Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 27th August 2021, 05:38 AM

Hello Sid,

Welcome to the Forum!

That's a strange sword that seems to have been assembled with parts from different cultures. It is, as you noted, most likely a HuSa dao from Yunnan, made by the Achang people. The guard could be Chinese in style, while the hilt is similar to the three-part Shan/Burmese style. The blade has been quench-hardened, as is the custom of the Achang. Their blades are usually good quality and well forged. The scabbard resembles the long, open-faced scabbards to the north of Burma, notably Assam and neighboring areas, as well as among the Lisu in NW Yunnan. There has been a close connection between the Kachin/Lisu peoples and the Achang for at least the last 70+ years, and probably longer.

Such mixes of cultural elements are not uncommon among the swords the Achang make for areas of northern Yunnan and north of Burma. The blades are almost always flat-ended in the Kachin manner. The long scabbards are sometimes made in HuSa although they may be added later at their final destination.

The Achang trade widely in countries north of Burma, and I have knives from Tibet and Bhutan that are clearly stamped "HuSa."

Thanks for showing this interesting sword.

27th August 2021, 05:38 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,034	Hello Sid, Welcome to the Forum! That's a strange sword that seems to have been assembled with parts from different cultures. It is, as you noted, most likely a HuSa dao from Yunnan, made by the Achang people. The guard could be Chinese in style, while the hilt is similar to the three-part Shan/Burmese style. The blade has been quench-hardened, as is the custom of the Achang. Their blades are usually good quality and well forged. The scabbard resembles the long, open-faced scabbards to the north of Burma, notably Assam and neighboring areas, as well as among the Lisu in NW Yunnan. There has been a close connection between the Kachin/Lisu peoples and the Achang for at least the last 70+ years, and probably longer. Such mixes of cultural elements are not uncommon among the swords the Achang make for areas of northern Yunnan and north of Burma. The blades are almost always flat-ended in the Kachin manner. The long scabbards are sometimes made in HuSa although they may be added later at their final destination. The Achang trade widely in countries north of Burma, and I have knives from Tibet and Bhutan that are clearly stamped "HuSa." Thanks for showing this interesting sword.