Some kind of dha?

Ian · 22nd June 2006, 09:16 PM

Hi Kronckew:

Nice looking work and close enough to the original.

BTW, I think the bottom example is probably Thai -- 19th C. The tip is a little unusual but of a style for blades that serve as a utility tool and weapon. [PUFF could probably give you the province from which this one comes.] I have a similar sword, probably early 19th C., which is presently on display at the Macau Museum of Art. Its scabbard is black lacquered wood with old rattan strips and baldric.

Yours is a handsome example with what sounds like a well preserved rattan wrapped hilt. Some plaited rattan strips would look super on that scabbard.

Ian.

Here are pictures of mine off Mark's Dha Research Index

PUFF · 23rd June 2006, 03:19 AM

Ian, not all case that we can ID province of which a blade come. Most of the case, we can ID only country or region. In the case of a blade with a specific mark or looks very much similar to an example from a known province, then we can ID into narrower place.

Your Hua-Mon blade looks very unique. With such a brass peg at the tip, detailed photo for spine base and little metal plate guard, we might be able to get a specific ID from experts in my region.

Ian · 23rd June 2006, 05:13 AM

That particular sword won't be back in my hands until late August, after the Macau exhibition finishes. The blade appears to be older than many dahb in my collection. There is no brass plate at the end of the handle adjacent to the blade. Not sure it ever had one. The spine is peaked and, from memory, had a double taper.

Ian.

PUFF · 23rd June 2006, 05:54 AM

I noticed a small yellowish circular dot at about 1" from blade tip. Do you remember of which the little dot made? Is the dot insert pin or just gold paint?

Ian · 23rd June 2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUFF

I noticed a small yellowish circular dot at about 1" from blade tip. Do you remember of which the little dot made? Is the dot insert pin or just gold paint?

PUFF:

That's a brass insert or plug that passes through the blade. From my limited experience it is very unusual to find such a mark set into the tip in this manner.

Ian.

Flavio · 24th June 2006, 02:02 PM

Ok, work done!! Here comes some pictures. What do you think? Do you think that i have to color the hemp strips to turn them more dark? or is better in this way? Unfortunatly the scabbard is shorter than the blade. Maybe it was shortened?

Rick · 24th June 2006, 02:49 PM

Hi Flavio .
Is that material what they call Raffia ?
It could be dyed with strong tea or coffee before you wrap with it .
my only suggestion would be that you try to do the wrap in a pattern such as a 3 or 4 strand over and under weave ; I think it would look much more authentic .
Did you check the patterns in this thread ?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...tive+ropecraft

Or even better :
http://www.folsoms.net/knots/turkshead.htm

I'm sure you can find instructions on making a simple Turks head pattern from Google .

Have fun .

Rick

kronckew · 23rd June 2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

... BTW, I think the bottom example is probably Thai -- 19th C. The tip is a little unusual but of a style for blades that serve as a utility tool and weapon. [PUFF could probably give you the province from which this one comes.] I have a similar sword, probably early 19th C., which is presently on display at the Macau Museum of Art. Its scabbard is black lacquered wood with old rattan strips and baldric....

hi ian,

don't really want to hijack fabio's thread, was just showing him a couple of scabbard repair suggestions.

that dha of mine has a copper circular plate at the pommel end of the grip held on by three nails. the plate is lipped back over the grip & keeps the rings from sliding off (along with all the other gunk on the grip) the blade end has a tapering copper bolster, covered by the rings, and a flat circular copper disk with a square hole for the tang covering the blade/grip junction, held on with 4 nails. the nails are all apparently steel with cross-hatched flat heads. the tang is about 4 inches into the grip (checked with magnet) 3/8" thick at the grip. the flat blade spine is distally tapered sharply from the grip over the 1st third of the blade, then rounded/chamfered and tapering less sharply to the razor sharp tip. spine is initially flat & incised with a series of diagonal lines, in 4 groups of 6,2,7, and 4 lines. the 4th line of the 1st group and the third group are broad and inset with copper. the tip is sharp all the way from the edge to the spine. no brass/copper inserted dot. the blade has no pitting or active rust but has a well developed mottled patina. all copper has a very dark almost olive patina. was told it was probably a 'naga' type from northern thailand, but may have katchin ancestry as well, as they are a bit overlapped in the region based on what was popular with the smiths at the time & who was fighting who....

Flavio · 23rd June 2006, 07:25 PM

Hello kronckew, thank you for the pics, this weekend i have to work at the scabbard!!!!

22nd June 2006, 09:16 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Looks good ... Hi Kronckew: Nice looking work and close enough to the original. BTW, I think the bottom example is probably Thai -- 19th C. The tip is a little unusual but of a style for blades that serve as a utility tool and weapon. [PUFF could probably give you the province from which this one comes.] I have a similar sword, probably early 19th C., which is presently on display at the Macau Museum of Art. Its scabbard is black lacquered wood with old rattan strips and baldric. Yours is a handsome example with what sounds like a well preserved rattan wrapped hilt. Some plaited rattan strips would look super on that scabbard. Ian. Here are pictures of mine off Mark's Dha Research Index

23rd June 2006, 05:13 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Thanks PUFF ... That particular sword won't be back in my hands until late August, after the Macau exhibition finishes. The blade appears to be older than many dahb in my collection. There is no brass plate at the end of the handle adjacent to the blade. Not sure it ever had one. The spine is peaked and, from memory, had a double taper. Ian.

24th June 2006, 02:02 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Ok, work done!! Here comes some pictures. What do you think? Do you think that i have to color the hemp strips to turn them more dark? or is better in this way? Unfortunatly the scabbard is shorter than the blade. Maybe it was shortened? Attached Images

24th June 2006, 02:49 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Hi Flavio . Is that material what they call Raffia ? It could be dyed with strong tea or coffee before you wrap with it . my only suggestion would be that you try to do the wrap in a pattern such as a 3 or 4 strand over and under weave ; I think it would look much more authentic . Did you check the patterns in this thread ? http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...tive+ropecraft Or even better : http://www.folsoms.net/knots/turkshead.htm I'm sure you can find instructions on making a simple Turks head pattern from Google . Have fun . Rick Last edited by Rick; 24th June 2006 at 03:01 PM.

23rd June 2006, 03:19 AM	#2
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Ian, not all case that we can ID province of which a blade come. Most of the case, we can ID only country or region. In the case of a blade with a specific mark or looks very much similar to an example from a known province, then we can ID into narrower place. Your Hua-Mon blade looks very unique. With such a brass peg at the tip, detailed photo for spine base and little metal plate guard, we might be able to get a specific ID from experts in my region.

23rd June 2006, 05:54 AM	#4
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	I noticed a small yellowish circular dot at about 1" from blade tip. Do you remember of which the little dot made? Is the dot insert pin or just gold paint?

23rd June 2006, 07:25 PM	#9
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello kronckew, thank you for the pics, this weekend i have to work at the scabbard!!!!