lot better quality than they could make themselves, and this is why the blade shape is as it is. Still used in the traditional manner by the local tribesmen though.
If this is the actual case, then the odder shapes and laminated blades will be the earlier, from before the introduction of tea planting in the area.... and a real prize. |
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#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,726
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What you have is a Kachin dao and not a Naga dao. It seems that Naga used them but they are still Kachin. The lamination is in most cases a hairpin lamination but I think to remember to have seen them with other laminations. Regards, Detlef |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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Good to know about the laminations being on older blades; even though you can not tell by the pictures, mine does.
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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You might be right. But the blade on mine had been cleaned ( see area bu the handle). Your handle does show age, and mine does not. But as I said, the handle on mine ( especially the rattan) looks new-ish: organic parts tend to rot and be replaced.
I have read the same info about the source of blades as mentioned by David ( was it in Rawson?). I have never thought about the laminations being used for dating, but it sounds interesting and intriguing. |
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#9 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,162
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Yes, that was from Rawson. He showed an example in his book. I think Rawson attributes the steel to stolen hoe blades. British tea plantations in Assam and neighboring areas began in the 18th C. These areas are generally considered "iron-poor" so a lot of recycling of old iron/steel occurred, and many weapons were imported from neighboring and distant tribal groups, including the Burmese, Shan, Kachin/Lisu and Achang.
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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Any comments on my Dao? I feel that my post has been visited by a cuckoo bird, LOL.
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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Thanks, Colin. There seems to be a significant variation in the length of the handles on these; is there any particular reason for this?
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#14 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
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It could also be just a matter of style tradition within that particular tribal group; it should be remembered that tribal peoples in the historic period were often very conservative regarding their material culture. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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It seems that things tend to come in bunches; here is another Naga Dao that recently became available to me. It is different from the previous one listed in that it has a ridge across the blade on one side; maybe vestiges of a repurposed tool.
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#16 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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OOOPS, please disregard the top 2 pictures as they go to another post. Our Posting Department Head would be severely disciplined, however since she has threatened to quit on numerous occasions, I better let this one go!
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#17 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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