Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 26th April 2026, 02:01 PM

Tim,

Thanks for that very interesting link! Your suggestion of a Formosan connection is a nice "outside-the box' idea. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Detlef -- I can't see any Formosan connection for this sword.

Jeff,

I can see why someone thought this might be a SE Asian dha, daab, daav. Looking at the sword without the scabbard, it could pass for a Cambodian sword I suppose. But I can't place the leather scabbard and its "tribal" designs in a mainland SE Asian context, and the portepee tassel is a challenge to explain.

Looking at German colonial involvement elsewhere, as Tim has suggested, may prove profitable. When faced with similar conundrums, I sometimes go back to Stone's encyclopedic book and try to match a sword or scabbard. It's surprising how much obscure information is included in his book.

26th April 2026, 02:01 PM	#10
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,708	Tim, Thanks for that very interesting link! Your suggestion of a Formosan connection is a nice "outside-the box' idea. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Detlef -- I can't see any Formosan connection for this sword. Jeff, I can see why someone thought this might be a SE Asian dha, daab, daav. Looking at the sword without the scabbard, it could pass for a Cambodian sword I suppose. But I can't place the leather scabbard and its "tribal" designs in a mainland SE Asian context, and the portepee tassel is a challenge to explain. Looking at German colonial involvement elsewhere, as Tim has suggested, may prove profitable. When faced with similar conundrums, I sometimes go back to Stone's encyclopedic book and try to match a sword or scabbard. It's surprising how much obscure information is included in his book.