Dha from Bassein

Iain · 4th August 2021, 05:26 PM

A friend was able to translate the script. Quite interesting... It says "beware of forgeries!"

Kubur · 4th August 2021, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

A friend was able to translate the script. Quite interesting... It says "beware of forgeries!"

Well Stu was right to be suspicious, it is a forgery!

Unless Kronckew's sword is the forgery!!

More seriously, it is very interesting. Thanks for the translation.
Kronckew's hilt is the same.
Kronck are you sure it is silver and not chrome??
Do you have the translation of yours?
Iain are you aware of such things for mid and early 20th c. dha???
Is it a statment such as Coca Cola the original...?
But in this case, this kind of sword should be more visible on the market. Two examples is not a lot...
Strange.

kronckew · 5th August 2021, 01:07 AM

The best swords are forged.

Many fakes are made by stock removal, not forging.

Chrome does not tarnish black, as found in the deeper un-rubbed parts of the decorative areas on mine. The tarnish is more evident in the better pictures in my earlier thread.No chrome on mine. No wide fuller on the blade, either. It's also very thick at the root where it enters the grip, and is strongly distal tapered & razor sharp. The scabbard is a functional 'military' one, not a decorative thin silver-coloured thingy. The decorated brass or bronze bands are I gather typical for higher ranking army officers, with higher ranks having more bands. It owuld have had a baldric made of a heavy braided line like the one below, rather than the 'Royal' style on the above OP 'silver' scabbard.

Haven't found anyone who can translate the inscription on mine, I feel it's a presentation statement. not many around who can read the older Burmese/Mon script.

kahnjar1 · 5th August 2021, 01:56 AM

Hi Kubur,
If you check out this link you will note that Burma has been called Burma for centuries, and as far as I can see from the Wiki history it has never been called Bassein. Therefore one can not use the counties name change, as stated in your reply to Ian, as a dating aid to your dha. The country is of course now called Myanmar. Like others I would date your dha as LATE 20th c at the earliest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Myanmar
Stu

kai · 5th August 2021, 06:45 AM

Well, it's a town/city: an important port and capital of the district...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathein

Kubur · 5th August 2021, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Well, it's a town/city: an important port and capital of the district...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathein

Thank you Kai
Stu, it is a town.
Mid 20th c. by the latest!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_rule_in_Burma

kahnjar1 · 5th August 2021, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Thank you Kai
Stu, it is a town.
Mid 20th c. by the latest!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_rule_in_Burma

Hi Kubur,
Yes I agree it is a town, now called Pathein. The point I was trying to make was how you think that your dha originated there, unless of course it says so on the piece, and how you can date it based on the info you have. I think it is fair to say that most replies to your thread seem to think that it is a late 20th c piece.
Stu

Kubur · 5th August 2021, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

The best swords are forged.

Many fakes are made by stock removal, not forging.

Kronckew I was joking!
Of course you have a beautiful sword and I think our both swords were done by the same maker.
Now the questions are
Do you have the original scabbard?
Or do we have both replacement scabbards?

kronckew · 5th August 2021, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Kronckew I was joking!
...

Me Too! - I was jokingly commenting on Iain's post (Not Ian's).

Kubur · 5th August 2021, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Me Too!

Good, but now I feel obliged to do better photos of my blade!

Iain · 5th August 2021, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Iain are you aware of such things for mid and early 20th c. dha???
Is it a statment such as Coca Cola the original...?
But in this case, this kind of sword should be more visible on the market. Two examples is not a lot...
Strange.

I would guess it was simply one smith or workshop who was perhaps annoyed at some cheaper competition...

Kubur · 5th August 2021, 05:33 PM

Hi guys,

Here are some photos of the blade, back edge flat then polygonal, one big fuller and some narrow above...

5th August 2021, 01:07 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	The best swords are forged. Many fakes are made by stock removal, not forging. Chrome does not tarnish black, as found in the deeper un-rubbed parts of the decorative areas on mine. The tarnish is more evident in the better pictures in my earlier thread.No chrome on mine. No wide fuller on the blade, either. It's also very thick at the root where it enters the grip, and is strongly distal tapered & razor sharp. The scabbard is a functional 'military' one, not a decorative thin silver-coloured thingy. The decorated brass or bronze bands are I gather typical for higher ranking army officers, with higher ranks having more bands. It owuld have had a baldric made of a heavy braided line like the one below, rather than the 'Royal' style on the above OP 'silver' scabbard. Haven't found anyone who can translate the inscription on mine, I feel it's a presentation statement. not many around who can read the older Burmese/Mon script. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 5th August 2021 at 01:49 AM.

5th August 2021, 01:56 AM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	Bassein??? Hi Kubur, If you check out this link you will note that Burma has been called Burma for centuries, and as far as I can see from the Wiki history it has never been called Bassein. Therefore one can not use the counties name change, as stated in your reply to Ian, as a dating aid to your dha. The country is of course now called Myanmar. Like others I would date your dha as LATE 20th c at the earliest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Myanmar Stu

5th August 2021, 05:33 PM	#12
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi guys, Here are some photos of the blade, back edge flat then polygonal, one big fuller and some narrow above... Attached Images

4th August 2021, 05:26 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	A friend was able to translate the script. Quite interesting... It says "beware of forgeries!"

5th August 2021, 06:45 AM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Well, it's a town/city: an important port and capital of the district... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathein