The sword, with its wooden hilt, and unique square form is used for digging as well as used in historical warfare.

[1] The dao broadsword can be found in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Assam in the northeastern region of India and Kachin, Saigaing region of Myanmar where the Naga and Mizo peoples live.

The unique design of this long backsword is that, instead of a point, the tip of the sword is a bevel which creates the appearance of a squarish shape.

[3] A dao is usually carried in an open-sided wooden scabbard which is fastened to a rattan belt hoop.

It is used for many purposes e.g. for building houses, to clear the forest, to dig the earth, to make the women's weaving tools,for hunting and for creating any kind of wooden objects.