Very long dha

PUFF · 21st November 2007, 11:18 AM

According to style of the silver work, some collectors in my area ID this piece as a "Rakhine" 's Dha. They are usually "Dha" size. Although many of them has curve, cut-off tip like this... one can also find other tip styles from this area.

Having false edge upto 1/2 or 2/3 's not uncommon.
We are now discussing about possibility that the peice was used by an elephant rider.

Mark · 21st November 2007, 04:51 PM

Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit.

PUFF · 22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM

Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma.
Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin).

Many thank for the photo

Mark · 22nd November 2007, 12:51 PM

I thought is sounded like "Rakhan" (Arracan). I wasn't sure if Rakhin was the same. As I said, though, I am sure these guys are Shan (unless they are dressed like them for some reason). Maybe they work for an Arracanese chief? Here is another Shan warrior.

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Emanuel · 23rd November 2007, 12:34 AM

Wow Mark, nice pictures. I like the Shan garb, and those dha seem huge! It must take considerable dexterity to unsheath them.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 23rd November 2007, 10:28 AM

Wow is right. those are GREAT pictures! I've never seen or heard of these before (but there on my shopping list now)

Looking at the pictures along with Mark's comment on the one-handed grip, it does look like it's been shortened. Beautiful fit at the hilt scabbard, not so great at the pommel.

As for unsheathing them well that's the nice thing about being CHIEF - you either 1.don't have to or 2. someone does it for you

Dan

PUFF · 24th November 2007, 11:41 AM

Many thanks for the picture... it's Shan (Tai) people who using a kind of very long sword.

However, those Tai warrior may not related to Rakhan (Arracan) chief. It 's not unusual to find one ethnic group 's decoration style on another group 's objects. Many Lanna weapon use Tai decoration style though

I 'm also interested by those guys on the back. The picture res. 's so low that I could not figure out if they are indian or european. Would you mind to show it in higher resolution ?

21st November 2007, 04:51 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit. Attached Images

21st November 2007, 11:18 AM	#1
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	According to style of the silver work, some collectors in my area ID this piece as a "Rakhine" 's Dha. They are usually "Dha" size. Although many of them has curve, cut-off tip like this... one can also find other tip styles from this area. Having false edge upto 1/2 or 2/3 's not uncommon. We are now discussing about possibility that the peice was used by an elephant rider.

22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM	#3
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma. Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin). Many thank for the photo

22nd November 2007, 12:51 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I thought is sounded like "Rakhan" (Arracan). I wasn't sure if Rakhin was the same. As I said, though, I am sure these guys are Shan (unless they are dressed like them for some reason). Maybe they work for an Arracanese chief? Here is another Shan warrior. .

23rd November 2007, 12:34 AM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Wow Mark, nice pictures. I like the Shan garb, and those dha seem huge! It must take considerable dexterity to unsheath them.

23rd November 2007, 10:28 AM	#6
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Wow is right. those are GREAT pictures! I've never seen or heard of these before (but there on my shopping list now) Looking at the pictures along with Mark's comment on the one-handed grip, it does look like it's been shortened. Beautiful fit at the hilt scabbard, not so great at the pommel. As for unsheathing them well that's the nice thing about being CHIEF - you either 1.don't have to or 2. someone does it for you Dan

24th November 2007, 11:41 AM	#7
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Many thanks for the picture... it's Shan (Tai) people who using a kind of very long sword. However, those Tai warrior may not related to Rakhan (Arracan) chief. It 's not unusual to find one ethnic group 's decoration style on another group 's objects. Many Lanna weapon use Tai decoration style though I 'm also interested by those guys on the back. The picture res. 's so low that I could not figure out if they are indian or european. Would you mind to show it in higher resolution ?