Thai blades in Chiang Mai museum

lordkoos · 21st September 2012, 07:39 AM

The national museum in Chiang Mai is rather small and underfunded, yet they still have some interesting pieces. Photos weren't really allowed but I did manage a quick & dirty pic of these weapons using my phone camera. The swords are about 110 cm long.

kronckew · 21st September 2012, 07:42 AM

those look like halberds for use from elephant back.

cool.

lordkoos · 21st September 2012, 09:27 AM

Yes, I guess they are halberds, not swords.

Gavin Nugent · 21st September 2012, 11:55 AM

At 110cms long they fit the "sword" category far better than a halberd by definition.

My largest Silver repousse Thai sword is 112cms long in the scabbard.

Thank for sharing this image, these are seldom found or seen weapons.

Any other images from the museum?

Thanks

Gavin

CharlesS · 21st September 2012, 12:02 PM

These are the equivalent of two-handed broadswords and I believe they are referred to as 'darb sri gun chai', but I cannot make an exact translation...we need Nathaniel here!

Nathaniel · 22nd September 2012, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordkoos

The national museum in Chiang Mai is rather small and underfunded, yet they still have some interesting pieces. Photos weren't really allowed but I did manage a quick & dirty pic of these weapons using my phone camera. The swords are about 110 cm long.

Nice pictures, Lord Koos. Thanks for sharing

Nathaniel · 22nd September 2012, 12:15 AM

Lord Koos...what did the description tags say for the three???

Nathaniel · 22nd September 2012, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordkoos

Yes, I guess they are halberds, not swords.

Yes/ No. There are a few different names in Thai, one is sword the other is halberd.

Nathaniel · 22nd September 2012, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

At 110cms long they fit the "sword" category far better than a halberd by definition.

My largest Silver repousse Thai sword is 112cms long in the scabbard.

Thank for sharing this image, these are seldom found or seen weapons.

Any other images from the museum?

Thanks

Gavin

Yes, I agree with Gavin's comment...more like a long sword. These blades shape show the influence of the Chinese Yan Yue Dao.

Nathaniel · 22nd September 2012, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

These are the equivalent of two-handed broadswords and I believe they are referred to as 'darb sri gun chai', but I cannot make an exact translation...we need Nathaniel here!

Hey Charles, Not sure.

I've heard these called Daab Sri, but I'm not sure of the meaning...and had not heard before of the Daab Sri Gun Chai. I'm sure it could be just a longer form of the name. Srigunchai, might be the name, ie one word that was just broken up into the syllables to make it easier in Romanized form to pronounce.

lordkoos · 8th November 2012, 08:49 AM

Hi guys, sorry to be tardy with the replies on this thread... there was little info about these in the museum, just a small tag in Thai, which I could not read. I took a couple of other discreet pictures of some of the Buddhist art but no other swords, the couple of other knives they had on display were pretty typical/nothing special.

PUFF · 3rd December 2012, 10:37 AM

Dahb Sri (sword of good fortune) or Dahb Chai (sword of victory), Lanna, influenced by Chainese Dao.
May also called Dahb Ngao in modern day.
Dahb Sri is shorten from Dahb Sri Khan Chai (aks Khan Chai Sri) which is mythical sword in many Buddhism cultures.
This type of sword is for martial-ceremonial purpose. They mostly come in pair, held by foot soldiers who stand next to a horse riding lord/general in troop formation. Sorry for I cant find the pic at this moment.

21st September 2012, 07:39 AM	#1
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	Thai blades in Chiang Mai museum The national museum in Chiang Mai is rather small and underfunded, yet they still have some interesting pieces. Photos weren't really allowed but I did manage a quick & dirty pic of these weapons using my phone camera. The swords are about 110 cm long. Attached Images

21st September 2012, 07:42 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	those look like halberds for use from elephant back. cool.

21st September 2012, 09:27 AM	#3
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	Yes, I guess they are halberds, not swords.

21st September 2012, 11:55 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	At 110cms long they fit the "sword" category far better than a halberd by definition. My largest Silver repousse Thai sword is 112cms long in the scabbard. Thank for sharing this image, these are seldom found or seen weapons. Any other images from the museum? Thanks Gavin

21st September 2012, 12:02 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	These are the equivalent of two-handed broadswords and I believe they are referred to as 'darb sri gun chai', but I cannot make an exact translation...we need Nathaniel here!

22nd September 2012, 12:15 AM	#7
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Lord Koos...what did the description tags say for the three???

8th November 2012, 08:49 AM	#11
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	Hi guys, sorry to be tardy with the replies on this thread... there was little info about these in the museum, just a small tag in Thai, which I could not read. I took a couple of other discreet pictures of some of the Buddhist art but no other swords, the couple of other knives they had on display were pretty typical/nothing special.

3rd December 2012, 10:37 AM	#12
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Dahb Sri (sword of good fortune) or Dahb Chai (sword of victory), Lanna, influenced by Chainese Dao. May also called Dahb Ngao in modern day. Dahb Sri is shorten from Dahb Sri Khan Chai (aks Khan Chai Sri) which is mythical sword in many Buddhism cultures. This type of sword is for martial-ceremonial purpose. They mostly come in pair, held by foot soldiers who stand next to a horse riding lord/general in troop formation. Sorry for I cant find the pic at this moment.