Naga Dao

[Emanuel]

My last purchase for a loooong time. Got carried away these last few weeks.

A Naga dao. 25.5" long with 19" blade. No scabbard unfortunately.
Late-19th century?

Emanuel

[ariel]

Nice folding pattern under a beautiful patina.
I have a similar one, also with a bright and nicely laminated blade after gentle polishing. Within a month or two it became as patinated as this one. What kind of steel is it?

[Emanuel]

Just received it and haven't finished cleaning the blade but the lamination seems to be a hairpin pattern. The contrast between the two types of metal is quite striking. I'll post pics when polished.

[Mark]

The hairpin pattern is a sign of the highest quality dao (it might even have a double hairpin). Here is another thread where they are discussed:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=68999#post68999