Large Silver Dha/Daab/Darb for Comment

[laEspadaAncha]

For all the Dhaphiliacs out there

This came out of the estate of the late CINCPAC (Commander in Chief, Pacific Command) Ulysses S. Grant Sharp Jr., who enjoyed a long and illustrious 37-year career in the U.S. Navy, ascending through the ranks to become a four-star admiral, and serving as CINCPAC from 1964-1968 (and as CINCPACFLT for the three years prior). He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in '64, and was one of the chief decision makers during the Gulf of Tonken incident that led to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

As part of his senior rank and status, he served in a high-level diplomatic capacity and his estate included many gifts from heads of state and other high-level foreign dignitaries. This dha (daab? darb? dharb?) was one such gift, bestowed upon him by order of the King of Thailand in the 1960s. The scabbard and hilt are made of finely chased silver over wood. They are separated into a series of panels; the hilt with foliate scrollwork and the scabbard with figural panels (except for the bottom panel, which like the hilt, is of decorative scrollwork). The blade is laminated and of heavy triangular cross-section, and the spine measures 3/8 of an inch thick at the hilt (though it tapers quickly). In appears to show both age and signs of use as evidenced by 2-3 edged nicks towards the point. The sword is quite large overall, with a length of about 42 inches in the scabbard.

Any comments, and in particular, ideas with regards to age would be most welcomed.