The achang dha

[RobT]

Hi All,

I have a dha that had a label on the sheath which said, "KACHIN 1945". The hilt of my dha (which is all copper) matches JBG163's example very closely but the sheath looks like a typical Shan or Kachin dha sheath. According to Wikipedia, there are Achang living in the Kachin State where they are known as Ngochang. Perhaps whoever collected my blade got it from an Achang living in a Kachin area and assumed that the owner was Kachin? Or Perhaps a Kachin obtained the blade from an Achang and had a new sheath made for it? Because of the sun stamp by the hilt, I had always assumed the blade was of Husa manufacture but the same Wikipedia article mentions a group of Achang that call themselves Husa Achang. Could my sword have been of Husa Achang manufacture for the Kachin market? The blade of my dha has a peaked spine, hua tat, and measures 22-1/8" (56.1975cm) long.

Sincerely,
RobT