Sino-vietnamese fighting knife

Yvain · 4th October 2024, 03:35 PM

Hi all!

Snatched this sino-vietnamese fighting knife for 10€ at the flea market this weekend! I'm pretty happy it, since I didn't have one of those in my collection yet, and especially for that price!

It's a long, heavy knife, with a very thick spine and slightly concave sides. Polish is pretty rough, don't know if it was always that way though. The grip is made of bone, with brass pommel and guard.

I read that those were used by the black flag army, which would make sense since I found it in France (the black flag army fought the French during the sino-french war 1884-1885).

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts about it! 🙂

David R · 4th October 2024, 11:47 PM

Nice one!

RobT · Yesterday, 03:56 AM

Hi All,

I Have seen pictures of these in old US publications that identified them as one of the knives used by Chinese tongs. I had always thought of them as purely Chinese. It will be interesting to hear what more knowledgeable forum members have to say.

Sincerely,
RobT

Yvain · Yesterday, 10:23 AM

Hi Rob,

From what I've read, this type of knife originated in Southern China, however some were also produced in North-Vietnam due to the exile of the black flag army there. I also read that some were even made in the US by Chinese immigrants!

Ian · Today, 02:23 AM

Hi Yvain,

This is a common pattern for a southern Chinese knife. It is not surprising that it also occurred in Vietnam. Certainly, these knives entered the U.S. with Chinese immigrants and may have been made there also.

The brass work on the hilt is a little unusual and fancier than most examples. It does not seem to have been used much and does not strike me as being very old. Perhaps this was obtained in Hanoi by a French person during the colonial period, in which case it could be as recent as mid-20th C.

4th October 2024, 03:35 PM	#1
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 178	Sino-vietnamese fighting knife Hi all! Snatched this sino-vietnamese fighting knife for 10€ at the flea market this weekend! I'm pretty happy it, since I didn't have one of those in my collection yet, and especially for that price! It's a long, heavy knife, with a very thick spine and slightly concave sides. Polish is pretty rough, don't know if it was always that way though. The grip is made of bone, with brass pommel and guard. I read that those were used by the black flag army, which would make sense since I found it in France (the black flag army fought the French during the sino-french war 1884-1885). Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts about it! 🙂 Attached Images

Yesterday, 03:56 AM	#3
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 479	Chinese & Vietnamese? Hi All, I Have seen pictures of these in old US publications that identified them as one of the knives used by Chinese tongs. I had always thought of them as purely Chinese. It will be interesting to hear what more knowledgeable forum members have to say. Sincerely, RobT

4th October 2024, 11:47 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,072	Nice one!

Yesterday, 10:23 AM	#4
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 178	Hi Rob, From what I've read, this type of knife originated in Southern China, however some were also produced in North-Vietnam due to the exile of the black flag army there. I also read that some were even made in the US by Chinese immigrants!

Today, 02:23 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,179	Hi Yvain, This is a common pattern for a southern Chinese knife. It is not surprising that it also occurred in Vietnam. Certainly, these knives entered the U.S. with Chinese immigrants and may have been made there also. The brass work on the hilt is a little unusual and fancier than most examples. It does not seem to have been used much and does not strike me as being very old. Perhaps this was obtained in Hanoi by a French person during the colonial period, in which case it could be as recent as mid-20th C.