Daab/ Dah Makers Marks

Nathaniel · 22nd February 2009, 05:56 PM

I was thinking it would be intersting to start a thread on daarb/ dha makers marks.

kronckew · 22nd February 2009, 07:05 PM

sometimes the spine marks are also informative

fernando · 22nd February 2009, 09:31 PM

This is probably a very common one

... But i still have no trace on its meaning

.
Fernando

.

kahnjar1 · 23rd February 2009, 04:49 AM

OK Here are a few to get the ball rolling.
Regards Stuart

Mark · 23rd February 2009, 05:37 PM

Great thread! Unfortunately, most of the marks are in need of translation, for me. I only know the meaning of two - the "turtle" mark, which my understanding denotes a northern Thai (Chaing Mai) origin, and the "bitter melon seed" (two rosettes), which indicates Aranyik. I have one that bears both:

I am somewhat tentative in the attribution, however, as I only have it from one source, who has been inaccurate in some other respects.

Here are a couple others I have seen:

I would be great if some of our Thai colleagues could verify any of this.

Nathaniel · 24th February 2009, 05:42 AM

Another to add...anyone have a sword with the same?

kahnjar1 · 24th February 2009, 06:06 AM

Forgot this one. On the same blade as the first one above. The script is MON which is the forerunner to modern Burmese, but there is also what appears to be a stilletto type mark.

Nathaniel · 25th February 2009, 05:28 AM

Interesting piece Stuart, I have not seen many with the Mon script. I do not know much on the Mon people. So here is what I looked up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_people

kronckew · 25th February 2009, 07:27 AM

not as yet had a translation of the markings on this dha's grip, i've assumed it's some sort of dedication or presentation inscription.

the blade itself is unmarked.

the phoenix on the grip also has an inscription over it.

overall dha for context

Nathaniel · 26th February 2009, 05:43 AM

Mark....I thought it might be funny/ interesting for you to know that when I showed an thai friend, the 4th picture you posted....she said the thai script on the blade looked like the thai word "Hell"!!!!!

Mark · 26th February 2009, 03:31 PM

No kidding?! Interesting choice for a maker's mark.

Nathaniel · 7th June 2009, 06:31 PM

Gavin Nugent · 29th September 2009, 02:01 PM

Some more marks for the archives;

All four images from the one sword.

Gav

Gavin Nugent · 30th September 2009, 07:20 AM

Some more markings, although I wouldn't say a "makers marks" as such but were certainly marks/design when made.

Gav

Nathaniel · 30th September 2009, 02:52 PM

Beautiful pieces...thanks for sharing Gav

asomotif · 7th November 2009, 10:47 PM

Another one :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11028

Gavin Nugent · 13th November 2009, 05:56 AM

A couple more from Ebay, maybe the owner is among us?

Gav

Gavin Nugent · 4th January 2010, 11:30 AM

Another group of markings on a nice ivory hilted Dha. I have included the dha hilt too as I have not seen this much attention payed to ivory other than the real exotic carved pieces.

Best

Gav

Nathaniel · 24th January 2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Another to add...anyone have a sword with the same?

Couple more pistol maker marks to add:

Nathaniel · 24th January 2010, 10:18 PM

A Star:

Nathaniel · 24th January 2010, 10:25 PM

Arrow

Gavin Nugent · 3rd April 2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Another to add...anyone have a sword with the same?

Hi Nathaniel,

This pistol marking is from the Yuen Lam provence on the China Burma border is late 1970-1980s.

Gav

Nathaniel · 25th September 2010, 06:13 PM

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel.../236-ayw21.jpg

Listed as a British production piece and the BP4, (British Police?), but I didn't see anything listed on the arrow mark....I just did some searching on the internet under British arrow mark and came up with the "Broad Arrow":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow

Andrew · 27th September 2010, 01:45 AM

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002441.html

Great find on the "broad arrow" mark, Nathaniel. As I mentioned to you privately, the "BP4" referenced in the HOS catalogue was a mistake--the "4" referred to the arrow mark.

Given the other "___ P" marks I've seen on bayonets, I'm inclined to think the "BP" stands for Burma Police, but that's mostly speculation on my part.

Cheers,
Andrew

Nathaniel · 27th September 2010, 03:10 AM

Sweet, love references to the old forum threads. Thanks for the clarification Andrew...

22nd February 2009, 05:56 PM	#1
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Daab/ Dah Makers Marks I was thinking it would be intersting to start a thread on daarb/ dha makers marks.

22nd February 2009, 09:31 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	This is probably a very common one ... But i still have no trace on its meaning . Fernando . Attached Images

23rd February 2009, 04:49 AM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	OK Here are a few to get the ball rolling. Regards Stuart Attached Images

24th February 2009, 06:06 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	...and another one Forgot this one. On the same blade as the first one above. The script is MON which is the forerunner to modern Burmese, but there is also what appears to be a stilletto type mark. Attached Images

29th September 2009, 02:01 PM	#13
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Some more marks for the archives Some more marks for the archives; All four images from the one sword. Gav Attached Images Last edited by freebooter; 29th September 2009 at 02:14 PM.

22nd February 2009, 07:05 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	sometimes the spine marks are also informative

23rd February 2009, 05:37 PM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Great thread! Unfortunately, most of the marks are in need of translation, for me. I only know the meaning of two - the "turtle" mark, which my understanding denotes a northern Thai (Chaing Mai) origin, and the "bitter melon seed" (two rosettes), which indicates Aranyik. I have one that bears both: I am somewhat tentative in the attribution, however, as I only have it from one source, who has been inaccurate in some other respects. Here are a couple others I have seen: I would be great if some of our Thai colleagues could verify any of this.

24th February 2009, 05:42 AM	#6
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Another to add...anyone have a sword with the same?

25th February 2009, 05:28 AM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Interesting piece Stuart, I have not seen many with the Mon script. I do not know much on the Mon people. So here is what I looked up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_people

25th February 2009, 07:27 AM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	not as yet had a translation of the markings on this dha's grip, i've assumed it's some sort of dedication or presentation inscription. the blade itself is unmarked. the phoenix on the grip also has an inscription over it. overall dha for context

26th February 2009, 05:43 AM	#10
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Mark....I thought it might be funny/ interesting for you to know that when I showed an thai friend, the 4th picture you posted....she said the thai script on the blade looked like the thai word "Hell"!!!!!

26th February 2009, 03:31 PM	#11
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	No kidding?! Interesting choice for a maker's mark.

7th June 2009, 06:31 PM	#12
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865

30th September 2009, 07:20 AM	#14
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Some more your the archives Some more markings, although I wouldn't say a "makers marks" as such but were certainly marks/design when made. Gav Attached Images

30th September 2009, 02:52 PM	#15
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Beautiful pieces...thanks for sharing Gav

7th November 2009, 10:47 PM	#16
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,224	Another one : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11028 Attached Images

13th November 2009, 05:56 AM	#17
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A couple more from Ebay A couple more from Ebay, maybe the owner is among us? Gav Attached Images

4th January 2010, 11:30 AM	#18
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Another for the Dhafia Another group of markings on a nice ivory hilted Dha. I have included the dha hilt too as I have not seen this much attention payed to ivory other than the real exotic carved pieces. Best Gav Attached Images

24th January 2010, 10:18 PM	#20
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	A Star:

24th January 2010, 10:25 PM	#21
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Arrow

25th September 2010, 06:13 PM	#23
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	http://www.arscives.com/historysteel.../236-ayw21.jpg Listed as a British production piece and the BP4, (British Police?), but I didn't see anything listed on the arrow mark....I just did some searching on the internet under British arrow mark and came up with the "Broad Arrow": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow

27th September 2010, 01:45 AM	#24
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002441.html Great find on the "broad arrow" mark, Nathaniel. As I mentioned to you privately, the "BP4" referenced in the HOS catalogue was a mistake--the "4" referred to the arrow mark. Given the other "___ P" marks I've seen on bayonets, I'm inclined to think the "BP" stands for Burma Police, but that's mostly speculation on my part. Cheers, Andrew

27th September 2010, 03:10 AM	#25
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Sweet, love references to the old forum threads. Thanks for the clarification Andrew...