New Dha For Comment

Ian · 7th February 2005, 10:49 PM

Hi Lew:

I had a long look at this one and thought it was probably 1920/1930 or so based on the materials for the hilt and the design/inlay on the spine of the blade. Scabbard has some wear, but consistent with first half of the 20th C. Interesting brass dots towards the tip of the blade. That is distinctly uncommon for dha. I have an older dha with a similar feature but different blade style.

Nice dha.

Ian.

Ferguson · 8th February 2005, 12:48 AM

Hey Lew, Ya did good.

Steve

Andrew · 8th February 2005, 02:42 AM

I'm going to revise my opinion on age and defer to Ian.

I took another look at the ferules on the handle, which do look like more recent work than I first thought.

Here's the thread on my dha with the coin pommel. Not so similar, after all. My memory is unbelievable lately.

Lew, when you get this one, try to take some better pix of the coin, and let's see if someone can pin it down for you.

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001254.html

Mark · 8th February 2005, 02:48 PM

Here is a dha from Vandoo's collection (kindly donated to the Dha Research Index). Though it has an unconventional handle, the blade is not atypical. It has a copper plug near the tip as well. I have no idea of the significance.

The recycling theory makes some sense, assuming the blade was made by stock removal. If it was forged, I would think that at the very least the pre-existing hole would be distorted.

http://members.cox.net/thedhapage/C0021.htm

Lew · 8th February 2005, 05:01 PM

Hi Mark

Brass inserts in Asian swords are not uncommon many Qing dynasty jian have them. Maybe Phil Tom can shed some light on this feature?

Lew

Ian · 8th February 2005, 07:26 PM

This is a nice old dha which handles very well — light and fast despite being tip heavy. It has a rounded tip with a brass insert set back about an inch or so. This one is probably Thai from mid- to late-19th C. The black scabbard has been lacquered many times.

Ian · 8th February 2005, 07:36 PM

Mark:

The hilt on Barry's dha suggests a Chinese influence to me, similar to what are sometimes termed "river pirate swords.". Could this one be from Yunnan Province perhaps?

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bowditch

Here is a dha from Vandoo's collection (kindly donated to the Dha Research Index). Though it has an unconventional handle, the blade is not atypical. It has a copper plug near the tip as well. I have no idea of the significance.

The recycling theory makes some sense, assuming the blade was made by stock removal. If it was forged, I would think that at the very least the pre-existing hole would be distorted.

http://members.cox.net/thedhapage/C0021.htm

Lew · 18th February 2005, 02:23 AM

Hi Guys

The dha arrived today and I noticed something strange the tang is peened through to the coins on the butt cap? I thought all dha had short tangs?

Lew

Andrew · 18th February 2005, 02:31 AM

Lew, that's not likely to be the tang. It's probably a nail used to affix the end-cap/pommel.

Through-tang dha are quite rare in my experience. Mark used an ingeneous test to determine that his Ayutthaya period darb went entirely through the handle to the pommel: string a battery, a lightbulb and a piece of wire to either end of the sword. If the bulb lights up, you've probably got a closed circuit and a full tang (a noteable exception would be seen on swords completely encased in conductive metal).

7th February 2005, 10:49 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,481	Probably early 20th C. dha Hi Lew: I had a long look at this one and thought it was probably 1920/1930 or so based on the materials for the hilt and the design/inlay on the spine of the blade. Scabbard has some wear, but consistent with first half of the 20th C. Interesting brass dots towards the tip of the blade. That is distinctly uncommon for dha. I have an older dha with a similar feature but different blade style. Nice dha. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 8th February 2005 at 07:32 PM.

8th February 2005, 07:26 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,481	Dha with brass insert near tip This is a nice old dha which handles very well — light and fast despite being tip heavy. It has a rounded tip with a brass insert set back about an inch or so. This one is probably Thai from mid- to late-19th C. The black scabbard has been lacquered many times. Attached Images

8th February 2005, 12:48 AM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Hey Lew, Ya did good. Steve

8th February 2005, 02:42 AM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I'm going to revise my opinion on age and defer to Ian. I took another look at the ferules on the handle, which do look like more recent work than I first thought. Here's the thread on my dha with the coin pommel. Not so similar, after all. My memory is unbelievable lately. Lew, when you get this one, try to take some better pix of the coin, and let's see if someone can pin it down for you. http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001254.html

8th February 2005, 02:48 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Here is a dha from Vandoo's collection (kindly donated to the Dha Research Index). Though it has an unconventional handle, the blade is not atypical. It has a copper plug near the tip as well. I have no idea of the significance. The recycling theory makes some sense, assuming the blade was made by stock removal. If it was forged, I would think that at the very least the pre-existing hole would be distorted. http://members.cox.net/thedhapage/C0021.htm

8th February 2005, 05:01 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Mark Brass inserts in Asian swords are not uncommon many Qing dynasty jian have them. Maybe Phil Tom can shed some light on this feature? Lew

18th February 2005, 02:23 AM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Guys The dha arrived today and I noticed something strange the tang is peened through to the coins on the butt cap? I thought all dha had short tangs? Lew

18th February 2005, 02:31 AM	#9
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Lew, that's not likely to be the tang. It's probably a nail used to affix the end-cap/pommel. Through-tang dha are quite rare in my experience. Mark used an ingeneous test to determine that his Ayutthaya period darb went entirely through the handle to the pommel: string a battery, a lightbulb and a piece of wire to either end of the sword. If the bulb lights up, you've probably got a closed circuit and a full tang (a noteable exception would be seen on swords completely encased in conductive metal).