Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature

Description

Dāoqiào (刀鞘) means "saber scabbard".1 The Qing saber usually consists of two wooden halves joined together, usually covered with leather or ray-skin. Lacquered scabbards are also encountered.

The Qing saber scabbard is almost always fitted with:

-a mouthpiece called dāoqiào kǒugū (鞘口箍)
-two suspension bands called dāoqiào zhōngshù (刀鞘中束), connected to: 
-a suspension bar called dāo shùliáng (刀束樑) or qiàoshàng shuāngyǎn shù (鞘上雙眼束)
-the closed end is capped with a chape called dāoqiào bìshù (刀鞘庇束).2

Exceptions to this rule are very rare but are for example seen on some 19th-century southern bannerman sabers which tend to come in simpler all leather scabbards.

Qing military saber

A standard Qing military pattern saber of the mid 19th century, with its round style scabbard.

Officer's saber

A standard Qing military pattern officer's saber of the mid 19th century, with its round style scabbard.

18th century military saber

An 18th century military saber with its angular style scabbard.

Southern saber

The rule breaker: A 19th century southern bannerman's saber with all-leather scabbard.

Also see

For a complete overview of saber terminology, see: A Chinese saber glossary.

In Manchu, the word is homhom.

References
1. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彙全書) or "Enlarged and complete dictionary" of 1704. A Qing imperial dictionary in Chinese and Manchu, each entry double-checked and approved by the Kangxi emperor.
2. Ibid. and Wuti Qingwen Jian (五體清文鑑) or "Five languages compendium". A Qing imperial dictionary in Manchu, Mongolian, Uighur, Tibetan and Chinese of 1766. Published under the Qianlong emperor.

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me

With a golden damascened lock of the Indo-Portuguese type.

€17500,-

Very good example with a finely carved warrior scene.

€3000,-

Probably of Southern origin, with a straight blade and flaring tip.

€2200,-

In the style of northern work of the 16th and 17th centuries

€3000,-

A simple utilitarian weapon, probably made for rural martial artists or militia.

€450,-

A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.

€1900,-