Dao (Naga type of axe/chopper). Metal blade of basic triangular shape: short, single edged curved blade, with pointed end on one side and curved angled wing on the back/top side. Short reinforcing metal strip wound closely around haft-end where the blade is inserted, next to a short width of plaited cane and a longer area of narrow fibre strips bound and plaited on, both covered in dark resin. Long bare haft, with shallow groove. One side of the haft end, decorated with seven rows of five long black and dyed red hair tufts, and two rows of five short tufts of black and dyed red hair at the haft tip. A loop of two strands of red cotton twisted together tied on among the hair decoration. A small white rectangle of paper marked `236’ stuck on the haft back.
