A Massive Dha/Daab With an Unique Blade

Nathaniel · 26th February 2019, 04:15 AM

Hello Charles,

Lovely Tai knife. 🐓 Nice iron mounts and massive blade. Rare to find the 1/2 thick blade, but you do see it with some Tai knives and swords. Definitely a functional piece, but extra care put into its construction, which show it was not just a poor farmer's tool, even though primarily used for utility functions. And I'm sure if needed it would make a devastating blow to the flesh and bone!

Regarding your main inquiry, nice pattern weld...certainly looks to me like a large quench zone with an insert edge. That is just my vote. You can clearly see the evidence of the quality of the blade with the round chip, not a "V" cut in the edge towards the tip.

Interesting the decorative pattern at the spine at the forte...I haven't seen that particular pattern before....typically you find horizontal lines =, X's, sometimes dots :, or inset copper or brass square or rectangles. Fun piece, never can say you've seen it all!

Nathaniel · 28th February 2019, 01:55 AM

Just reread and noticed I got my terms switched, I vote wide inset with a thin quenched edge.

kronckew · 28th February 2019, 06:30 AM

Another Thai Pra with a decorated blade, steel fittings and a simply decorated hardwood grip emulating the joins on bamboo or a rattan haft.

(the string is looped around the forte to let it hang properly on the wall, not far from my head as I type, as the balance is pretty much at the blade/bolster join.)

Peter Dekker · 2nd March 2019, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Just reread and noticed I got my terms switched, I vote wide inset with a thin quenched edge.

I second that. It looks to me like a piece of higher carbon edge steel with a subtle straight grain inserted in a body of more burl patterned mild carbon steel, the whole then heat treated.

If the line would have been the demarcation of differential heat treatment ( "hamon") then the burl pattern would briefly be exaggerated on that line before fading in to a completely hardened area. The fact that it does not tells us that we're transitioning to a different piece of steel instead.

Peter

CharlesS · 3rd March 2019, 08:30 PM

Thanks for the additional input guys! Good stuff!

Nathaniel · 21st March 2019, 02:59 AM

Hello all, I just came across this unreferenced photo on Mark's Dha Research Index and noticed that these was a knife similar to the one you have Charles. Does anyone know the reference for this photo?

kai · 22nd March 2019, 08:10 PM

Oldman catalog?

26th February 2019, 04:15 AM	#1
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hello Charles, Lovely Tai knife. 🐓 Nice iron mounts and massive blade. Rare to find the 1/2 thick blade, but you do see it with some Tai knives and swords. Definitely a functional piece, but extra care put into its construction, which show it was not just a poor farmer's tool, even though primarily used for utility functions. And I'm sure if needed it would make a devastating blow to the flesh and bone! Regarding your main inquiry, nice pattern weld...certainly looks to me like a large quench zone with an insert edge. That is just my vote. You can clearly see the evidence of the quality of the blade with the round chip, not a "V" cut in the edge towards the tip. Interesting the decorative pattern at the spine at the forte...I haven't seen that particular pattern before....typically you find horizontal lines =, X's, sometimes dots :, or inset copper or brass square or rectangles. Fun piece, never can say you've seen it all! Last edited by Nathaniel; 26th February 2019 at 04:46 AM.

28th February 2019, 06:30 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,235	Another Thai Pra with a decorated blade, steel fittings and a simply decorated hardwood grip emulating the joins on bamboo or a rattan haft. (the string is looped around the forte to let it hang properly on the wall, not far from my head as I type, as the balance is pretty much at the blade/bolster join.) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 28th February 2019 at 04:04 PM.

21st March 2019, 02:59 AM	#6
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hello all, I just came across this unreferenced photo on Mark's Dha Research Index and noticed that these was a knife similar to the one you have Charles. Does anyone know the reference for this photo? Attached Images

28th February 2019, 01:55 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Just reread and noticed I got my terms switched, I vote wide inset with a thin quenched edge.

3rd March 2019, 08:30 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Thanks for the additional input guys! Good stuff!

22nd March 2019, 08:10 PM	#7
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Oldman catalog?