Josh:
You raise some interesting quesions about Sino-border styles, and the likeness to Tibetan decorative style is apparent in the example I posted.
The sword dha favored by the Kachin was found throughout the range they previously occupied in the 18th and 19th C, which extended as far west as Assam. Such westward migration would have brought them into fairly close proximity to Tibet, so a direct connection may be possible. That particular sword has some age to it, and is probably a 19th C. example.
Ian.
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