JPH Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Hello: Going through my "War Chest" the other day looking for some old military documents taht I needed and I pulled out a blade that has great sentimental value to me and I thought I would share some photos. This was a gift from a Montagnard friend who I became very close to both him and his family. So close I almost married his daughter. I lost contact with them after the fall of Saigon in 1975...I do know that they were evacuated but where they are now I have no idea...records are not all that complete from that time period... Just something neat I thought I would share.. I was told it was made from an old leaf spring off of a World War Two Japanese truck. Beautiful damascene work in silver, red and yellow gold on the blade...It holds a lot of memories for me...Still very, VERY SHARP... So take a peek at an old Dog Face's "memento" of a time past... JPH Edited February 16, 2011 by JPH If you wish to know the price of freedom..Visit a Veteran's Hospital...I am humbled by their sacrifice... Why is it when the Mighty Thor throws his hammer he is dispensing Justice and fighting Evil..BUT..when I throw my hammer I wind up in a mandatory 16 week anger management course??</p> I came into this world naked, screaming and covered in someone else's blood...I have no problem going out the same way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Gdula Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Jim, from a fellow Dog Face, thanks for sharing the pics of a wonderful piece and the memories that go along with it. Is the work on the blade all engraving and inlay? Or is there some etching? -Todd Edited February 17, 2011 by tgdula www.toddblades.com "Geometry says how sharp, steel says how long." - Roman Landes, Ashokan 2009 "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Jim that is awsome and I love to hear about stories Vietnam especially the personal side of the war. Even though I was born in 1967 I have a few friends who fought in Vietnam. And Jim yours touches me. John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPH Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hello: It is all damascene inlay/overlay...also known as koftkari..Silver wire with red gold and yellow gold "borders".. The spine is also damascened as well. All I know is it took a hulluvalotta work to do this...making all those chisel cuts to raise the burrs and then slowly hammering down the wire and bunrinshing the wire over so the "burrs" hold it in place... The sheath covered copper and silver bands over mahogany..the grip is built up of silver and copper bands as well...Very nice work indeed. Coming accross this piece brought back a bunch of memories from a different time..some good..some not so good. Thought I should share a few of the good ones.. JPH If you wish to know the price of freedom..Visit a Veteran's Hospital...I am humbled by their sacrifice... Why is it when the Mighty Thor throws his hammer he is dispensing Justice and fighting Evil..BUT..when I throw my hammer I wind up in a mandatory 16 week anger management course??</p> I came into this world naked, screaming and covered in someone else's blood...I have no problem going out the same way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter johnsson Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Beautiful, Thank you for sharing both story and blade. I appreciate the graceful form and the level of craftsmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Maresch Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 The story behind it is touching and one can only guess at all the emotions that come along with such a piece; thanks for showing & telling. Might I humbly request some.... sharper and larger pics? It really looks like an outstanding piece! Would love to see some more of it www.mareschmesser.de Knifemaker, Germany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymond Richard Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 That's quite a sword. The only thing I saw the Montagnard's carry were very crud choppers. You wouldn't happen to have a picture of one of those choppers? They looked like very effective tools. The only thing I took home from Nam was a NVA pith helmet and a case of malaria. 41 years ago, seems like it was yesterday. Raymond Richard www.hawknknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Bondurant Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 One thing I noticed about the Dao in Southeast Asia is it does not have a handle that puts the blade forward if you pick it up in the dark like Japanese and other Asian swords. We used to make jokes about it, that the Thai would grab a sword and hit you with it having no concern what part of the edge or side of the sword made contact. I never understood why they had a round grip like they do, any comments on that? Unfortunately, very few if anyone over there is now interested in making traditional swords of a quality beyond wall hangers for tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Sexstone Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Jim . your story is like the blade itself... I'm sure it cuts both ways... thanks for sharing both. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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