A Nice Naga Dao

[Ian]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

... The metal quality of the blade is poor. Note the forging flaw that has a created a scarf weld(intentional or unintentional???) to the top extension from the spine. There is thick iron bolster. ...

Hi Charles:

Very nice example of an unusual style of Naga dao. I think this is likely to be a 19th C. piece. Rawson* made the observation that the Naga were an "iron-poor" group and resorted to reusing iron from old tools and weapons. When British tea planters came along, the Naga would pilfer their iron tools (hoes and such) to supplement their iron supply. Some Naga dao still have traces of British manufacturers' marks to indicate the origin of the iron that went into making them. A single hoe could be cut lengthwise to create two dao (according to Rawson).

Reuse and repair of ironware was extensively employed, often resulting in poorer quality products. I think your example shows some of the consequences of being an "iron-poor" community.

Ian.

* Rawson P.S. The Indian Sword. Herbert Jenkins:London. 1968.