# Silver Thai Daab Sword \(ดาบ\)

Price on request · Region: China, East Asia, Tibet · Type: Swords

Now sold.

  


This example of a dha sword is from Thailand, and represents a classic Thai form of the dha (known in Burmese: ဓား).  As a a single-edged sword originating from Southeast Asia, these were particularly prominent in Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Northeast India.

  


The Thai daab (ดาบ) is associated with the Khmer dav (ដាវ) and is an integral part of traditional Southeast Asian arms and armor, showcasing regional craftsmanship and martial history.  While the exact origins of the dha remain uncertain, historical evidence points to its development among the Burmese and Tai peoples who migrated from Yunnan, China. Relief carvings at the Bayon temple in Angkor, dating to the 12th and 13th centuries, depict soldiers wielding curved swords, indicating the dha's early use in warfare. Similar weapons are illustrated in the Boxer Codex (c. 1590), showing warriors from Siam (Thailand) and Cambodia carrying curved swords.

  


Daab's distinctive features include: A long, gently curving single-edged blade. A round hilt, often crafted from wood or intricately worked silver and gold. The absence of a guard, though some Thai daab, such as this one, have guards reminiscent of the Japanese katana. The scabbards are traditionally made from bamboo or wood, reinforced with metal bands or wrapped in rattan. Some high-quality examples feature ornate silver inlays or ray-skin coverings.

  


There are numerous variations of the dha exist: such as the Montagnard dha with a smaller guards, used by mountain tribes. Kachin dha anown for its longer blade and traditional craftsmanship.

  


Thai daab swords can be found in many institutional collections such as: the British Museum (London) which has a variety of dha, including examples with silver pommels and engraved blades. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) which has dha swords with ornate niello and gold decorations, reflecting the influence of Mughal weaponry.

  


Very similar examples to this one can be found in the The Bangkok National Museum (Thailand) which exhibits ceremonial daab with gemstone inlays and lacquered hilts and the Wat Phra Kaew Royal Collection in Bangkok.

  


The daab especially played an important role in the warfare between Burma, Siam, and Vietnam in the 18th and 19th centuries. Warriors often wielded these swords in conjunction with other weapons such as the krabi (กระบี่) and spears. The daab symbolized not just martial prowess but also status, especially when adorned with gilded designs and precious metals.