Dha-Lwe average measurements please

[Antonio Cejunior]

Originally Posted by Mark

Hi Antonio,

Did you check my web site? This dha is on there, but it was an early one, so it might not have the spine widths (I changed the format of the specification section). I'll take some measurements.

I have a couple of this style that are smaller - this one is unusually large and heavy. The proportions stay generally constant, handle-to-blade ratio, spine taper, etc. The taper is very dramatic, reducing by at least half over the first third of the blade length, and reaching essentially the width of the edge at the tip of the blade. PUFF, and others of our Thai collegues, call this a "double taper," as the rate of decrease is greater near the blade than it is approaching the tip, like the profile of the Eiffel Tower. Widths at the base of the blade are typically from round 3 to around 5 mm. This one is especially broad.

The span of the tip (edge to spine, in other words), does vary. This one is at the wide end of the scale. Many reach the maximum span around the last third of the blade.

Hi Mark,
No I haven't gone to your page. I felt that possibly if I could get some "custom measurements" they would be kind of more accurate.
You mean a 20 inches blade for this type of blade is long and that heavy?
Even with the long handle?
I would've have thought otherwise

Thank you for describing the taper. I follow you. I wouldn't have thought that the taper was so dramatic. I wonder it it could say almost constant as a way to reinforce the last third. You know, like a Japanese hira-zukuri section, an elongated inverted triangle.

Yup, would very much appreciate the specific measurements asked
Plan to have one custom made. And the handle measurement would be excellent if you would be so kind to add to the measurements.

Grazzie tanti

[kronckew]

hi antonio,

here's mine, a bit less decorative but functional. tip is not quite square at the bottom
as the tip is sharpened all the way around to the spine. the spine has decorative diagonal cuts
and brass or copper inlays for the 1st 17 cm. from the grip.



hilt is 24 cm. long, 2.9 cm dia. at the pommel,
flaring to 3.5 cm. at the blade junction

blade is 47 cm. from the grip to tip, stub tang is 9cm.
and is 2x1 cm at the junction

blade at the grip is 2.7 cm. wide, spine 1 cm.

at 10 cm from grip, blade is 2.7 cm wide, spine 8 mm

at 20 cm, blade 3 cm, spine 3 mm

at 30 cm, blade 3.3 cm, spine 2.5 mm.

at 40 cm., blade is 3.6 cm, spine 2 mm

at 47 cm. blade is 4 cm., spine 2 mm.

[Antonio Cejunior]

Hello Kronckew,

Thank you very much for your most valuable help. It is most kind of you

Originally Posted by kronckew

hi antonio,

here's mine, a bit less decorative but functional. tip is not quite square at the bottom
as the tip is sharpened all the way around to the spine. the spine has decorative diagonal cuts
and brass or copper inlays for the 1st 17 cm. from the grip.



hilt is 24 cm. long, 2.9 cm dia. at the pommel,
flaring to 3.5 cm. at the blade junction

blade is 47 cm. from the grip to tip, stub tang is 9cm.
and is 2x1 cm at the junction

blade at the grip is 2.7 cm. wide, spine 1 cm.

at 10 cm from grip, blade is 2.7 cm wide, spine 8 mm

at 20 cm, blade 3 cm, spine 3 mm

at 30 cm, blade 3.3 cm, spine 2.5 mm.

at 40 cm., blade is 3.6 cm, spine 2 mm

at 47 cm. blade is 4 cm., spine 2 mm.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Antonio, when we measure in centimetres, they, at least in India, measured in fingers with, being an index finger. An index finger was eight barleycorns, at one place I have seen six corns mentioned. Did they also measure the blades you mention in fingers widh?

Jens

[Mark]

I finally took detailed measurements of two of my dha of this style. The first is the one in your first post (DRI #0049; HOS #250).

Blade length: 50 cm
Handle length: 31 cm
Blade Width (height)
at base: 10 mm
at narrowest point (about 8 cm from base): 26 mm
at widest point (essentially at the tip): 40 mm
Spine thickness
at base: 10 mm
at 1/3 length: 4 mm
at 2/3 length: 2.4 mm
1 cm from tip: 1.5 mm

As you can see, the blade taper is very dramatic at first, going from 10 mm to 4 mm over the first 1/3 of the blade, then quite gradual for the rest of the blade.

Then I went kind of crazy and made detailed measurements of the handle sections, noted in the photo below (all measurements are in millimeters).

[Mark]

Here are the measurements of the second one (DRI #0066; HOS #248). Another one I have (DRI #0067; HOS #249) has very similar dimensions.

Blade length: 44.7 cm
Handle length: 26.5 cm
Blade width (height)
at base: 26 mm
at narrowest point (about 6.5 cm from base): 22 mm
at widest point (about 34 cm from base): 32
Spine width
at base: 9 mm
at 1/3 length: 4 mm
at 2/3 length: 3 mm
1 cm from tip: 1.5 mm

Again you see very dramatic tapering at first, decreasing by over 50% over the first 1/3 of the blade length, then a much more gradual taper to the very thin tip.

Here are the details of the handle, all measurements in millimeters. NB, the two wider rings within the two silver sections have a triangular cross-section; the 8 mm measurement is of the base.

[Antonio Cejunior]

Originally Posted by Mark

Here are the measurements of the second one (DRI #0066; HOS #248). Another one I have (DRI #0067; HOS #249) has very similar dimensions.

Blade length: 44.7 cm
Handle length: 26.5 cm
Blade width (height)
at base: 26 mm
at narrowest point (about 6.5 cm from base): 22 mm
at widest point (about 34 cm from base): 32
Spine width
at base: 9 mm
at 1/3 length: 4 mm
at 2/3 length: 3 mm
1 cm from tip: 1.5 mm

Again you see very dramatic tapering at first, decreasing by over 50% over the first 1/3 of the blade length, then a much more gradual taper to the very thin tip.

Here are the details of the handle, all measurements in millimeters. NB, the two wider rings within the two silver sections have a triangular cross-section; the 8 mm measurement is of the base.

Wow Mark
You went overboard with those measurements, both on the blade and on the handle.
Thank you very much

I have in the meantime decided to design my own specs while waiting:






I based it on my Japanese blades experience and then adapted it. Guess that for a 25 inches long blade these specs would be for a very sturdy blade without being too heavy. I would want the handle to be even longer than the 14 inches of the tang.
Would you care to comment on these specs of mine considering it will be receiving a differential heat treatment for a very strong edge and a flexible spine? Thanks

Let me not only thank you once more for the super detailed information but it would be interesting if you folks started to compile this type of information for a couple of different blades of each style of mountings so that maybe we can have some data on a possible standard of proportions of the main parts, such as the handle's pommel (so to speak) and the other end. Same should apply for the scabbards.

I think that perhaps we could find out if there is a pattern in there, some kind of proportion rule. Or if the rules belong to different ethnic groups.

There must be something there...

Edit: Ooops, I did post the 800 pixels size thumbnail. I don't understand why it is showing the 1400 px size

[Antonio Cejunior]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Antonio, when we measure in centimetres, they, at least in India, measured in fingers with, being an index finger. An index finger was eight barleycorns, at one place I have seen six corns mentioned. Did they also measure the blades you mention in fingers widh?

Jens

Hi Jens,

I was offline until my apartment move started yesterday.
I'm on my laptop only.

I don't really know if they have a special kind of measurement in Thailand. Probably yes because of the connections with China and India, but I wouldn't think the system would be the same.

This blade I have planed for is not to be made in Thailand, however.
That is also why I have asked for measurements to compare with mine.