Just a quick update whilst I wait unsettled in my seat for this to arrive.
It has been a long night of international phone calls.
I have spoken further with my very helpful collector friend in Hong Kong via the net and when speaking of dates for this weapon I have discovered a communication breakdown that so often happens with language differences.
The Ching Long he referred to is not Qianlong but the Ching Dynasty. Dating from what was spoken of and what reference I have here would put this in my eyes at around 1850. I beleive he is looking for images from his end of the world to help too, I am very interested in viewing them should they surface.
I have attached a couple of pics of, although oldish, a far more modern martial arts set of pole arms to show where the dragon theme continued on. There is also a blade shape present in the photos that I remember seeing someone ask about a while back, it was at the time though of a Chinese but dismissed by another, if that thread is found, I think this may point to Chinese for it too.
I am also happy to say after speaking with both the auction house and the carrier there are no blade issues to be found upon this piece, sadly due to the size of the object it is still another week away
regards
Gav