Unusual Dha

Jim McDougall · 26th November 2007, 04:21 AM

Is that blade with clipped back suggestive of a 'Bowie' what might be indicative of the British association? The British made Bowies became quite popular and possibly the influence might have affected this one?

Gavin Nugent · 26th November 2007, 05:16 AM

Hi Andrew and Jim, I do believe the blade to be British influenced as it has a very distinct clip to it. Though I am no expert, all the Dha that I have seen over the years here in Australia have their own style to them, I have seen a good many Dha with drop points but never such a distinct clip. I can only assume, that there being no American influence in Burma, that a British Officer(as I think they would be the only ones either interested, able to influence or afford such a whim).
I would enjoy hearing more about these theories from those more knowledgeable with the history of the Dha.

regards

Gavin

Andrew · 26th November 2007, 07:17 PM

I'm not as confident in assigning an origin to this knife based only on the clip point. Although not a common blade profile in my experience, I have seen it before.

I have one on my desk at the moment, in fact.

I think you have a nice example of an ivory and silver dha hmyaung. Your estimate of age (late 19th-early 20th century) is probably accurate.

Cheers,
Andrew

kronckew · 26th November 2007, 08:44 PM

i also have one to hand, 12 in. blade.

Andrew · 26th November 2007, 08:47 PM

Nice knife, Kronckew. That's a contemporary knife made by the Kachin.

kahnjar1 · 27th November 2007, 04:12 AM

Not uncommon it would appear.

Chris Evans · 27th November 2007, 04:20 AM

Hi kronckew

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

i also have one to hand, 12 in. blade.

The owner of that Dha must be a mountaineer - The cord wrapping around the scabbard is for climbing!

Cheers
Chris

kronckew · 27th November 2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi kronckew

The owner of that Dha must be a mountaineer - The cord wrapping around the scabbard is for climbing!

Cheers
Chris

yes, it's a nice decorative line for replacing missing baldrics & i have an outdoor store in a nearby village that has it in various suitable diameters and colours.

adds a bit of colour to the display.

climbing carabiners make useful adjuncts as well for my 'users'

not traditional, but i know it and the cordage won't break. p.s. - i am way past the age & weight where actual climbing was an option.....

and to get back on topic, this all made me remember why i used the fancy climbing rope, i bought the following small dha (5.5 in. blade) shortly after the larger one above in my earlier post, the coloured braided line on it is the original cotton one, which reminded me of climbing rope, the aftermath was the coloured stuff above. better looking to me at least than the plain cotton rope in the photo with the kukri i had used on my 1st dha.

i'd forgot that THIS small one was also a clipped point.

Gavin Nugent · 27th November 2007, 06:59 AM

Thanks for the images. What do you know about these style of blades in the Dha, I have been searching high and low on and off for a while now. How old do these two date, I can see the clip in the top one but it looks newish??? The other, from the angle I cannot see a definate clip, more of a drop. Can you post better images of the profiles of the blade and anything you know about their origins.

regards

Gavin

Jim McDougall · 28th November 2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Hi Andrew and Jim, I do believe the blade to be British influenced as it has a very distinct clip to it. Though I am no expert, all the Dha that I have seen over the years here in Australia have their own style to them, I have seen a good many Dha with drop points but never such a distinct clip. I can only assume, that there being no American influence in Burma, that a British Officer(as I think they would be the only ones either interested, able to influence or afford such a whim).
I would enjoy hearing more about these theories from those more knowledgeable with the history of the Dha.

regards

Gavin

Hi Gavin,
Thank you very much for acknowledging my post !!

All very best regards,
Jim

Gavin Nugent · 28th November 2007, 09:06 PM

Hi Puff, my thoughts on the first two images are that they are drop points not definite clips, with regards to the third one, there appears to be a very small something going on at the end of the blade but the image is not a true profile of the blade so I can't be sure about it. Although the clip is not a new thing to either the USA or England as there are blades from the 12th-13th century around the world with this profile, I would like to see or hear of more conclusive proof as to when a "distinct" clip did enter Burma and it's surrounds.
Can anyone further or conclude these theories?

regards

Gavin

26th November 2007, 05:16 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	The blade Hi Andrew and Jim, I do believe the blade to be British influenced as it has a very distinct clip to it. Though I am no expert, all the Dha that I have seen over the years here in Australia have their own style to them, I have seen a good many Dha with drop points but never such a distinct clip. I can only assume, that there being no American influence in Burma, that a British Officer(as I think they would be the only ones either interested, able to influence or afford such a whim). I would enjoy hearing more about these theories from those more knowledgeable with the history of the Dha. regards Gavin

27th November 2007, 04:12 AM	#6
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,800	Two more with "Bowie" blade Not uncommon it would appear. Attached Images

27th November 2007, 06:59 AM	#9
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Thanks kahnjar1 Thanks for the images. What do you know about these style of blades in the Dha, I have been searching high and low on and off for a while now. How old do these two date, I can see the clip in the top one but it looks newish??? The other, from the angle I cannot see a definate clip, more of a drop. Can you post better images of the profiles of the blade and anything you know about their origins. regards Gavin

28th November 2007, 09:06 PM	#11
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Thanks Puff Hi Puff, my thoughts on the first two images are that they are drop points not definite clips, with regards to the third one, there appears to be a very small something going on at the end of the blade but the image is not a true profile of the blade so I can't be sure about it. Although the clip is not a new thing to either the USA or England as there are blades from the 12th-13th century around the world with this profile, I would like to see or hear of more conclusive proof as to when a "distinct" clip did enter Burma and it's surrounds. Can anyone further or conclude these theories? regards Gavin

26th November 2007, 04:21 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Is that blade with clipped back suggestive of a 'Bowie' what might be indicative of the British association? The British made Bowies became quite popular and possibly the influence might have affected this one?

26th November 2007, 07:17 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I'm not as confident in assigning an origin to this knife based only on the clip point. Although not a common blade profile in my experience, I have seen it before. I have one on my desk at the moment, in fact. I think you have a nice example of an ivory and silver dha hmyaung. Your estimate of age (late 19th-early 20th century) is probably accurate. Cheers, Andrew

26th November 2007, 08:44 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	i also have one to hand, 12 in. blade.

26th November 2007, 08:47 PM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Nice knife, Kronckew. That's a contemporary knife made by the Kachin.