Hi everyone

PUFF · 21st June 2006, 04:27 AM

Nice forging and Dha interpretation

In deed, old blades do use fold steel. In the old day,though ,forge folding do not show any pattern, its main purpose are slag reduction and surface carburizing. I just finish electroclean a blade which has a sign of fold steel. Will post a pic in our previous fold steel thread.

Typical Dha blades do not have prominent ricasso. Their tang 's forced into the ferrule-encased hilt. I do like the integral ricasso like this as long as the integral part 's not so heavy that its balance point move too much backward. A little bigger (thicker and longer) ricasso would be nice for its appearance could be similar to typical ferrule (Dama pattern is a plus

).

Traditional Dha 's flat or slightly convex ground with little or no bevel. Your one looks fine (with a bit westernized feel

).

It would be nice to have the hilt upward (Lanna style) or downward (Burman style). A hardwood hilt on this kind of blade usually has (profiled) round butt rather than Tanto style cut-off butt

. You can also visit Mark's page and study his sample. He has a superb collection of Burman knives and Dha(s).

Mark · 21st June 2006, 03:44 PM

Though now fused by oxidation, the grip and guard originally were separate.

I have not found many sources on iron/steel production methods in SEA, but I will forward to you what I have. A nice one I found is a 1907 monograph article on the iron and steel industry in Burma, which is were I found the description of the jacketing method. There are a few interesting recent articles on excavations of iron smelters in Burma as well (I will have to locate the precise references). I have found some references to the use of local vs. imported iron & steel as well.

Specific information to follow.

Antoine M. · 22nd June 2006, 12:10 AM

Thank's Mark, I appreciate!

Antoine

Mark · 22nd June 2006, 03:32 PM

"Early Metallurgy, Trade and Urban Centres in Thailand and Southeast Asia," Glover, et al. (eds), White Lotus Press, 1992 is a compilation of 13 essays, which contain a fair amount of information on the industry, but nothing about swords in particular.

Bell, "A Monograph on Iron and Steel Work in Burma," Superintendant of Gov't Printing, Rangoon, 1907, has the most early information that I have found about sword making. I have it as a PDF file, and will try and e-mail it to you, but it is rather large.

Farrars & Farrars, "Burma," Sampson Law Marston & Co., London, 1908 (recently re-printed) is the second-best source of information on the sword industry in Burma, but it is very little objectively speaking.

A contemporary article on Thai swordsmithing is Boyd, "Blades of Bangkok," Blade Magazine, March, 2000, pp. 136-143. Contact Krause Publications, Inc, Attn. Jackie Baldwin, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, FAX: 715-445-4087 to get a reprint.

21st June 2006, 04:27 AM	#1
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Nice forging and Dha interpretation In deed, old blades do use fold steel. In the old day,though ,forge folding do not show any pattern, its main purpose are slag reduction and surface carburizing. I just finish electroclean a blade which has a sign of fold steel. Will post a pic in our previous fold steel thread. Typical Dha blades do not have prominent ricasso. Their tang 's forced into the ferrule-encased hilt. I do like the integral ricasso like this as long as the integral part 's not so heavy that its balance point move too much backward. A little bigger (thicker and longer) ricasso would be nice for its appearance could be similar to typical ferrule (Dama pattern is a plus ). Traditional Dha 's flat or slightly convex ground with little or no bevel. Your one looks fine (with a bit westernized feel ). It would be nice to have the hilt upward (Lanna style) or downward (Burman style). A hardwood hilt on this kind of blade usually has (profiled) round butt rather than Tanto style cut-off butt . You can also visit Mark's page and study his sample. He has a superb collection of Burman knives and Dha(s).

21st June 2006, 03:44 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Though now fused by oxidation, the grip and guard originally were separate. I have not found many sources on iron/steel production methods in SEA, but I will forward to you what I have. A nice one I found is a 1907 monograph article on the iron and steel industry in Burma, which is were I found the description of the jacketing method. There are a few interesting recent articles on excavations of iron smelters in Burma as well (I will have to locate the precise references). I have found some references to the use of local vs. imported iron & steel as well. Specific information to follow.

22nd June 2006, 12:10 AM	#3
Antoine M. Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 8	Thank's Mark, I appreciate! Antoine

22nd June 2006, 03:32 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	"Early Metallurgy, Trade and Urban Centres in Thailand and Southeast Asia," Glover, et al. (eds), White Lotus Press, 1992 is a compilation of 13 essays, which contain a fair amount of information on the industry, but nothing about swords in particular. Bell, "A Monograph on Iron and Steel Work in Burma," Superintendant of Gov't Printing, Rangoon, 1907, has the most early information that I have found about sword making. I have it as a PDF file, and will try and e-mail it to you, but it is rather large. Farrars & Farrars, "Burma," Sampson Law Marston & Co., London, 1908 (recently re-printed) is the second-best source of information on the sword industry in Burma, but it is very little objectively speaking. A contemporary article on Thai swordsmithing is Boyd, "Blades of Bangkok," Blade Magazine, March, 2000, pp. 136-143. Contact Krause Publications, Inc, Attn. Jackie Baldwin, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, FAX: 715-445-4087 to get a reprint.