Daab/ Dah Makers Marks

[Nathaniel]

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

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/Burmese%20Dha/DSC_0051.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/DSC_0003.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/ph-2.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/old11sword036.jpg

[kronckew]

sometimes the spine marks are also informative

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/swords/P2220198.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/swords/P2220200.jpg

[fernando]

This is probably a very common one :shrug:
... But i still have no trace on its meaning :confused: .
Fernando

.

[kahnjar1]

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

[Mark]

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:

http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/49_markings.jpg

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:

http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Images/Image217.jpg
http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Images/Image240.jpg
http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Images/Image431.jpg

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

[Nathaniel]

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

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/DSC_0022.jpg

[kahnjar1]

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]

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]

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.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/ag_dha1.jpg
the blade itself is unmarked.

the phoenix on the grip also has an inscription over it.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/ag_dha5.jpg

overall dha for context
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/ag_dha3.jpg

[Nathaniel]

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]

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

[Nathaniel]

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/DaizuDaoTiger.jpg

[Gavin Nugent]

Some more marks for the archives;

All four images from the one sword.

Gav

[Gavin Nugent]

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

Gav

[Nathaniel]

Beautiful pieces...thanks for sharing Gav :)

[asomotif]

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

[Gavin Nugent]

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

Gav

[Gavin Nugent]

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]

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

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/DSC_0022.jpg

Couple more pistol maker marks to add:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/DSC_1147.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/DSC_1143.jpg

[Nathaniel]

A Star:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/DSC_1153.jpg

[Nathaniel]

Arrow

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/DSC_0669.jpg

[Gavin Nugent]

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

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/lofu6379/sword%20makers%20mark/DSC_0022.jpg

Hi Nathaniel,

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

Gav

[Nathaniel]

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/images1/236-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]

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. :shrug:

Cheers,
Andrew :cool:

[Nathaniel]

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