Asian dagger

Nathaniel · 20th August 2012, 04:50 AM

Here is a similar one, #277 from the History of Steel exhibit in 2006

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel.../277-mib03.jpg

277
Dha-hmyaung. Myanmar (Burma) Shan States, or Southern Yunnan. Early 19th Century.
All silver fittings over wood. The blade shows a hardened edge. The scabbard has a round cross-section, typical of this style.

Overall length: 42 cm
Blade length: 22.5 cm
Handle length: 19.5 cm
Scabbard length:

Andrew · 20th August 2012, 06:07 PM

I recognize that one from the HOS exhibition.

These straight bladed daggers are, in my opinion, more likely to be from the Yunnan regions. But, as Gav notes, the modern geographic borders in that area are much less significant than the cultural/ethnic distinctions.

Older examples typically have better blades, often with inserted edges, differentially hardened edges, laminate construction and higher-quality silver.

Not sure if I completely agree now with the "early 19th century" attribution on that HOS example, but we know more now than we did at that time...

Probably late 19th/early 20th c.

Congoblades · 21st August 2012, 11:35 AM

Thanks all for the input.

aiontay · 23rd August 2012, 02:46 AM

Freebooter, those look like wedding nhtu (swords) a lot of Kachins have. People have Christian weddings and the woman gets a wedding ring, but the man gets the traditional wedding gifts from his wife of a nhtu and nhpye, a shoulder bag.

David R · 25th August 2012, 08:23 PM

A rule of thumb I go by is, the better the quality of the blade, the earlier it is. ....And if it turns out to be later, so what, it is still a good blade.
Really, the only things I avoid personaly are sheet metal and mild steel blades.

20th August 2012, 04:50 AM	#1
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Here is a similar one, #277 from the History of Steel exhibit in 2006 http://www.arscives.com/historysteel.../277-mib03.jpg 277 Dha-hmyaung. Myanmar (Burma) Shan States, or Southern Yunnan. Early 19th Century. All silver fittings over wood. The blade shows a hardened edge. The scabbard has a round cross-section, typical of this style. Overall length: 42 cm Blade length: 22.5 cm Handle length: 19.5 cm Scabbard length: Attached Images

20th August 2012, 06:07 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I recognize that one from the HOS exhibition. These straight bladed daggers are, in my opinion, more likely to be from the Yunnan regions. But, as Gav notes, the modern geographic borders in that area are much less significant than the cultural/ethnic distinctions. Older examples typically have better blades, often with inserted edges, differentially hardened edges, laminate construction and higher-quality silver. Not sure if I completely agree now with the "early 19th century" attribution on that HOS example, but we know more now than we did at that time... Probably late 19th/early 20th c.

21st August 2012, 11:35 AM	#3
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Thanks all for the input.

23rd August 2012, 02:46 AM	#4
aiontay Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 88	Freebooter, those look like wedding nhtu (swords) a lot of Kachins have. People have Christian weddings and the woman gets a wedding ring, but the man gets the traditional wedding gifts from his wife of a nhtu and nhpye, a shoulder bag.

25th August 2012, 08:23 PM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,123	A rule of thumb I go by is, the better the quality of the blade, the earlier it is. ....And if it turns out to be later, so what, it is still a good blade. Really, the only things I avoid personaly are sheet metal and mild steel blades.