Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 19th March 2017, 05:36 PM   #1
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,734
Thumbs up Burmese swagger stick

I do not collect this sort of silvery type of thing but this was to my mind a gift. 78cm long. I have African swagger sticks.
Attached Images
   
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th March 2017, 11:28 PM   #2
Nathaniel
Member
 
Nathaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 865
Default

Swanky! Looks like Shan silverwork. Thanks for sharing, Tim!
Nathaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 01:07 AM   #3
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

I agree with Nathaniel, looks like Shan silverware.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 03:38 AM   #4
Nathaniel
Member
 
Nathaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 865
Default

Also that is interesting the weave pattern below the handle...unusual and especially exceptional that it continues on for such a length below it...certainly more labor intensive than simply welding a flat sheet I would think which would be more typical of what you find among traditional patterns.

Last edited by Nathaniel; 20th March 2017 at 08:54 PM.
Nathaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 03:48 PM   #5
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,734
Default

Gosh thanks chaps. "Swanky" I like the sound of that. I have had a nice Dha before but this piece has prompted me to look into the structure of the 19th century Royal Burmese Army. This must be related to command. More pictures when here.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2017, 04:51 AM   #6
Nathaniel
Member
 
Nathaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 865
Lightbulb

Tim, just a crazy thought, but no chance the top end is a handle with a concealed blade is there? I've seen some examples of concealed blades with some decorative riding crops or opium pipes....maybe this is just wishful thinking

Example History of Steel in Eastern Asia #278
Attached Images
  
Nathaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2017, 04:27 PM   #7
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,734
Default

Here now, no hidden weapon. The main length of the stick is as thin as my little finger and even thinner towards the end. Interesting that the middle piece of silver has come from presumably an item of British silverware either a recycled piece or from purchased scrap. Initially I thought It was a repair. However now I believe the whole thing is assembled from separate pieces . The stick just does not feel as if it was damaged or broken in the past. The middle section holds the weave wire in place (two sections) so there is no twist and play. This also helps to keep the twist at the end. The recycled silver would mean tribal work rather than court work. A colonial officer would be unlikely to carry a native swagger stick. It could possibly have been made for a British officer that stayed behind the line in command of tribal forces {z force}. Who knows? Even more romantically perhaps collected after the fall of Mandalay
Attached Images
    

Last edited by Tim Simmons; 21st March 2017 at 06:05 PM.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.