Short Sword ID Requested

David R · 27th October 2024, 11:59 PM

Odd that there are no comments, but it has a very Chinese "Dadao" look to me.

werecow · 28th October 2024, 12:48 AM

Could be... It might be a stretch but it also reminds me a bit of some Dahomey swords.

Eh, but maybe not the most convincing match though.

JeffS · 28th October 2024, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

Odd that there are no comments, but it has a very Chinese "Dadao" look to me.

It also has a bit of an Indian feel with that stubby firangi-like extension on the pommel.

kronckew · 29th October 2024, 01:07 AM

It has the profile of Chinese 'money' knives, tho obviously a real steel blade.

RobT · 29th October 2024, 01:23 AM

David R, werecow, JeffS, and kronkew

Thanks for all your Input. For reasons that I detailed in my initial post, I believe this to be a sacrificial sword from the Indian sub-continent (or somewhere close by) or South East Asia. If it is indeed ceremonial, it would be a good bit more uncommon than a regular sword or knife and only likely to be known to a handful of cultural anthropologists. I was hoping that maybe someone had come across a picture or a drawing in some scholarly journal.

Sincerely,
RobT

Ian · 29th October 2024, 01:27 AM

Rob, I have a vague memory (that happens at my age) of a similar item from one of the Himalayan cultures being discussed here 20+ years ago. I also favor your suggestion that this is Asian in origin. Perhaps a cousin of a ram dao.

RobT · 29th October 2024, 08:31 PM

AN,

Ruefully, I too have noticed some post retirement problems with recall. Perhaps that is why your suggestion of a Himalaya item jogged my memory. Could you be referring to the cham tun of the Mei Tai people? The Mei Tai are the majority population in India’s Manipur state which is located in north east India just south of Nagaland. If I recall correctly, my sword does look a good bit like a cham tun (which in turn looks a lot like a panabas). Perhaps my sword is the sacrificial version.

Sincerely,
RobT

29th October 2024, 01:23 AM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 550	I Knew It Was A Long Shot David R, werecow, JeffS, and kronkew Thanks for all your Input. For reasons that I detailed in my initial post, I believe this to be a sacrificial sword from the Indian sub-continent (or somewhere close by) or South East Asia. If it is indeed ceremonial, it would be a good bit more uncommon than a regular sword or knife and only likely to be known to a handful of cultural anthropologists. I was hoping that maybe someone had come across a picture or a drawing in some scholarly journal. Sincerely, RobT

29th October 2024, 08:31 PM	#7
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 550	Sacrificial Cham Tun? AN, Ruefully, I too have noticed some post retirement problems with recall. Perhaps that is why your suggestion of a Himalaya item jogged my memory. Could you be referring to the cham tun of the Mei Tai people? The Mei Tai are the majority population in India’s Manipur state which is located in north east India just south of Nagaland. If I recall correctly, my sword does look a good bit like a cham tun (which in turn looks a lot like a panabas). Perhaps my sword is the sacrificial version. Sincerely, RobT

27th October 2024, 11:59 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Odd that there are no comments, but it has a very Chinese "Dadao" look to me.

28th October 2024, 12:48 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 569	Could be... It might be a stretch but it also reminds me a bit of some Dahomey swords. Eh, but maybe not the most convincing match though.

29th October 2024, 01:07 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	It has the profile of Chinese 'money' knives, tho obviously a real steel blade.

29th October 2024, 01:27 AM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Rob, I have a vague memory (that happens at my age) of a similar item from one of the Himalayan cultures being discussed here 20+ years ago. I also favor your suggestion that this is Asian in origin. Perhaps a cousin of a ram dao.