Hudidao, River Pirate Sword
 

Not your normal Hudidao, roundish disk guard & spiral wrapped wood grip, peened pommel. Southern China/Vietnam? Comments appreciated.


Will post dimensions when it arrives.

This example seems Vietnamese, 19th century. The fittings are typical for the Northern regions. While the blade could be Southern Chinese made.

Thanks, I had my suspicions it might be.



The auction house described it as a "Huidie Daor Iver Pirate sword".
The auctioneer even read it out just like it was written there. Close but no ceegar.

It Arrived this morning.


Blade is 19 in. long, just under 1.75 in. wide at the grip, 8mm/0.325 in. thick at the guard, spine is flat to about 8 in. from the tip, where it becomes slightly chamfered. The steel guard h is a 2mm thick flat rounded shield shape slightly wider at the top. Grip is NOT wire wrapped as I first thought, just grooved. Lnyard hole near pommel. Gip is a bit loose. Blade & guard,pommel keeper are rusty, Blade forte may have some chinese ideographs under it, will know more after i clean it a bit.