Very long dha

Emanuel · 18th November 2007, 04:30 PM

Hello,

I was watching this Burmese dha on the bay: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA:IT&ih=004 and I was struck by how long the scabbard was. Tha blade had once been broken and the remaining length was about 20". Now looking at the scabbard it looks like it may once have been up to 40" long. I haven't seen such long dha yet, any comments?

ariel · 18th November 2007, 07:42 PM

Looks very nice and restorable, but the blade is broken

Hey, how about shortening the scabbard to 27" and pretend that the blade fits perfectly?

katana · 18th November 2007, 10:46 PM

Hi Emanuel,
I followed this .... with the same thoughts about the original length. I was going to bid and try and reprofile the blade so that it had distal taper ....but it would remove too much of the original surface ....its a real shame that it was not 'complete' .... must have been a very desirable Dah in its heyday.

Regards David

Mark · 19th November 2007, 11:03 PM

Wow. I have not seen many 40" blades, but they do exist. The ones I have seen have longer handles, though. The one-handed grip would have made this pretty clumsy to use, I think. An interesting piece, and its too bad that it is in such bad shape.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 20th November 2007, 02:55 PM

Like Mark I've seen only seen one this long and it was at the Vimamek Mansion, they had it listed as a processional dha, but it was definitely more of a Central Thai style with the belly swell towards the tip and no scabbard.

Could the handle have been shortened after it broke?
Does the hilt size and the top of the scabbard match up (same diameter)?

Definitely interesting!

Dan

Emanuel · 20th November 2007, 10:14 PM

I was seriously considering getting it, David. The blade is quite nice, but the bad overall shape and the ridiculous shipping price put me off.

Mark I was thinking the same about the odd proportions. I find it interesting that the false edge or back edge starts so close to the hilt. In other pieces I've seen the false edge is closer to the tip.

Dan, the listing had a picture of the scabbard mouth and top of the hilt together; it looks like they fit perfectly, stylistically as well as in terms of dimensions. Here is the pic.

Emanuel

18th November 2007, 04:30 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Very long dha Hello, I was watching this Burmese dha on the bay: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA:IT&ih=004 and I was struck by how long the scabbard was. Tha blade had once been broken and the remaining length was about 20". Now looking at the scabbard it looks like it may once have been up to 40" long. I haven't seen such long dha yet, any comments? Attached Images

20th November 2007, 02:55 PM	#5
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Shortened Like Mark I've seen only seen one this long and it was at the Vimamek Mansion, they had it listed as a processional dha, but it was definitely more of a Central Thai style with the belly swell towards the tip and no scabbard. Could the handle have been shortened after it broke? Does the hilt size and the top of the scabbard match up (same diameter)? Definitely interesting! Dan

20th November 2007, 10:14 PM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I was seriously considering getting it, David. The blade is quite nice, but the bad overall shape and the ridiculous shipping price put me off. Mark I was thinking the same about the odd proportions. I find it interesting that the false edge or back edge starts so close to the hilt. In other pieces I've seen the false edge is closer to the tip. Dan, the listing had a picture of the scabbard mouth and top of the hilt together; it looks like they fit perfectly, stylistically as well as in terms of dimensions. Here is the pic. Emanuel Attached Images

18th November 2007, 07:42 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Looks very nice and restorable, but the blade is broken Hey, how about shortening the scabbard to 27" and pretend that the blade fits perfectly?

18th November 2007, 10:46 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Emanuel, I followed this .... with the same thoughts about the original length. I was going to bid and try and reprofile the blade so that it had distal taper ....but it would remove too much of the original surface ....its a real shame that it was not 'complete' .... must have been a very desirable Dah in its heyday. Regards David

19th November 2007, 11:03 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Wow. I have not seen many 40" blades, but they do exist. The ones I have seen have longer handles, though. The one-handed grip would have made this pretty clumsy to use, I think. An interesting piece, and its too bad that it is in such bad shape.