"cleaned" blade

katana · 30th June 2006, 08:08 PM

IMHO If the file marks are caused by the sharpening of the blade by the original ethnic owner, I believe it is part of its authentic history ......and perhaps should be left. However, if you believe that the file marks are much more recent ....then polish them out..... my 2 cents worth.....

Mark · 1st July 2006, 03:14 AM

Interesting. The photo of the side panel shows the figures a silver, and the background foliage yellowish - maybe it is gold. It would be a first for me if it were. I suppose brass is a possibility, but it doesn't look quite the right color for that, either. I am interested to hear the results of your cleaning.

I think the grind marks along the edge are due to "authentic" re-sharpening. they look to me to have been done with a whetstone & not with a file or grinding wheel. As I said, you could leave them or polish them down a bit, depending on whether or not you want it to be completely as found (or last used).

Its a very nice piece.

Ian · 2nd July 2006, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bowditch

Interesting. The photo of the side panel shows the figures a silver, and the background foliage yellowish - maybe it is gold. It would be a first for me if it were. I suppose brass is a possibility, but it doesn't look quite the right color for that, either. I am interested to hear the results of your cleaning.

I think the grind marks along the edge are due to "authentic" re-sharpening. they look to me to have been done with a whetstone & not with a file or grinding wheel. As I said, you could leave them or polish them down a bit, depending on whether or not you want it to be completely as found (or last used).

Its a very nice piece.

I think the yellow material is almost certainly brass. Brass decoration is quite common on these swords. Gold would be very unusual and I don't see other signs of lavish decoration to complement such an expensive ornamentation.

The grind marks are likely to be from a stone, as Mark has said. These marks can be found on very well made dha, and do not detract from the piece in any way IMO. They are genuine signs of use within the culture and I am inclined to leave them unchanged.

ian.

PUFF · 2nd July 2006, 07:32 AM

Is this a Japanese-imitated version of Burmese Dha? The blade cross section is more or less diamond shape. Together with the hamon-like thing and japanese polishing attempt make me feel that way.
Nice blade, though

Battara · 2nd July 2006, 06:31 PM

Puff, this seems typical of dha blades. I agree with Ian on the overlay being brass instead of gold.

Mark · 2nd July 2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUFF

Is this a Japanese-imitated version of Burmese Dha? The blade cross section is more or less diamond shape. Together with the hamon-like thing and japanese polishing attempt make me feel that way.
Nice blade, though

This is a typical cross-section for a Burmese blade. I have not seen any definite influence from Japanese blades on Burmese dha. There never was any significant Japanese presence in Burma, either by traders or settlers/mercenaries, as was the case in Thailand, where you do see Japanese katana blades re-fitted in Thai mountings and Japanese-style Thai blades (there is an equisite folded steel daab with guilded fittings and a damascus/watered blade in the Smithsonian American History Museum, which was a gift to the President - I forget which - from the King).

PUFF · 3rd July 2006, 08:12 AM

Thank you very much. I 'm not familiar with Burmese style. Siamese and Lanna blades rarely use diamond x-section, even in japanese imitated baldes.

DhaDha · 4th July 2006, 02:43 AM

I had thought that this style of blade from Burma was somehow related to Japanese swords. It seems to be closer to them than the dha/darb styles in the immediate surrounding area.

Could be wrong though. I keep finding out how little I know about Dhas and I certainly can't say I know anything about Japanese swords.

This one is smaller than the others I've seen. It came with a big brother though. A near copy, but larger. I was told that one of them was used by a female guard. I didn't/don't think it was possible at that time in Burma. Given the state of women's rights at the time. But maybe a female guarding another important female?...

30th June 2006, 08:08 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	IMHO If the file marks are caused by the sharpening of the blade by the original ethnic owner, I believe it is part of its authentic history ......and perhaps should be left. However, if you believe that the file marks are much more recent ....then polish them out..... my 2 cents worth.....

1st July 2006, 03:14 AM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Interesting. The photo of the side panel shows the figures a silver, and the background foliage yellowish - maybe it is gold. It would be a first for me if it were. I suppose brass is a possibility, but it doesn't look quite the right color for that, either. I am interested to hear the results of your cleaning. I think the grind marks along the edge are due to "authentic" re-sharpening. they look to me to have been done with a whetstone & not with a file or grinding wheel. As I said, you could leave them or polish them down a bit, depending on whether or not you want it to be completely as found (or last used). Its a very nice piece.

2nd July 2006, 07:32 AM	#4
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Is this a Japanese-imitated version of Burmese Dha? The blade cross section is more or less diamond shape. Together with the hamon-like thing and japanese polishing attempt make me feel that way. Nice blade, though

2nd July 2006, 06:31 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Puff, this seems typical of dha blades. I agree with Ian on the overlay being brass instead of gold.

3rd July 2006, 08:12 AM	#7
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Thank you very much. I 'm not familiar with Burmese style. Siamese and Lanna blades rarely use diamond x-section, even in japanese imitated baldes.

4th July 2006, 02:43 AM	#8
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 176	I had thought that this style of blade from Burma was somehow related to Japanese swords. It seems to be closer to them than the dha/darb styles in the immediate surrounding area. Could be wrong though. I keep finding out how little I know about Dhas and I certainly can't say I know anything about Japanese swords. This one is smaller than the others I've seen. It came with a big brother though. A near copy, but larger. I was told that one of them was used by a female guard. I didn't/don't think it was possible at that time in Burma. Given the state of women's rights at the time. But maybe a female guarding another important female?...