Dha is a sword that was used throughout most of mainland Southeast Asia, though it is most often associated with Burma (Myanmar). “Dha” in Burmese simply means “blade.” The corresponding term in Thai is “daab” or “darb”.
A Dha typically has a more-or-less curved blade, usually widening progressively toward the tip. The tip, however, comes with a variety of shapes, which may be upswept, rounded, clipped, spear-shaped, square or even concave. The handle is typically of round cross-section, and guardless, though often flaring toward the blade into a pseudo-guard. Click on the link for An Introduction to Dha by Mark I. Bowditch.
Same as many other traditional weapon, the Dha is endangered because the traditional methods of smithing the Dha are slowing fading as old chraftmen die without having passed on their skills. Click on the link for an article by Jamie MacDonald on The Last Days of An Ancient Sword, in which he talked about his visit to Ajarn Kor Neeow, who is one of the last few sword masters in southeast Asia who continues the art of Dha making.
Reproduced under fair-use and with credit