Korean (?) dadao

ausjulius · 7th July 2025, 12:23 AM

From northern Vietnam... Somebody has crushed the ring pommel

werecow · 7th July 2025, 12:31 AM

Yes, I would also say Trường đao from Vietnam. My own example below (awkward angle because these were the seller's pics but it's currently too dark here to take better pictures).

Absolute monster of a sword.

kronckew · 7th July 2025, 11:35 AM

Vietnamese truong Dao:

Ian · 7th July 2025, 12:31 PM

ausjulius, werecow, krockew,

Thanks for your suggestions. Yes, the truong dao from Vietnam is another version of the dadao, hence its similarity to the original post (OP). However, the firm provenance for the one I show -- a Belgian officer's bring back after serving in the Korean War (1950-1953) -- makes a Vietnamese sword very unlikely. The sword was collected in Korea more than a decade before the Vietnam War. The OP is either Chinese or Korean IMHO.

After looking more into the history of the Chinese dadao, I'm inclined to think that the OP was introduced into Korea via the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA). There is some evidence to indicate that the dadao remained (unofficially) in some units of the PVA up to about 1950 as a cherished weapon celebrating the resistance to the invading Japanese. The dadao was a close-quarter's weapon in the fighting against Japanese forces in the 1930s and 1940s.

So far I have not found any evidence of the Koreans (either North or South) using the dadao in their military ranks.

Jim McDougall · 7th July 2025, 02:36 PM

This is outstanding recognition and input on this sword! you guys are great!
For me this is educational as I am not well versed in swords of these regions, so it is great to have these details.

What is most interesting is the scenario proposed by Ian, which perfectly illustrates how the indigenous location of a weapon form need not confine it to those specific regions. By definition it remains in form of course, that of its origin, but it can be qualified further, as in this case, by the regions in which it found further use.

When we are lucky enough to have a sound provenance such as this, with its being collected in Korea during that war (1950-53), it becomes historically far more dynamic.

I recall many years ago wanting to find examples of Korean swords. I did not realize what a perplexing task this would be. For one thing, there was virtually zero literature on the topic, and what information I acquired, mostly anecdotal, there did not seem to be any specific indigenous forms. Most examples seemed like this, rather forms from other origins.

Finally I discovered that Korean weapons were rare as the Japanese confiscated most and destroyed them wantonly.
Eventually I did find a KOREAN sword!!

years ago.

It resembled a Japanese katana, but with subtle nuances different.
In years after that, there was a Japanese gentleman (one of a number) who traveled through the US at advertised meeting locations to have locals bring in Japanese swords for examination and appraisal. They were buying back the souvenir swords of WWII.

I took my photos of the Korean sword hoping for info. The man (I spoke through an interpreter) looked at the photos, and with disdain handed them back with an almost disgusted look. He uttered something which sounded unpleasant to the interpreter (the man looked away from me)...who in carefully guaged politeness said, 'he has no idea what this is'.

From that moment I could see the rancor that remained from those earlier years, and underlined what I was told about the destruction of Korean arms.

kronckew · 8th July 2025, 03:58 PM

I posted my Viet one as an example, showing the Original Posted one was NOT like it. Especially the guard.

I suspect the one in post No.1 is a Chinese one rewrapped with a flattened 'eye' pommel. As many CCP soldiers 'assisting' NK carried the dadaos and after loud discussion with the US/UN troops, suddenly didn't need them any more, leaving them where Koreans could pick them up off the battlefields, wash off the bodily fluids, re-wrap them to provide an uncontaminated grip, and use them themselves. Possibly embellishing the blade with pastoral scenes of peace and harmony embodied by the aforementioned loud discussions.

7th July 2025, 12:31 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 584	Yes, I would also say Trường đao from Vietnam. My own example below (awkward angle because these were the seller's pics but it's currently too dark here to take better pictures). Absolute monster of a sword. Attached Images

7th July 2025, 11:35 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,235	Vietnamese truong Dao: Attached Images

7th July 2025, 12:31 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,450	ausjulius, werecow, krockew, Thanks for your suggestions. Yes, the truong dao from Vietnam is another version of the dadao, hence its similarity to the original post (OP). However, the firm provenance for the one I show -- a Belgian officer's bring back after serving in the Korean War (1950-1953) -- makes a Vietnamese sword very unlikely. The sword was collected in Korea more than a decade before the Vietnam War. The OP is either Chinese or Korean IMHO. After looking more into the history of the Chinese dadao, I'm inclined to think that the OP was introduced into Korea via the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA). There is some evidence to indicate that the dadao remained (unofficially) in some units of the PVA up to about 1950 as a cherished weapon celebrating the resistance to the invading Japanese. The dadao was a close-quarter's weapon in the fighting against Japanese forces in the 1930s and 1940s. So far I have not found any evidence of the Koreans (either North or South) using the dadao in their military ranks. Last edited by Ian; 8th July 2025 at 03:20 AM. Reason: Corrected PVA for PLA

7th July 2025, 02:36 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,444	This is outstanding recognition and input on this sword! you guys are great! For me this is educational as I am not well versed in swords of these regions, so it is great to have these details. What is most interesting is the scenario proposed by Ian, which perfectly illustrates how the indigenous location of a weapon form need not confine it to those specific regions. By definition it remains in form of course, that of its origin, but it can be qualified further, as in this case, by the regions in which it found further use. When we are lucky enough to have a sound provenance such as this, with its being collected in Korea during that war (1950-53), it becomes historically far more dynamic. I recall many years ago wanting to find examples of Korean swords. I did not realize what a perplexing task this would be. For one thing, there was virtually zero literature on the topic, and what information I acquired, mostly anecdotal, there did not seem to be any specific indigenous forms. Most examples seemed like this, rather forms from other origins. Finally I discovered that Korean weapons were rare as the Japanese confiscated most and destroyed them wantonly. Eventually I did find a KOREAN sword!! years ago. It resembled a Japanese katana, but with subtle nuances different. In years after that, there was a Japanese gentleman (one of a number) who traveled through the US at advertised meeting locations to have locals bring in Japanese swords for examination and appraisal. They were buying back the souvenir swords of WWII. I took my photos of the Korean sword hoping for info. The man (I spoke through an interpreter) looked at the photos, and with disdain handed them back with an almost disgusted look. He uttered something which sounded unpleasant to the interpreter (the man looked away from me)...who in carefully guaged politeness said, 'he has no idea what this is'. From that moment I could see the rancor that remained from those earlier years, and underlined what I was told about the destruction of Korean arms. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 7th July 2025 at 02:53 PM.

7th July 2025, 12:23 AM	#1
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 453	From northern Vietnam... Somebody has crushed the ring pommel

8th July 2025, 03:58 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,235	I posted my Viet one as an example, showing the Original Posted one was NOT like it. Especially the guard. I suspect the one in post No.1 is a Chinese one rewrapped with a flattened 'eye' pommel. As many CCP soldiers 'assisting' NK carried the dadaos and after loud discussion with the US/UN troops, suddenly didn't need them any more, leaving them where Koreans could pick them up off the battlefields, wash off the bodily fluids, re-wrap them to provide an uncontaminated grip, and use them themselves. Possibly embellishing the blade with pastoral scenes of peace and harmony embodied by the aforementioned loud discussions.