[rickdeckard]

Hello,
I’m looking to verify if the dha I picked up many years ago at an antique store is of the type used by the British Indian Army in WW2. Or whether it’s simply a roughly made souvenir with an old genuine scabbard.

I picked it up because my grandfather spent time in Burma with the Indian 19th division during the war and my Dad said this dha “looked” like the tools his Dad had described to him.

Those I have seen listed as British army issue WW2 Dias have obvious markings (e.g. broad arrow) and dates of manufacture. They have different “slab” and rivet handles. I have seen these referred to as Mk II or III and usually dated 1944 or 45.

As seen in the photos mine is quite crudely made and has:

Barely legible markings on the scabbard: “MP” ?, “8”? , “78”?.
And on the spine of the blade: “1466” ?

There are no obvious dates or broad arrow marks on the blade.

Dad said the blades were often made of spring steel and mine looks pretty crude and agricultural.

The closure on the scabbard has been repaired recently - but the style looks similar to later war British issue.

Asking any members with knowledge of the subject whether the dha in the photos is simply a rough agricultural tool or whether it resembles anything that would have been used by British Indian forces in the Second World War.

Thanks in advance.