Thai or burmese Dha dagger

CNK1 · 27th March 2021, 10:41 PM

Good evening everybody,

I would like to share with you one of my last find, a nice silver mounted Dha dagger with a, what I belive it could be, a tiger tooth or claw as hilt !

I've searched about the origin of this knife and find it could be Thai or burmese, what's your mind about it ?

Ian · 27th March 2021, 11:21 PM

Hi CNK1:

Your question seems simple but, like so many questions about edged weapons in SE Asia, the answer is not so simple.

The silver work, especially the design of the sheath and its filigree work, is almost certainly Shan in manufacture. Now, the (largely autonomous) Shan States are located in Burma/Myanmar geographically, but ethnically and culturally the Shan are related to the "Tai" peoples of northern Thailand, Laos, and southern Yunnan. So the title of your post is correct, depending on how you look at the geographic/ethnic/cultural relationships of the Shan.

A shorter conventional answer to your question, based on the views of Western collectors: the style of this type of dagger is often referred to as "Burmese" (meaning coming from Burma/Myanmar, rather than being of Burman origin) and called a dha hmyaung.

Ian

CNK1 · 28th March 2021, 02:02 PM

Hello Ian,

Thank's for your help !

Your explanation are really helpfull and I like the way you "distinguished" the ethnic and geographic origin, really complete and interesting answer

Clément

Ian · 28th March 2021, 03:39 PM

Hello Clément,

Glad I could be of help.

Ian.

27th March 2021, 10:41 PM	#1
CNK1 Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 41	Thai or burmese Dha dagger Good evening everybody, I would like to share with you one of my last find, a nice silver mounted Dha dagger with a, what I belive it could be, a tiger tooth or claw as hilt ! I've searched about the origin of this knife and find it could be Thai or burmese, what's your mind about it ? Attached Images

27th March 2021, 11:21 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Hi CNK1: Your question seems simple but, like so many questions about edged weapons in SE Asia, the answer is not so simple. The silver work, especially the design of the sheath and its filigree work, is almost certainly Shan in manufacture. Now, the (largely autonomous) Shan States are located in Burma/Myanmar geographically, but ethnically and culturally the Shan are related to the "Tai" peoples of northern Thailand, Laos, and southern Yunnan. So the title of your post is correct, depending on how you look at the geographic/ethnic/cultural relationships of the Shan. A shorter conventional answer to your question, based on the views of Western collectors: the style of this type of dagger is often referred to as "Burmese" (meaning coming from Burma/Myanmar, rather than being of Burman origin) and called a dha hmyaung. Ian

28th March 2021, 02:02 PM	#3
CNK1 Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 41	Hello Ian, Thank's for your help ! Your explanation are really helpfull and I like the way you "distinguished" the ethnic and geographic origin, really complete and interesting answer Clément

28th March 2021, 03:39 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Hello Clément, Glad I could be of help. Ian.