An antique ox-tail saber

KuKulzA28 · 13th March 2011, 03:43 PM

Quick question - were all Dao handle wrapped or were many left unwrapped?

I may not end up wrapping this since it currently fits my hand very well...

Any suggestions on the type of cord to wrap it in if I do decide on wrapping?

As for the article being in Chinese, well, it never hurts to brush up on my first language I guess! Though I am almost illiterate, learning to speak is very different than reading and writing! But doesn't hurt to try... And yes the pictures will help A LOT... maybe more than any accompanying text!

Neil · 13th March 2011, 10:56 PM

Very nice dao, thank you for sharing. I like the straight forward service weapons too. In regards to your wrapping question, I have a couple similar to this one, and have handled others as well as gathered a large photo collection of this type of sword. From my experience it seems that some times they are wrapped, and sometimes left just with the wood bare. I asked another very experienced Chinese sword collector the same question recently and he too has had the same experience. I know in the past I have looked very closely at the wood grip material and seen residual evidence of a tight wrap from the past. I bet you have already tried that. Also, some materials like wide bands of cloth are less likely to leave the marks that a cord might. In any case, if you are interested in wrapping it in a pattern often seen on military dao I have a pdf of a method in English I would be happy to send you, just pm me.

KuKulzA28 · 14th March 2011, 12:05 AM

Sounds good, I'll PM you in a little bit...

Here's a better picture of the dao:

13th March 2011, 03:43 PM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Quick question - were all Dao handle wrapped or were many left unwrapped? I may not end up wrapping this since it currently fits my hand very well... Any suggestions on the type of cord to wrap it in if I do decide on wrapping? As for the article being in Chinese, well, it never hurts to brush up on my first language I guess! Though I am almost illiterate, learning to speak is very different than reading and writing! But doesn't hurt to try... And yes the pictures will help A LOT... maybe more than any accompanying text!

13th March 2011, 10:56 PM	#2
Neil Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 114	Very nice dao, thank you for sharing. I like the straight forward service weapons too. In regards to your wrapping question, I have a couple similar to this one, and have handled others as well as gathered a large photo collection of this type of sword. From my experience it seems that some times they are wrapped, and sometimes left just with the wood bare. I asked another very experienced Chinese sword collector the same question recently and he too has had the same experience. I know in the past I have looked very closely at the wood grip material and seen residual evidence of a tight wrap from the past. I bet you have already tried that. Also, some materials like wide bands of cloth are less likely to leave the marks that a cord might. In any case, if you are interested in wrapping it in a pattern often seen on military dao I have a pdf of a method in English I would be happy to send you, just pm me.

14th March 2011, 12:05 AM	#3
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Sounds good, I'll PM you in a little bit... Here's a better picture of the dao: