New Dha For Comment

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).

Lew · 18th February 2005, 03:48 AM

Andrew

The blade and the coins were loose and when I moved the coins it made the blade shift around also. I put a few drops of super glue at the blade junction and by the coins and everthing tightened up nicely so I think that maybe the nail was a long one and might have been hitting into the end of the tang? I cleaned up the coin it is made of silver and either had 1845 or 1945 written on it but it was hard to read even with a jewelers lupe. The brass dots are on both sides of the blade. On further study on old burmese coins my guess is 1945 but that is the top coin there is underneath but who knows? Judging from it's overall appearance the sword is probably a WW2 era sword.

Lew

8th February 2005, 07:26 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,363	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

18th February 2005, 03:48 AM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Andrew The blade and the coins were loose and when I moved the coins it made the blade shift around also. I put a few drops of super glue at the blade junction and by the coins and everthing tightened up nicely so I think that maybe the nail was a long one and might have been hitting into the end of the tang? I cleaned up the coin it is made of silver and either had 1845 or 1945 written on it but it was hard to read even with a jewelers lupe. The brass dots are on both sides of the blade. On further study on old burmese coins my guess is 1945 but that is the top coin there is underneath but who knows? Judging from it's overall appearance the sword is probably a WW2 era sword. Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 18th February 2005 at 03:30 PM.

8th February 2005, 02:42 AM	#1
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	#2
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	#3
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	#6
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	#7
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).