19thc Chinese naval dao - cutlass ??

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Hello all, this is my first post here so please BEAR WITH me as I may have made a few mistakes.

I picked up this old dao here some time ago in Uk, scabbard is a bit scruffy but eventually I will get around to restoring it, other than that the old dao which I suspect is likely south China mid to late 19thc is looking good after a clean up compared to how it was when purchased in a rough old state.
The hilt mounts are iron, something as yet I have not seen the on daos of the same seafaring ?? cutlass style sword before, most seem to have brass or bronze alloy hilts, this one is certainly well made.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Snody

[Sajen]

Hi Snody,

Very interesting sword, for sure Chinese and belonging to the great dao family.
It would be interesting to read comments from members who are more knowledgeable than I am.

Regards,
Detlef

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Hi Detlef, thanks , I need to brush up on my pics a little but at least was able to post for something here for the first time, I doubt the dao is posh enough for most Chinese sword collectors but I like it, it is a good honest 19thc piece, a real worker that appears to have seen some action to.
I will restore the scabbard myself . Snody

[werecow]

Interesting sword. Reminds me a lot of Vietnamese guoms as well.

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Hi werecow and thanks for your input, for me though having had many Vietnamese swords over many years this is not finished in the way I would expect to see for Vietnam, most guom which it does ''sort of'' resemble a little have a certain type of finish on the blades surface due to the type of scraper the Vietnamese use when finishing blades, this for me is more Chinese , I will have to get around to etching it and see what pops, it would likely reveal a lot about the origin, when I do etch I will post better pics. Snody

[M ELEY]

Very nice dao! While not an expert on Chinese weapons, I know from my naval collecting that these types are often referred to as 'river pirate' swords, which might explain why you heard that they were 'naval'. As their guard is indeed cutlass-like, it stands to reason that a sword of this type would be popular on watercraft, where melee fighting was in close quarters and the curved guard served to both deflect blows towards the hand and also to possibly catch an opponent's blade, much as a main gauche does in fencing.

The South China Sea was rife with pirates living in the many rivers and waterways of that region. Their numbers easily dwarfed the size of the country's actual naval forces. It is interesting to note that piracy in these regions were seasonal! In times when the fishing industry was doing well, the fishermen led honest lives, but during the off-season, the locals would often 'put on a different hat' and go a-pirating! Any junk could easily be converted into a menacing ship, just add some swords such as yours and a few swivel guns/lantaka from Macao and you are all set!

Here's an interesting article on these sword types-

https://chinesemartialstudies.com/20...-land-and-sea/

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Maj-Biffy Snodgrass

Hi werecow and thanks for your input, for me though having had many Vietnamese swords over many years this is not finished in the way I would expect to see for Vietnam, most guom which it does ''sort of'' resemble a little have a certain type of finish on the blades surface due to the type of scraper the Vietnamese use when finishing blades, this for me is more Chinese , I will have to get around to etching it and see what pops, it would likely reveal a lot about the origin, when I do etch I will post better pics. Snody

Yes, did not mean to suggest that this was Vietnamese. Just pointing out a (to me, as a beginner) interesting similarity between the types.

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Much thanks for all your views everyone who has commented so far.

Werecow, you are correct in your observations, it is somewhat like a Viet guom but a bit more Chunky than any I have ever had, it is likely south Chinese so very close to Nam though.
All help and observations are duly noted, and much thanks to all again, I am still learning how to use this forum so bear with me please and do not take what may appears as a SHARPNESS of tongue in my answers the wrong way, I can assure you I mean no offence and it really is down to the way express myself in writing.

M Eley, much thanks also for your ideas, the link supplied I have seen many times, interesting stuff, but so far nothing like this sword appears anywhere there that I have seen as yet, the pirate connection is possible, but I go more with the idea of naval police or coastal guard as the sword definitely has a military or naval look to it and its scabbard which was originally red with white top and bottom section as can be seen from the old paint on the leather, in the coming winter I will try to get round to restoring the leather scabbard and returning it to as close as I can get it to the original.
It also might be good to add that the guard although not over thick I would say is hardened steel and sprung, so whoever made the sword knew his job well.
Thanks again to all. Snody

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Chinese police officers employed by Russians pre 1911.

Looking closely at the old pic here it appears the Chinese police used swords very much like the one I have shown here. Snody