Hi William,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

You have a Southeast Asian Dha, which are swords with curved, single-edged blades from East Asia, primarily Thailand. They have a large handle designed for two-handed use but lack a protective handguard. Many variations of this blade type exist across regions from Vietnam to Bhutan, dating back to the 12th century during which curved blades gained popularity. The swords served various purposes. They were agricultural tools, ceremonial pieces, and dependable weapons on the battlefield. Some East Asian militaries still train with them today.

The style of these has changed little over the centuries, making it a little difficult to accurately date this sword. From the photos, this looks like it could be from the 18th or 19th Centuries but *probably* not earlier than that.

Sword retailers and dealers will ask a broad variety of values for dhas they're selling, based on condition and provenance, but when these come up at auction, they usually sell for between $300 and $500.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Thai chased and engraved steel Dha with engraved scabbard
18th or 19th Century
The hilt with engraved pointed pommel and foliate engraved grip over a knopped guard, the blade engraved with Sanskrit characters and figures; the scabbard foliate relief-engraved overall.
Blade:31 inches; overall length: 46 inches; scabbard: 34 inches long
CONDITION: with some oxidation
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 300-500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia