Lóngquán (龍泉)
A town in Zhejiang province, China, known as a sword making center.
A fine Yunnan Dai dagger
With characteristic bulb pommel and silver plating on hilt and scabbard.
Bāguà (八卦) "Eight Trigrams"
Chinese meaning "Eight Trigrams", representing the fundamental principles of our world.
Wavy Chinese spearhead
Of a rarer form, often used for ceremonial pole-arms.
Asian arms in Dutch master paintings
Dutch masters' fascination with exotic Asian wares shown in a series of paintings.
Signed húdiédāo set
Of military style with long, narrow blades and ribbed hardwood grips.
Lóngquán Daoist shuāngjiàn
A very good set of Daoist straightswords in a single scabbard. There is a lot to see here, but I will start with the blades.
Kankyûtô (貫級刀/貫首刀)
Japanese word for a samurai tool.
An Edo period kankyûtô
A double-edged samurai tool with morbid origins.
Kozuka (小柄)
Japanese name of a small utility knife worn in sword and dagger scabbards.
Signed nakago kozuka
A by-knife for a Japanese sword, with a hilt shaped like a sword tang.
Chinese báitóng whip
A Chinese traditional hidden striking weapon, this time executed in the "white copper" alloy.
A Chinese headman's sword
Of rare form with short but very heavy double-edged blade.
Japanese steel plate
Worked in repousse, possibly once part of an ornamental piece of armor.
Construction of the Qing dynasty long spear
From an 1812 text regarding the manufacture of Qing military equipment.
Qing fangshi soldier's saber
A rare surviving example of the simple military version of this style.
Wakizashi in Burmese hilt
An unusual cross-cultural mix, blending Burmese, Japanese and Indian parts.
Kusari zukin (鎖頭巾)
Japanese name for the hood of a mail armor set.
Kusari katabira (鎖帷子)
Japanese name for a jacket of mail armor.
Kusari gusoku (鎖具足)
Japanese word for mail armor.
Kusari (鎖)
Japanese word for "chain", also used to describe mail armor.
Kusari katabira zukin
Japanese mail set, with small ring vest and coif sewn to a thick cotton undergarment.
Pierced iron saddle
Executed in the Tibetan style, exhibiting dragons in foliage chasing flaming jewels.
Antique Chinese spearhead 3
Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.
Antique Chinese spearhead 2
Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.
Antique Chinese spearhead
Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.
Unusual Taiwanese sword
With a straight blade of asymmetrical grind and a strongly Chinese inspired scabbard.
Tongzhou incident 29th army dàdāo
With markings attributing it to the Tongzhou incident and a Japanese surrender tag.
Bow by Yang Wentong
One of the last bows by Yang Wentong, father of Yang Fuxi.
Rare Korean war arrow
With a large double-edged tip and golden cresting.
On weight and balance
In researching antique arms -or any kind of material culture for that matter- it is of paramount importance to actually feel and handle pieces.
Very good hudiedao set
With fine carved hilts, substantial bronze D-guards, and subtle signs of heat treatment on the blades.
An unusual minority dao
The wide blade with clipped tip mounted on a riveted wooden grip.
Chinese target arrow
With snake skin nock. Probably made by Ju Yuan Hao in the 1950s.
Gōng jiàng yíng (弓匠營)
The bow and arrow maker's quarters in Beijing.
Yáng Fúxǐ (杨福喜)
Manchu bow maker of the Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號) shop, Beijing. Active 1998-present.
Yáng Wéntōng (杨文通)
A 20th-century Manchu bow maker of the Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號) shop, Beijing.
Yáng Ruìlín (杨瑞林)
A Manchu bow maker. Owned Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號).
Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號)
A famous bow making shop in Beijing, still active.
Bow by Ju Yuan Hao of Beijing
Made by the last operational bowyer of China, probably for the Mongolian market.
Tsuba (鍔 / 鐔)
Japanese name for a sword guard.
Wōdāo (倭刀 / 窩刀)
Chinese term for a Japanese sword, or a large saber with strong Japanese influence.
Miáodāo (苗刀)
Chinese name for a slender, curved saber. Often associated with large two-handers.
Iron mounted Qing bowcase & quiver
With iron mounts with golden overlay of dragons.
Bàojiàn (骲箭)
Chinese name for a class of arrows with a large, non-ferrous head. Many are whistles, some are blunts.
Liùdàomù (六道木)
Chinese name for a strong and heavy wood used for staffs and arrow shafts.
Republican period whistle arrow
Dating from the revival period of Chinese archery in the 1930s.
Gim (劍)
The Cantonese word for the Chinese straightsword.
Chángdāo (長刀)
Chinese term for "long saber".