Very long dha

katana · 18th November 2007, 09:46 PM

Hi Emanuel,
I followed this .... with the same thoughts about the original length. I was going to bid and try and reprofile the blade so that it had distal taper ....but it would remove too much of the original surface ....its a real shame that it was not 'complete' .... must have been a very desirable Dah in its heyday.

Regards David

Mark · 19th November 2007, 10:03 PM

Wow. I have not seen many 40" blades, but they do exist. The ones I have seen have longer handles, though. The one-handed grip would have made this pretty clumsy to use, I think. An interesting piece, and its too bad that it is in such bad shape.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 20th November 2007, 01:55 PM

Like Mark I've seen only seen one this long and it was at the Vimamek Mansion, they had it listed as a processional dha, but it was definitely more of a Central Thai style with the belly swell towards the tip and no scabbard.

Could the handle have been shortened after it broke?
Does the hilt size and the top of the scabbard match up (same diameter)?

Definitely interesting!

Dan

Emanuel · 20th November 2007, 09:14 PM

I was seriously considering getting it, David. The blade is quite nice, but the bad overall shape and the ridiculous shipping price put me off.

Mark I was thinking the same about the odd proportions. I find it interesting that the false edge or back edge starts so close to the hilt. In other pieces I've seen the false edge is closer to the tip.

Dan, the listing had a picture of the scabbard mouth and top of the hilt together; it looks like they fit perfectly, stylistically as well as in terms of dimensions. Here is the pic.

Emanuel

PUFF · 21st November 2007, 11:18 AM

According to style of the silver work, some collectors in my area ID this piece as a "Rakhine" 's Dha. They are usually "Dha" size. Although many of them has curve, cut-off tip like this... one can also find other tip styles from this area.

Having false edge upto 1/2 or 2/3 's not uncommon.
We are now discussing about possibility that the peice was used by an elephant rider.

Mark · 21st November 2007, 04:51 PM

Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit.

PUFF · 22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM

Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma.
Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin).

Many thank for the photo

20th November 2007, 01:55 PM	#3
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Shortened Like Mark I've seen only seen one this long and it was at the Vimamek Mansion, they had it listed as a processional dha, but it was definitely more of a Central Thai style with the belly swell towards the tip and no scabbard. Could the handle have been shortened after it broke? Does the hilt size and the top of the scabbard match up (same diameter)? Definitely interesting! Dan

20th November 2007, 09:14 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I was seriously considering getting it, David. The blade is quite nice, but the bad overall shape and the ridiculous shipping price put me off. Mark I was thinking the same about the odd proportions. I find it interesting that the false edge or back edge starts so close to the hilt. In other pieces I've seen the false edge is closer to the tip. Dan, the listing had a picture of the scabbard mouth and top of the hilt together; it looks like they fit perfectly, stylistically as well as in terms of dimensions. Here is the pic. Emanuel Attached Images

21st November 2007, 04:51 PM	#6
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit. Attached Images

18th November 2007, 09:46 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Emanuel, I followed this .... with the same thoughts about the original length. I was going to bid and try and reprofile the blade so that it had distal taper ....but it would remove too much of the original surface ....its a real shame that it was not 'complete' .... must have been a very desirable Dah in its heyday. Regards David

19th November 2007, 10:03 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Wow. I have not seen many 40" blades, but they do exist. The ones I have seen have longer handles, though. The one-handed grip would have made this pretty clumsy to use, I think. An interesting piece, and its too bad that it is in such bad shape.

21st November 2007, 11:18 AM	#5
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	According to style of the silver work, some collectors in my area ID this piece as a "Rakhine" 's Dha. They are usually "Dha" size. Although many of them has curve, cut-off tip like this... one can also find other tip styles from this area. Having false edge upto 1/2 or 2/3 's not uncommon. We are now discussing about possibility that the peice was used by an elephant rider.

22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM	#7
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma. Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin). Many thank for the photo