Yatağan
A type of Ottoman sword with a distinct eared hilt and recurved blade.
Yatağan dated 1790-1791
An old warhorse with several repairs.
Indian pata with Solingen blade
With a blade of 17th-century European manufacture, with trader's name on it.
Pipe-back saber
A distinctive type of European military saber, used from the early 19th to early 20th century.
French sword for the King of Siam
With a Parisian blade carrying the royal emblem of King Rama IV.
Unusual Taiwanese sword
With a straight blade of asymmetrical grind and a strongly Chinese inspired scabbard.
On weight and balance
In researching antique arms -or any kind of material culture for that matter- it is of paramount importance to actually feel and handle pieces.
Very good hudiedao set
With fine carved hilts, substantial bronze D-guards, and subtle signs of heat treatment on the blades.
Mata-djoh
Long Way Dayak word for a type of decoration consisting of S-shaped ornaments.
Tap-set-sien
Long Way Dayak word for a type of decoration seen on mandau blades.
Mata kalong
Long Way Dayak word for a type of decoration seen on mandau blades.
Li-po-tong
Long Way Dayak word for a type of mandau tip.
Lidjib
Long Way Dayak word for a type of mandau tip.
Longna
Long Way Dayak word for a type of mandau tip.
Monong
Long Way Dayak name for a type of mandau tip.
Leng
Long Way Dayak word for a variety of mandau.
Parang ilang
Widely used name for a hollow-ground Indonesian headhunter sword. (A.k.a. mandau).
A fine Kayan mandau
With less common wooden hilt and elaborately inlaid blade in brass, copper and silver.
A Kenyah mandau
The famous sidearm of the headhunters of Borneo.
Mandau
Popular name for the common sword of Borneo.
Talwar hilted shamshir
With a very fine Persian blade of "brilliant black" wootz.
Mala (माला)
Hindi for the lap welds seen on swords.
Lahore talwar hilted shamshir
Persian wootz shamshir in a talwar hilt from Lahore.
Telögu
Nias word for a specific type of sword.
Belatu
Generic Nias word for "knife" or "sword".
A fine south Nias telögu
With rare pale buffalo horn hilt with gold alloy inlays.
Very fine Sinhalese kasthāné
With parcel gilding and ruby eyes, in a fine silver repousse scabbard.
Hkamti dha (ခန္တီး ဓား)
Burmese trade name of the lin gin, a machete-like sword.
An unusual minority dao
The wide blade with clipped tip mounted on a riveted wooden grip.
Dàap (ดาบ)
Thai word for a single-edged sword.
Brass mounted Thai dáap
A charming and somewhat unusual example of a Thai dáap (ดาบ).
Plain mounted Mindan dha
Plain when sheathed, unsheathing reveals a rather nice silver overlaid blade.
Early silver Burmese dha
With elaborate silver overlaid blade and inlaid iron hilt.
Burmese silver overlaid dha
On a sturdy, user-grade blade with temper line.
Dalwe (ဓားလွယ်)
Burmese type of sword, worn in scabbard slung from the shoulder.
Lin gin (လင်းကင်း)
Burmese for a machete-like that was used widely in Kachin state and Assam.
Shan da (ရှမ်းဓား)
Burmese word for the Shan sword with pointed blade.
A Burmese da glossary
A glossary of the terminology of the Burmese dha and related items.
A Kenyah Dayak mandau sword
The sword and everyday tool of the headhunters of Borneo.
Mindan dha
Name for fine dha with fine overlaid blades. Named after Mindan village where they were made.
Tribal Kachin dha
A typical example with a nice forge folded blade with differential heat treatment.
Pedang bengkok
Indonesian word meaning "curved sword".
Wōdāo (倭刀 / 窩刀)
Chinese term for a Japanese sword, or a large saber with strong Japanese influence.
Miáodāo (苗刀)
Chinese name for a slender, curved saber. Often associated with large two-handers.
Gim (劍)
The Cantonese word for the Chinese straightsword.
Pedang lurus
Indonesian term meaning "straight sword". Often used to describe a specific silver-clad shortsword.
Wootz
Description
Wootz is the commonly used name for a type of crucible steel with an elaborate pattern
Ispāt (इस्पात्)
Nepali word for steel.
Chángdāo (長刀)
Chinese term for "long saber".