The achang dha

JeffS · 13th June 2022, 04:16 AM

Love the scrollwork on the scabbard. Really nice blades on these. Is that silver on the handle? Does it have a pommel cap? Looking forward to seeing it cleaned.

JBG163 · 13th June 2022, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

Love the scrollwork on the scabbard. Really nice blades on these. Is that silver on the handle? Does it have a pommel cap? Looking forward to seeing it cleaned.

Thanks for her ! Yeah, it's awesome stuff. I will give you more info on the cap when i have it in hands. The handle is silver yes

JBG163 · 23rd August 2022, 05:33 PM

Here we go, with a bit of delay !

JeffS · 24th August 2022, 12:04 AM

Thanks for that. Here is my example.

RobT · 24th August 2022, 01:50 AM

Hi All,

I have a dha that had a label on the sheath which said, "KACHIN 1945". The hilt of my dha (which is all copper) matches JBG163's example very closely but the sheath looks like a typical Shan or Kachin dha sheath. According to Wikipedia, there are Achang living in the Kachin State where they are known as Ngochang. Perhaps whoever collected my blade got it from an Achang living in a Kachin area and assumed that the owner was Kachin? Or Perhaps a Kachin obtained the blade from an Achang and had a new sheath made for it? Because of the sun stamp by the hilt, I had always assumed the blade was of Husa manufacture but the same Wikipedia article mentions a group of Achang that call themselves Husa Achang. Could my sword have been of Husa Achang manufacture for the Kachin market? The blade of my dha has a peaked spine, hua tat, and measures 22-1/8" (56.1975cm) long.

Sincerely,
RobT

JeffS · 24th August 2022, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

Hi All,

ICould my sword have been of Husa Achang manufacture for the Kachin market? The blade of my dha has a peaked spine, hua tat, and measures 22-1/8" (56.1975cm) long.

Sincerely,
RobT

My blade has very fine hairpin lamination (pic below), and I understand that is a known characteristic of Kachin sword dao. Do you see this on your blade? Husa is a village (area) that is ethnically Achang and from what I have read on this forum, supplied weapons for many different ethnic groups. I also read they attribute their swordmaking history and other distinctive traditions to Han Chinese from the Ming army who stayed behind (1400's) and married into the Husa Achang community. I think it is cool that you can find Husa swords being made and sold on Ebay that look to be very high quality (though modern designs) with distinctive hamon. I also understand the village still produces traditional sword dao with the scrollwork open scabbards.

JBG163 · 24th August 2022, 06:33 AM

Hi Rob and Jeff
Rob, in my opinion, your sword is a shan dha from burma.
Jeff, blade is almost the same on our swords. Quench line start the same way and the thin lamination with hairpin pattern are identical. They were great craftsmen !

23rd August 2022, 05:33 PM	#3
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 209	Here we go, with a bit of delay ! Attached Images

24th August 2022, 12:04 AM	#4
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	Thanks for that. Here is my example. Attached Images

24th August 2022, 01:50 AM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 550	I Also Have Questions Hi All, I have a dha that had a label on the sheath which said, "KACHIN 1945". The hilt of my dha (which is all copper) matches JBG163's example very closely but the sheath looks like a typical Shan or Kachin dha sheath. According to Wikipedia, there are Achang living in the Kachin State where they are known as Ngochang. Perhaps whoever collected my blade got it from an Achang living in a Kachin area and assumed that the owner was Kachin? Or Perhaps a Kachin obtained the blade from an Achang and had a new sheath made for it? Because of the sun stamp by the hilt, I had always assumed the blade was of Husa manufacture but the same Wikipedia article mentions a group of Achang that call themselves Husa Achang. Could my sword have been of Husa Achang manufacture for the Kachin market? The blade of my dha has a peaked spine, hua tat, and measures 22-1/8" (56.1975cm) long. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images Last edited by RobT; 24th August 2022 at 01:58 AM. Reason: add'l info

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13th June 2022, 04:16 AM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	Love the scrollwork on the scabbard. Really nice blades on these. Is that silver on the handle? Does it have a pommel cap? Looking forward to seeing it cleaned.

24th August 2022, 06:33 AM	#7
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 209	Hi Rob and Jeff Rob, in my opinion, your sword is a shan dha from burma. Jeff, blade is almost the same on our swords. Quench line start the same way and the thin lamination with hairpin pattern are identical. They were great craftsmen !