With a golden damascened lock of the Indo-Portuguese type.
70 cm
57 cm
Base 7 mm
Middle 5 mm
5 cm from tip 3 mm
Base 38 mm
Middle 33 mm
5 cm from tip 29 mm
843 grams
12.5 cm from guard
Iron, steel, wood
China
19th century
Description
A simple Chinese dāo. Its blade is nearly straight for most of its length, sweeping up at the tip. The steel shows an inserted high-carbon edge supported by iron or milder steel layers. Some edge damage from use.
The hilt features an iron guard with a separate rim and a wooden grip with iron pommel and ferrule.
The who appearance is tool-like, and it was probably made by a smith who was more used to making farming implements.
Such weapons were made throughout China and armed local martial artists, militiamen, and rebels. And indeed, sometimes the line between those two was vague, or the answer depended on who you'd ask.
Probably of Southern origin, with a straight blade and flaring tip.
In the style of northern work of the 16th and 17th centuries
A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.
Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.