Kachin naga Dao sword

 A very nice antique Dao sword from the Kachin Naga people, Assam/Burmese Hill regions. Very high qulity piece, the hilt mounted with silver, the grip lacquered with black lac, the pommel mounted with a slab of white precious material with a decorative motif to the centre. The blade is superbly forged, of thick heavy steel, with visible patterns of a ‘hairpin’ lamellar forging technique whereby different steels are twisted together to make a better stronger steel blade. The blade is chisel profile, ie flat on one side, facetted to the other, they were carried in open sided sheath often with tiger talismans attached. This weapons dates the early 20th century, 26 inches long overall.