Mark,
I would agree the handle doesn't look like a Kachin style handle and would be more in line with a Shan or Northern Thai style. If I was a betting man I'd say it isn't a Kachin sword. I'm just saying I don't think the blade style differences, ie straight vs curved for example, really provides much definitive information based on my admittedly limited observations of Kachin swords owned by Kachins. Well, maybe they're not that limited since my thesis is about the Kachins (based on field research in Thailand and Burma). I should also note that while Leach wrote a great book, I know the Kachins who have read it take issue with a few things, and I'd say his interpretation of Kachin/Shan interactions needs to be treated with some caution.
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