A Massive Dha/Daab With an Unique Blade

ariel · 17th February 2019, 07:16 PM

Fabulous!
The engineering is impeccable and very complex. My guess it was a differential hardening because I can seem to see traces of lamination even there. Would be interesting to polish and perhaps even etch the edge to be sure, but I would value its patination more than just knowledge. And the vestigial point would allow for stabbing action. So clever.... It must be very heavy and not “fast”, but it would shatter anything in its path. Massive steel ferrule and pommel assure structural integrity.

This bladesmith would win Forged in Fire in a heartbeat!

Charles, how the heck do you manage to find one incredible sword after another, and all of them with a twist? You must have the most intriguing collection I can imagine, something that Hales would be proud to show. My hat is off to you.

Rick · 17th February 2019, 11:06 PM

Could this have been used for executions; or is the handle a bit short for that purpose?

drac2k · 18th February 2019, 04:54 AM

Great sword, just the way I like them; massive and meant for business.
It reminds me more of a Ram Dao than a Dha.

Ian · 18th February 2019, 09:14 AM

My initial impression is that this chopper is Northern Thai or Lao in origin,based on the blade shape and the decoration along the spine of the blade. Drac has drawn an interesting analogy to a ram dao, and it should be noted that there has been considerable Hindu influence in Thailand, to the extent that the Thai have their own version of the Ramayama. I'm checking with some Thai sources on this one and will get back to you with any further information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Could this have been used for executions; or is the handle a bit short for that purpose?

Rick, my understanding from a couple of sources is that executions were carried out with ordinary swords that were not especially heavy or otherwise modified for that purpose.

Ian

Mercenary · 18th February 2019, 11:35 AM

In this thread
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24506
it was an utility knife.

ariel · 18th February 2019, 02:05 PM

Perhaps the general forms may be somewhat similar, suggesting common geographic origin ( see Ian’s post), but the size, the sturdiness, the decoration and the complexity of forging of the Charles’ example is not a utility knife. This one is a WEAPON:-)

mariusgmioc · 18th February 2019, 02:40 PM

Without being very familiar with the weapons/tools of the area but judging simply the dimmensions of the blade, I believe this is a tool, more exactly some kind of machete, and not a weapon. Of course, like most of the tools, it could be used as a weapon but because of its weight and fairly short reach would be extremely inefficient. Of course it can deliver devastating blows but that wouldn't make it an effective weapon since in a battle one does not confront an immobile, static, opponent but an adversary constantly moving back and forth.
The presence of decorations cannot be considered a irrefutable proof for being a weapon, as I have seen several machetes of the area, equally richly decorated (Thai Enep machetes).
My two cents...

kronckew · 18th February 2019, 05:45 PM

Looks a lot like a Burmese/Thai coconut harvester's knife. See Mercenary's post above.

Thais and Burmese are Buddhists and, like most of us, do not sacrifice animals. They/we DO kill people who invade or attack them/us tho. I'm sure anyone attacking a man who has one of these and knows how to use it can, like the old Nepali chopping wood with his khukuri who killed the tiger that tried to eat him, use one of these to defend himself against an unskilled opponent.

18th February 2019, 11:35 AM	#5
Mercenary Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 428	In this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24506 it was an utility knife. Last edited by Mercenary; 18th February 2019 at 12:57 PM.

17th February 2019, 07:16 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Fabulous! The engineering is impeccable and very complex. My guess it was a differential hardening because I can seem to see traces of lamination even there. Would be interesting to polish and perhaps even etch the edge to be sure, but I would value its patination more than just knowledge. And the vestigial point would allow for stabbing action. So clever.... It must be very heavy and not “fast”, but it would shatter anything in its path. Massive steel ferrule and pommel assure structural integrity. This bladesmith would win Forged in Fire in a heartbeat! Charles, how the heck do you manage to find one incredible sword after another, and all of them with a twist? You must have the most intriguing collection I can imagine, something that Hales would be proud to show. My hat is off to you.

17th February 2019, 11:06 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Could this have been used for executions; or is the handle a bit short for that purpose?

18th February 2019, 04:54 AM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Great sword, just the way I like them; massive and meant for business. It reminds me more of a Ram Dao than a Dha.

18th February 2019, 02:05 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Perhaps the general forms may be somewhat similar, suggesting common geographic origin ( see Ian’s post), but the size, the sturdiness, the decoration and the complexity of forging of the Charles’ example is not a utility knife. This one is a WEAPON:-)

18th February 2019, 02:40 PM	#7
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Without being very familiar with the weapons/tools of the area but judging simply the dimmensions of the blade, I believe this is a tool, more exactly some kind of machete, and not a weapon. Of course, like most of the tools, it could be used as a weapon but because of its weight and fairly short reach would be extremely inefficient. Of course it can deliver devastating blows but that wouldn't make it an effective weapon since in a battle one does not confront an immobile, static, opponent but an adversary constantly moving back and forth. The presence of decorations cannot be considered a irrefutable proof for being a weapon, as I have seen several machetes of the area, equally richly decorated (Thai Enep machetes). My two cents...

18th February 2019, 05:45 PM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	Looks a lot like a Burmese/Thai coconut harvester's knife. See Mercenary's post above. Thais and Burmese are Buddhists and, like most of us, do not sacrifice animals. They/we DO kill people who invade or attack them/us tho. I'm sure anyone attacking a man who has one of these and knows how to use it can, like the old Nepali chopping wood with his khukuri who killed the tiger that tried to eat him, use one of these to defend himself against an unskilled opponent.