An Interesting Old Quality Daab/Dha with Lacquered Wooden Scabbard

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by aiontay

Just comment on the shape of the blade. It has been awhile since I was in Northern Thailand, but I think I remember seeing plenty of utility farm blades with a square "point" so this blade shape isn't unknown in Thailand, I would think.

On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind the northern Thailand, Chiang Mai in particular, was a vassal state to various Burmese kingdoms for many years at different points in history. In addition, as my Kachin friends pointed out more than once, the Burmese kings and Shan princes frequently hired Kachins and other tribal people as mercenaries, so it wouldn't impossible (although highly unlikely) that there might in fact be a Kachin influence on this blade.

I would not be surprised at all if there were a Kachin influence (or even origin, as trade blades are not uncommon) on this blade form. It may well have developed independently of the similarly-tipped Kachin and Naga weapons, but Occam's Razor, however....