Mysterious markings on dha or daab sword

SidJ · Yesterday, 02:05 PM

Hello
Seeking help on deciphering this strange marking on Ricardo of an antique dha sword. There is also an odd little round bump on the spine. Anyone seen anything similar?

SidJ · Yesterday, 02:11 PM

Ricasso

Ian · Yesterday, 03:03 PM

Hi Sid,

That looks like a fairly old blade, but it is hard to say how old. There is some active rust that should be removed I think. Cleaning and polishing the blade might reveal some further marks. I am unfamiliar with the dots and lines shown, and have not seen similar marks on dha/daab before, although southern Chinese swords occasionally have the "Seven Stars" marks that looks a bit similar to the lines/large dots depicted on this blade. The small round protruding piece on the spine may be a metal insert, possibly brass. Again, cleaning and polishing the blade would show that better.

Regards, Ian

RobT · Yesterday, 08:22 PM

Ian,

Looks like the Big Dipper to me. Can’t help you with the bump though. To me, the odds look good for a differentially heat treated edge if you really work hard on polishing the blade (I'm presently doing one myself).

Sincerely,
RobT

Battara · Today, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

Looks like the Big Dipper to me.

Rob, I was thinking the same thing with additional stars and the Southern Cross.

SidJ · Today, 11:02 AM

Thanks Members for your valuable insights. I've never come across this on a sword before and imagine it was added as a form of talismanic protection ?

Ian · Today, 01:19 PM

Syd, the Seven Stars have religious significance in Taoism. Peter Dekker has a nice short piece on the Seven Stars jian on his website at www.mandarinmansion.com.

The shape of the blade on your sword looks Shan to me. The Shan are mostly in SE Burma and neighboring southern Yunnan. The Shan have Chinese heritage and close relationships with Tai and Lao groups in northern Thailand and Laos and neighboring Yunnan. It would not be surprising to find Tao symbols used by Shan living in or close to southern Yunnan, although I don't recall examples of other swords so marked.

Yesterday, 02:05 PM	#1
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 236	Mysterious markings on dha or daab sword Hello Seeking help on deciphering this strange marking on Ricardo of an antique dha sword. There is also an odd little round bump on the spine. Anyone seen anything similar? Attached Images

Yesterday, 08:22 PM	#4
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 589	Constellation? Ian, Looks like the Big Dipper to me. Can’t help you with the bump though. To me, the odds look good for a differentially heat treated edge if you really work hard on polishing the blade (I'm presently doing one myself). Sincerely, RobT Last edited by RobT; Yesterday at 08:26 PM. Reason: add'l comment

Yesterday, 02:11 PM	#2
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 236	Ricasso

Yesterday, 03:03 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,553	Hi Sid, That looks like a fairly old blade, but it is hard to say how old. There is some active rust that should be removed I think. Cleaning and polishing the blade might reveal some further marks. I am unfamiliar with the dots and lines shown, and have not seen similar marks on dha/daab before, although southern Chinese swords occasionally have the "Seven Stars" marks that looks a bit similar to the lines/large dots depicted on this blade. The small round protruding piece on the spine may be a metal insert, possibly brass. Again, cleaning and polishing the blade would show that better. Regards, Ian

Today, 11:02 AM	#6
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 236	Thanks Members for your valuable insights. I've never come across this on a sword before and imagine it was added as a form of talismanic protection ?

Today, 01:19 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,553	Syd, the Seven Stars have religious significance in Taoism. Peter Dekker has a nice short piece on the Seven Stars jian on his website at www.mandarinmansion.com. The shape of the blade on your sword looks Shan to me. The Shan are mostly in SE Burma and neighboring southern Yunnan. The Shan have Chinese heritage and close relationships with Tai and Lao groups in northern Thailand and Laos and neighboring Yunnan. It would not be surprising to find Tao symbols used by Shan living in or close to southern Yunnan, although I don't recall examples of other swords so marked.