2 SWORDS FROM ASIA FOR ID

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Subject to confirmation from others, I believe the first one is Thai. The second one is Yunnan I think.
Both nice pieces.
Regards Stu (ex dha fanatic)

Agree--first one is Thai. Photos aren't great, but I believe the sword is older than the scabbard, which looks like a later addition.

Second one is Northern Thai/Southern Yunnan, China. I have a very similar example in my collection, which can be seen here (#252):

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel....swordlist.htm


Both look like early-mid 20th century but, again, photos aren't great.

[Andrew]

A friend has gently pointed out to me off-list that I have made an error.

Here is what he sent me, and I agree--I was hasty in my analysis of that first sword.

I read yer comments on the forum and i must disagree with yer dating - disinformation, the siamese lanna darb at the forum with the yunnan dha is actualy a later 18thc piece '' after ayutthaya '', the habaki fitting on the blade had been fazed out by early 19th (although is being used again now) and the more crude silver work here on the repousse hilt is typical of the early rattanakosin pieces later 18thc to very early 19th before they refined the art of reppouse silver on swords and the new style was just coming about, copper silver and samrit were rank symbols and this was liklely a mandarins sword of lower rank, never used and carried only as a ranking status symbol as most of the silver fitted darbs were.