Chinese sword breaker I hope it's real

[josh stout]

It is a certainly a fake. I just saw a set of two that are the same construction.

Josh

[Gavin Nugent]

Sorry to hear it Josh. I don't know how much you payed for it? I am sure there is a lot of benefit you can gain for future buys by looking very close at these modern representations in the hand.

Gav

[katana]

Sorry too, that this is a fake .....it seems that the Chinese are making 'patina' an art form.

....but I also have reservations about the functionallity of this type of sword breaker. My main concern is the lack of a guard ......a blade could easily slide down the 'spike' striking the hand of the wielder (the dragon's mouth/ small square guard provides very little protection from this).
I understand that Sai , with their 'upturned' guard could also 'capture' the blade. Why, would a sword breaker not have this simple addition which would make it much more effective and 'safer' for the user.

Regards David

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by katana

Sorry too, that this is a fake .....it seems that the Chinese are making 'patina' an art form.

....but I also have reservations about the functionallity of this type of sword breaker. My main concern is the lack of a guard ......a blade could easily slide down the 'spike' striking the hand of the wielder (the dragon's mouth/ small square guard provides very little protection from this).
I understand that Sai , with their 'upturned' guard could also 'capture' the blade. Why, would a sword breaker not have this simple addition which would make it much more effective and 'safer' for the user.

Regards David

David,

Perhaps a little something like this piece?

Gav

[fernando]

Hi David
You mean something like this?
A sword breaker, also called left hand dagger used in Junks.
This is a Far East specimen, denoting some Portuguese influence.
Dated XVIII/XIX century (Collection Rainer Daehnhardt).

Fernando

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[fernando]

I see Gav came faster than me

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by fernando

Hi David
You mean something like this?
A sword breaker, also called left hand dagger used in Junks.
This is a Far East specimen, denoting some Portuguese influence.
Dated XVIII/XIX century (Collection Rainer Daehnhardt).

Fernando

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Well done Fernando, I got in by a nose. Nice image you present. My personal opinion is that your example presented it more likely 1850-60, just a hunch

[katana]

Thanks Gav and 'Nando ,
I was thinking of the less sophisticated version posted by Fernando. Gav the example you posted suggests that some sword breakers were a 'dedicated' weapon. I had assumed that the Sai 'type' were used like a 'main gauche' with a sword (or similar) held by the other hand. I know in Martial art 'forms' ....the Sai is used on its own or in pairs......but I cannot imagine an individual, on a battlefield using two, as his main weapon of choice.

Kind Regards David

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by katana

Thanks Gav and 'Nando ,
I was thinking of the less sophisticated version posted by Fernando. Gav the example you posted suggests that some sword breakers were a 'dedicated' weapon. I had assumed that the Sai 'type' were used like a 'main gauche' with a sword (or similar) held by the other hand. I know in Martial art 'forms' ....the Sai is used on its own or in pairs......but I cannot imagine an individual, on a battlefield using two, as his main weapon of choice.

Kind Regards David

David, they certainly were a 'dedicated' weapon of old and could disable with or without killing. This example probably had the same origins as the 'Sai' that were a farming impliment originally.
The Sai, I could see them used in rural setting or as a secondry defense in pairs by perhaps an enforcment official or similar but I think in the battle field the sword and shield or long pole weapons where the first choice.
I like the one Fernando presented, the centre shaft could create more damage to a swords edge, something sword owners hate

Gav