Staying on the Japanese Theme: Japanese Trade Blades in SE Asia

[DhaDha]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Hello Emanuel,

Any chance we might entice said forum member into posting a photograph of said Thai-mounted katana?

Cheers,

Chris

Sure!
At almost 40 inches it is a bit of monster. I've been lucky enough to handle a few of this style and this is the largest. Others have had different blade styles but similar handles, with the wrapped-style decoration, and oval profile. I find the different cultures represented fascinating.

[DhaDha]

BTW I believe the blade to be locally made, in the spirit of a Katana.

[laEspadaAncha]

Howdy DD...

Thank you for posting these images of this fascinating - and beautiful - dha variant. The hilt is most definitely made in the style of an ito-wrapped tsuka, and it is the first time I have ever seen this feature borrowed by and incorporated into another culture's indigenous weaponry.

I also agree the blade is not nihonto, but rather is a local interpretation of a katana blade. By your estimation, how old is this dha?


David: Interesting find, and thanks for posting it... You wouldn't happen to have a photo of that long hilt, would you? As it so happens, the curator emeritus of that collection is involved in the discussion of this piece over at NMB. He's about to leave on vacation but has said he is going to take a picture of another 'pseudo-naginata' in the Royal Armoury Museum when he returns... I'll ask him about the piece you're speaking of.

[Emanuel]

Yup, that's the one
D, I had forgotten the blade was local, just the general impression remained. I do recall it was a pleasure to handle.

[DhaDha]

Hey Emanuel, glad you were talking about this one You do remember correctly. Pretty nimble for such a large piece. Glad you liked it.

laEspadaAncha, these are often attributed to the Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767). But I've seen them come from right up to the 1800s as well. I'd say this this one is on the older side of what I've handled and seen. Around 1680-1700? Hard to say though. By the way, they also exist with Chinese-styled blades. But still sporting the Japanese styled hilts, and SEA fittings. Pretty cool.

[Andrew]

Outstanding sword, DhaDha! Thanks for sharing it.

Based on the repousse work and blade markings, however, I would place the age of your sword a bit later than the Ayutthaya period and would lean more towards the late 18th/early 19th century (Rattanakosin period). Many pieces from this period evoke or are in a "revival" of Ayutthaya design.

Here is an example from my collection with similar silver work dating to the early 19th C.:

[Andrew]

The few, true, surviving Ayutthaya period swords I have handled have iron fittings, often with gold and/or silver koftgari and more...delicate (?) and refined blades and workmanship. An Ayutthaya sword from my collection:

[David R]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Howdy DD...



David: Interesting find, and thanks for posting it... You wouldn't happen to have a photo of that long hilt, would you? As it so happens, the curator emeritus of that collection is involved in the discussion of this piece over at NMB. He's about to leave on vacation but has said he is going to take a picture of another 'pseudo-naginata' in the Royal Armoury Museum when he returns... I'll ask him about the piece you're speaking of.

Sorry for the delay, here are pics of the remodeled katana/nodachi.

[Gavin Nugent]

I'd love a good clear shot of the Gou (hook swords) to compare with the pair I have....

[David R]

I will see what I can do next time I go in.

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by DhaDha

Sure!
At almost 40 inches it is a bit of monster. I've been lucky enough to handle a few of this style and this is the largest. Others have had different blade styles but similar handles, with the wrapped-style decoration, and oval profile. I find the different cultures represented fascinating.

Wonderful piece Dha Dha, thanks for sharing!