Could this be Chinese ?

Battara · 3rd December 2015, 05:19 PM

I agree with Mongolia.

Could the blade be a European trade blade?

fernando · 3rd December 2015, 06:10 PM

Assessments aknowledged.
Thank you so much, Gentlemen.

blue lander · 3rd December 2015, 09:23 PM

If you'd like (and you can produce more pictures) I can show it to some older Mongolian gentlemen to see what they think.

Shakethetrees · 3rd December 2015, 09:29 PM

When they wanted to make good blades, they were capable. I've seen some nice blades from there.

The really thick, wedge cross section is common throughout China, Burma, and other Asian countries. The file work on the back of the ricasso does not appear to be European in the manner in which it was done.

The scabbard decoration layout shows a strong Chinese influence that one can easily find in Mongolian and Tibetan knives.

fernando · 5th December 2015, 06:17 PM

Thank you guys ... and thank you blue lander for the kind suggestion. I have contacted again the owner and he had already traded it for something else with another fellow collector.

Peter Dekker · 18th January 2016, 03:05 PM

Sorry for chipping in so late, but the filed back of the blade is a common feature on Chinese knives and swords. I have the feeling it was somewhat more popular in the north. You see it a lot on larger niuweidao that were brought back from the boxer rebellion. I've had one with exactly the same dips in-between the perpendicular grooves. Usually, these are slightly shallower. I've even had an 18th century yanmaodao with the feature, indicating the stylistic feature goes back a while. I don't really know the meaning of these decorations, but some Chinese collectors have pointed out the likeness to bamboo, which traditionally stands for strength and resilience, properties you'd want from a knife or sword. It sounds like a pretty good explanation.

Apart from the back of the blade, I agree everything looks very Mongolian with some heavy Chinese influence like the stylized cloud fittings and the double lozenge on one side. (A pun for "victory") Beijing had a rather large Mongolian population during the Qing who lived in the Inner City under the Mongolian banners. There's a chance it was made there to suit the tastes of local Mongolian bannermen.

Sajen · 18th January 2016, 08:21 PM

I disagree with you folks. I think that the knife in question coming from the Dai people, North Laos/Yunnan, please compare the silver mounts with the ones we have seen by dha from this area. Also the file work at the spine let me think like this. But like always I could be wrong.

I am curious what the Mongolian friends from Blue Lander will tell him.

Regards,
Detlef

3rd December 2015, 05:19 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	I agree with Mongolia. Could the blade be a European trade blade?

3rd December 2015, 06:10 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Assessments aknowledged. Thank you so much, Gentlemen.

3rd December 2015, 09:23 PM	#3
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	If you'd like (and you can produce more pictures) I can show it to some older Mongolian gentlemen to see what they think.

3rd December 2015, 09:29 PM	#4
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	When they wanted to make good blades, they were capable. I've seen some nice blades from there. The really thick, wedge cross section is common throughout China, Burma, and other Asian countries. The file work on the back of the ricasso does not appear to be European in the manner in which it was done. The scabbard decoration layout shows a strong Chinese influence that one can easily find in Mongolian and Tibetan knives.

5th December 2015, 06:17 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you guys ... and thank you blue lander for the kind suggestion. I have contacted again the owner and he had already traded it for something else with another fellow collector.

18th January 2016, 03:05 PM	#6
Peter Dekker Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kingdom of the Netherlands Posts: 63	Sorry for chipping in so late, but the filed back of the blade is a common feature on Chinese knives and swords. I have the feeling it was somewhat more popular in the north. You see it a lot on larger niuweidao that were brought back from the boxer rebellion. I've had one with exactly the same dips in-between the perpendicular grooves. Usually, these are slightly shallower. I've even had an 18th century yanmaodao with the feature, indicating the stylistic feature goes back a while. I don't really know the meaning of these decorations, but some Chinese collectors have pointed out the likeness to bamboo, which traditionally stands for strength and resilience, properties you'd want from a knife or sword. It sounds like a pretty good explanation. Apart from the back of the blade, I agree everything looks very Mongolian with some heavy Chinese influence like the stylized cloud fittings and the double lozenge on one side. (A pun for "victory") Beijing had a rather large Mongolian population during the Qing who lived in the Inner City under the Mongolian banners. There's a chance it was made there to suit the tastes of local Mongolian bannermen.

18th January 2016, 08:21 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	I disagree with you folks. I think that the knife in question coming from the Dai people, North Laos/Yunnan, please compare the silver mounts with the ones we have seen by dha from this area. Also the file work at the spine let me think like this. But like always I could be wrong. I am curious what the Mongolian friends from Blue Lander will tell him. Regards, Detlef