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#1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Posts: 312
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Ok just one dha, but just had that song in my head. Up for comment is one dha. I am too lazy to separate the pics (well lazy and inept), so ignore the other sword. Anyways, this is a hefty piece, dont let the comparisson with the other sword fool you its OAL is 29" with a hefty 1/4" (maybe more) spine. When I was first shown pics, I didnt think it was that old, but now that its arrived its definitely a user with some history behind it. Tried to get a pic of the blade decor, but my camera is el cheapo, so if you use your imagination you can see the little s engrave marks near the spine right after the fuller. Comments appreciated. But wild guess Burmese? Hot cold freezing cold?
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#2 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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It should be Kachin , N. Burma .
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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dha dha dha kachin.
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#4 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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![]() No idea . ![]() |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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That end treatment is quite impressive...there's one similar in the dha treatise, but next to the nimcha it brings it more into perspective than when photographed alone and makes it look much more like a true weapon.
By the way, IGNORE the other piece? Sheesh...nice nimcha too! **grin** Mike |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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With a Jedi wave of the hand, "you do not see the nimcha"
![]() I gotta admit, while individual pics are great for individual analysis for a single piece, sometimes its hard for me to get perspective of size. Was tempted to throw a kampilan in the pic for further perspective, but figured it would be too much clutter. ![]() ![]() |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Big old machine shop/foundry/warehouse in Atlanta GA USA
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If your're doing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, shoudn't it be -- dha, dha, dha, dhaaaaaaaa?
Good intro for a nice dha. |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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That is a nice working dha. I would have said definitely Kachin a year ago, but in light of new information, it might be Thai. Recent intelligence from Dan says that the more curved ones are Thai, and the straighter ones the Burmese. The concave tip is apparently used by both groups. So we are sort of back to square one in terms of identifying origins. It certainly is in the Greaves-Winston "Kachin" category."
As for age, I won't venture a guess based on the photos. No more recent than WW2 era, though, I would say. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Thanks for the help Mark. Any tips on dating? This dha was purchased from a collection of blades that was mainly turn of the century, so I had assumed it may be of similar age. So would you think WWII era then?
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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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I agree with Mark. The style is definitely Kachin in influence. but just where it comes from is open to question. The decorations on the blade resemble a couple of my 19th C. darb from Thailand (different tips).
This one could date anywhere from about 1850 to 1940. I think it is probably late 19th C. Nice find. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
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Nice sword, Federico. It reminds me strongly of one owned by RhysMichael. His example has a pattern welded blade. I wonder if your's would benefit from a light etch.
The typology Ian and I started is in desparate need of an updating. I think some of the basic elements remain true, but using it to definitively place a particular sword's origin is optimistic. Mark's site will, I think, prove to be a powerful source for this research, as well-provenanced examples turn up for our consideration. More data! |
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#13 |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Ian, thanks for the help. I was wondering if the rest of the pieces that were purchased from ths collection could be used as a sideways way of dating. The Nimcha in the other photo was purchased from this collection, as well as a kris, kampilan, and a couple of bolos. All the Philippine stuff is turn of the century. Though of course the collection is from a WWII vet who was in the Pacific, so maybe he found a whole bunch of old, along with some new. Though all the pieces display similar signs of age/wear, though that may come from being in a single collection for so long.
Andrew, I gotta admit you tempt me with hope of watering, but I tend not to etch non-Philippine weaponry. Just so little knowledge of non-Philippine stuff, dunno what would be appropriate, so Ive been playing it safe and leaving my non-PI stuff alone, conservation but no restoration. Anyways, any concensus amongst the dha crowd about the ethics of etching dha? |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Macau
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Hi Federico,
Actually what caught my attention more than the beautiful dha was this other sword (bayonet type?) that shows this guard so similar to the Portuguese 16th. century crab guard swords. ![]() I find it most interesting, specially if you disregard the end of the guard. Spanish were using same type I am lead to believe. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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That's a sayf/nimcha, probably from Mooroco. There's a thread on it at the moment, under the name nimcha.
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#16 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
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The benefit of polishing is that, even if not pattern welded, most well made dha blades will demonstrate differential hardening, some with well developed equivalents of hamon and even nie, as Philip Tom just pointed out to me tonight. |
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#17 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Macau
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#18 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Antonio, given the history between Spain and Morocco, I would not be surprised if there is some connection between the hilts, but unfortunately I know too little about Nimcha or Spanish swords to really offer any insight. Anyone else know if there is indeed a connection, beyond the coincidental?
Andrew, now you are really tempting me to etch/polish the antique dha in my collection. Though, I think Ill put it off for a while till I catch up with the repairs/restoration of everything else in the collection. Though when I have time Ill post pics (though that may be a number of years) ![]() ![]() |
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#19 |
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Again sorry I'm coming in so late. Lots of excuses - none very interesting. I'd say definately Burmese (Kachin). While the blade does share the same single narrow fuller running close to the spine that I've seen on darb from central Thailand, the blade is too thick. I thought it may have a broken off and reshaped central Thai blade but the thickness seems to taper to the point too uniformly. Additionally the handle is definately not of those I noted prior and though my eyes are going (which is an understatement) the spine seems to transition from flat to peaked in the photo - definately a northern Thai burmese trait.
Again sorry I've been absent - didn't get to go to Timonium (@#$%^#) - and can't possibly keep up with my current 14/7 schedule, but I'll try when I can. Miss you guys! |
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