Kachin/Naga Dao
 

G'day
I think these are Very :cool:

I AGREE!!
 

Yes VERY cool indeed. I have been trying to get hold of one of these for quite some time. Any ideas?
Regards Stu

Very cool
 

Very cool Scratch, and a pair to boot!! You collection is growing with more quality items AAA+.
I look forward to viewing further images.

Gav

G'day :)
Hello Khanjar and Freebooter, both pieces show obvious signs of hairpin lamination. Without cleaning it is not obvious in photos. I was quite stunned to get these with fitting scabbards, I love the shape and texture of these.Down the track I think they will display well and tell their own story.
Thank you both for your interest, I wil add some photos.

Cheers,

Dan :)

With flash.

Neat! I also have always liked these! Have pictures of a pair of mine, somewhere.....

Hello Bill :)
I enjoyed your Kachin dao post very much.
The dao with ivory buttplate with lovely design is a beauty as is the other.Thank you for sharing.
How many types of these daos are there?, These are not the topend variety. Would the handles be bamboo root?

Cheers

Hi scratch, I think you have to clean and than etch the blades. You will find some nice laminations.

Regards
Flavio ;)

I agree. You will be pleasantly surprised. A double-hairpin is characteristic of the highest quality Kachin dao (they would call it a "nhtu," by the way). Writing of the dao made by the Hkahkus, Hanson states:

"There are at least four varieties, of which one with clear, wavy streaks of steel running down the blade, is the most valuable and appreciated." Hanson, O., "The Kachin, Their Customs & Traditions," (1913), p. 76.

Yours might look something like this:
http://www.arscives.com/historysteel.../230-mib26.jpg

Or like my one
Paolo

Since this is turning into the Kachin Dao thread, I'll dig up a few of mine ;)

Actually I am glad that I did. These are really neat sword types they all speak to me. Fun to swing around.

Like Scratch said in the original post.

Very nice.
Paolo

Does anyone else have a jawbone on their scabbard? The one I posted above has half of a small jawbone of what I think is a small cat tied to the shoulder loop, and I see that one of Bill's does, too. I came across this description of a similar feature:

"A dha in its half-scabbard, fastened to a bamboo hoop, decorated with charms, such as the canine or molar of a leopard or tiger, and suspended to a red cloth band ornamented with cowries, is also slung over the right shoulder." Anderson, "A Report of the Expedition to Western Yunnan" (1871), p. 121.

Mark, Here is a closeup of my jawbone. Could be a tiger or some other big cat. The teeth on mine look similar to yours.

I am also curious about the symbol on the end of my hilt. Any ideas? Anybody else have a symbol like this?

Pussycat dolls
 

I also have one with part of a small cats jaw. Grrrrrrrr meiow :shrug: Left side of lower mandible to be precise. Correction upper right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/2ch.jpg

G'day :)
Flavio,Mark,Paolo,Bill and Tim,
Thank you for your Info, thoughts and sharing such wonderful examples!!!

Bill, is the symbol outlined in silver? does this motif appear in any of the textiles,crafts of region?
Were the smiths also shamens?
I am ignorant of Kachin culture, any good links please?
Cheers

Daniel

As far as I know, there were no shamanistic aspects to bladesmithing among the Kachin. It is not considerred to be a prestigeous occupation, except among the Duleng, who were (and I suppose may still be) famous for the quality of their blades. See, Leach, "Political Systems of Highland Burma," (1954), pp. 57 & 251. This seems to correlate with the social/political structure of the communities - in so-called gumsa societies, which emphasize heritary rule, blacksmiths are accorded little status, while in the more egalitarian or merit-based gumlao societies, like the Duleng Kachin, it is seen as a high-status profession. Shan society is predominantly gumsa, and also views blacksmithing as a low-class occupation (in Leach's words, "iron-working is a task for slaves"). p. 251. Perhaps the distinction comes from viewing a blacksmith as a provider of material to the ruling class, a "tool" as it were, as opposed to someone who provides a valuable service for the community. Artisans of all kinds were considered very valuable stategic assets throughout the history of the region, and after a war were regularly uprooted and deported to the victor's territory. Perhaps another reason an autocratic/heirarchical society might view them more as chattels than as valued members of the community.