Antique vs modern dha/daab
Apr 11, 2016 0:49:03 GMT
Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 11, 2016 0:49:03 GMT
A comparison between some antique and modern dha/daab, plain, of similar size. The modern ones are late 20th century. All are hand forged. The old one is folded steel, and probably of laminated construction. The modern ones are monosteel, probably recycled scrap steel. Picking them up, still in their scabbards, the most noticeable thing is that the modern ones have much skinner hilts, and much heavier scabbards. The old one's scabbard is much thinner, side-to-side, especially in the tip half of the scabbard. The modern grips are much closer to perfectly round; I haven't unwrapped them so can't say whether the grips have been turned. The old grip is oval enough so I can feel the edge alignment well (about 34mm by 32mm at the top of my hand; that's fairly round, but the difference from circular is enough for edge alignment).
The swords:
Undressed:
Dressed:
The stats:
The modern ones are a little wider, and significantly lighter. The taper along the blades is very different. The modern ones start off a little thinner, and have a rapid concave taper. The old one starts off thicker, and tapers more uniformly. All are of similar thickness near the tip.
Thicknesses near the hilt:
Thicknesses mid-blade:
For measurements of more dha/daab, including different types, see:
The Dha Research Archive, including some weights and thicknesses: dharesearch.bowditch.us/
The History of Steel exhibition (lengths only): www.arscives.com/historysteel/continentalsea.swordlist.htm
The swords:
Undressed:
Dressed:
The stats:
Old (top) | New 1 (middle) | New 2 (bottom) | |
Overall length | 780mm / 30.5" | 765mm / 30.1" | 760mm / 29.9" |
Blade length | 520mm / 20.5" | 520mm / 20.5" | 510mm / 20.1" |
Hilt length | 255mm / 10" | 250mm / 9.8" | 250mm / 9.8" |
Width at hilt | 25mm / 1" | 26mm / 1" | 25mm / 1" |
Widest part | 30mm / 1.2" | 34mm / 1.3" | 33mm / 1.25" |
Thickness at hilt | 9.5mm | 6.7mm | 7.3mm |
Thickness mid-blade | 4.6mm | 2.9mm | 2.4mm |
Thickness 1" from tip | 1.95mm | 1.9mm | 1.8mm |
Point of balance | 105mm / 4.25" | 150mm / 6" | 150mm / 5.9" |
Sword weight | 469g | 322g | 311g |
Scabbard weight | 147g | 370g | 371g |
The modern ones are a little wider, and significantly lighter. The taper along the blades is very different. The modern ones start off a little thinner, and have a rapid concave taper. The old one starts off thicker, and tapers more uniformly. All are of similar thickness near the tip.
Thicknesses near the hilt:
Thicknesses mid-blade:
For measurements of more dha/daab, including different types, see:
The Dha Research Archive, including some weights and thicknesses: dharesearch.bowditch.us/
The History of Steel exhibition (lengths only): www.arscives.com/historysteel/continentalsea.swordlist.htm