Achang Dha query

SidJ · 27th August 2021, 12:51 AM

Hello
I would be grateful for any advice on this Achang Dha(?) please.
Thanks
Sid

Ian · 27th August 2021, 06:38 AM

Hello Sid,

Welcome to the Forum!

That's a strange sword that seems to have been assembled with parts from different cultures. It is, as you noted, most likely a HuSa dao from Yunnan, made by the Achang people. The guard could be Chinese in style, while the hilt is similar to the three-part Shan/Burmese style. The blade has been quench-hardened, as is the custom of the Achang. Their blades are usually good quality and well forged. The scabbard resembles the long, open-faced scabbards to the north of Burma, notably Assam and neighboring areas, as well as among the Lisu in NW Yunnan. There has been a close connection between the Kachin/Lisu peoples and the Achang for at least the last 70+ years, and probably longer.

Such mixes of cultural elements are not uncommon among the swords the Achang make for areas of northern Yunnan and north of Burma. The blades are almost always flat-ended in the Kachin manner. The long scabbards are sometimes made in HuSa although they may be added later at their final destination.

The Achang trade widely in countries north of Burma, and I have knives from Tibet and Bhutan that are clearly stamped "HuSa."

Thanks for showing this interesting sword.

SidJ · 27th August 2021, 01:03 PM

G'day Ian et al,
Thanks for your informative reply. I am grateful. I note the scabbard carving is quite ornate compared to others I've seen and appears to me to have distinct Chinese influences. As you say, presumably this all forms part of the variations that these blades come in given their location of origin and the areas they are traded in.
It's my first foray into blades from this area and I'm quite intrigued by them already.

Best
Sid

JeffS · 27th August 2021, 10:38 PM

This is a close match to one I collected last year, though mine lacks the iron guard and your scabbard carving is much nicer. Glad to see an example of something mounted in there. What material are they, from the photo they look like brass or bronze studs. A really nice hairpin pattern emerged when I etched mine.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26390
Another
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...7&postcount=45

SidJ · 28th August 2021, 11:11 PM

Hi JeffS
Not sure what material the studs are as yet. I might etch mine too to see if I can see anything.
Best
Sid

Sajen · 29th August 2021, 01:29 PM

Very nice sword you got Sid, congrats!

Here is mine: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=husa

Regards,
Detlef

francantolin · 29th August 2021, 05:07 PM

Very nice swords !
I'd like to have one like that !

Really impressive, seems to be a pretty long piece,
more than one meter / 40 inches long ??

Ian · 30th August 2021, 07:38 AM

Some more examples of unusually long dha of similar manufacture.

,

JeffS · 27th September 2021, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidJ

Hi JeffS
Not sure what material the studs are as yet. I might etch mine too to see if I can see anything.
Best
Sid

Hi Sid. Have you had a chance to check out the studs yet?
I also found another example, on the old Oriental Arms site, Oriental Arms example. This one has an old label on it, I have tried to boost the contrast but still can't decipher it but one word appears to be "Burmese".

Ren Ren · 27th September 2021, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

...one word appears to be "Burmese".

And the word "Dacoits" reads quite clearly.

JeffS · 28th September 2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

And the word "Dacoits" reads quite clearly.

Ah then much of the rest falls into place "A Burmese xxxx xxx a dah used by dacoits which means highwaymen or brigands"

JeffS · 28th September 2021, 10:20 AM

Uploading the images from the old Oriental Arms site, Oriental Arms example.

Ian · 28th September 2021, 12:36 PM

Jeff,

I think the inscription reads: "A Burmese weapon I had a dah used by Dacoits which means highwaymen or brigands"

27th August 2021, 12:51 AM	#1
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 177	Achang Dha query Hello I would be grateful for any advice on this Achang Dha(?) please. Thanks Sid Attached Images

27th August 2021, 10:38 PM	#4
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 345	This is a close match to one I collected last year, though mine lacks the iron guard and your scabbard carving is much nicer. Glad to see an example of something mounted in there. What material are they, from the photo they look like brass or bronze studs. A really nice hairpin pattern emerged when I etched mine. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26390 Another http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...7&postcount=45 Attached Images Last edited by JeffS; 28th August 2021 at 07:48 AM. Reason: Added another thread

30th August 2021, 07:38 AM	#8
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Some more examples of unusually long dha of similar manufacture. , Attached Images

28th September 2021, 10:20 AM	#12
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 345	Uploading the images from the old Oriental Arms site, Oriental Arms example. Attached Images

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27th August 2021, 06:38 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Hello Sid, Welcome to the Forum! That's a strange sword that seems to have been assembled with parts from different cultures. It is, as you noted, most likely a HuSa dao from Yunnan, made by the Achang people. The guard could be Chinese in style, while the hilt is similar to the three-part Shan/Burmese style. The blade has been quench-hardened, as is the custom of the Achang. Their blades are usually good quality and well forged. The scabbard resembles the long, open-faced scabbards to the north of Burma, notably Assam and neighboring areas, as well as among the Lisu in NW Yunnan. There has been a close connection between the Kachin/Lisu peoples and the Achang for at least the last 70+ years, and probably longer. Such mixes of cultural elements are not uncommon among the swords the Achang make for areas of northern Yunnan and north of Burma. The blades are almost always flat-ended in the Kachin manner. The long scabbards are sometimes made in HuSa although they may be added later at their final destination. The Achang trade widely in countries north of Burma, and I have knives from Tibet and Bhutan that are clearly stamped "HuSa." Thanks for showing this interesting sword.

27th August 2021, 01:03 PM	#3
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 177	G'day Ian et al, Thanks for your informative reply. I am grateful. I note the scabbard carving is quite ornate compared to others I've seen and appears to me to have distinct Chinese influences. As you say, presumably this all forms part of the variations that these blades come in given their location of origin and the areas they are traded in. It's my first foray into blades from this area and I'm quite intrigued by them already. Best Sid

28th August 2021, 11:11 PM	#5
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 177	Hi JeffS Not sure what material the studs are as yet. I might etch mine too to see if I can see anything. Best Sid

29th August 2021, 01:29 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Very nice sword you got Sid, congrats! Here is mine: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=husa Regards, Detlef

29th August 2021, 05:07 PM	#7
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 877	Very nice swords ! I'd like to have one like that ! Really impressive, seems to be a pretty long piece, more than one meter / 40 inches long ??

28th September 2021, 12:36 PM	#13
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Jeff, I think the inscription reads: "A Burmese weapon I had a dah used by Dacoits which means highwaymen or brigands"