help to date a chain whip

josh stout · 12th March 2009, 07:35 PM

Antique Chinese chain whip. 1920?

Josh

The 36 inch hand forged steel chain is faceted along the central bar of each link. The bar connects to a disk shaped swivel at each end, and the disk at each end is attached to a stirrup. The stirrups are then linked together to form a chain. The handles are smooth and fluted, 4.5 inches in length, with the last inch being given to carved decorative elements and rings on a central pin. The pin is connected to the rest of the chain via a disk swivel and stirrup arrangement similar to the rest of the chain. There are small rings in the stirrup attachment to the handles. These are designed to make a pleasant jingling sound when in use.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword017.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword018.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword020.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword021.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...i/sword019.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...i/sword022.jpg

stekemest · 12th March 2009, 08:27 PM

Those could be hard to date, but I think +/- 1900 should be correct.
Look at those currently on auction at Hermann Historica:
http://www.hermann-historica.de/aukt...db=kat57_a.txt

CourseEight · 12th March 2009, 08:51 PM

Neat, weights seem very similar to this one I posted a while ago:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...manrikigursari

fearn · 14th March 2009, 11:18 PM

Interesting hybrid between a chain whip and a manriki-gusari (or perhaps a chain spear?).

The classical chain whip has links about the size of the end darts, and it moves like a chain. The kusari has a lighter chain with heavier heads, and it moves like a flail. This one is in between, because those links appear light enough that this weapon will move like a kusari, but the joints have so many corners that (I'm guessing) it would really hurt to use the traditional wrapping motions (say around your arm or leg) to redirect its motion. Kusaris and chain whips usually have fairly smooth links, just to protect the wielder.

In any case, I'd guess early 20th century, or late 19th century. This was the golden age of Chinese martial arts, and a number of more exotic weapons showed up then.

F

josh stout · 16th March 2009, 03:39 AM

Several knowledgeable people have been given me a date of 1900-1920, so I think it should be relatively accurate.

In use, the chain can wrap under the arms without a problem. It is too short to use the legs in wrapping. I have now seen six or seven with almost exactly the same weights, so I think this was a standard form for the time.

I think the chains on many have been replaced, but mine appears to be original.
Josh

12th March 2009, 07:35 PM	#1
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	help to date a chain whip Antique Chinese chain whip. 1920? Josh The 36 inch hand forged steel chain is faceted along the central bar of each link. The bar connects to a disk shaped swivel at each end, and the disk at each end is attached to a stirrup. The stirrups are then linked together to form a chain. The handles are smooth and fluted, 4.5 inches in length, with the last inch being given to carved decorative elements and rings on a central pin. The pin is connected to the rest of the chain via a disk swivel and stirrup arrangement similar to the rest of the chain. There are small rings in the stirrup attachment to the handles. These are designed to make a pleasant jingling sound when in use. http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword017.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword018.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword020.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ofsword021.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...i/sword019.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...i/sword022.jpg Last edited by josh stout; 12th March 2009 at 07:58 PM.

12th March 2009, 08:27 PM	#2
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Those could be hard to date, but I think +/- 1900 should be correct. Look at those currently on auction at Hermann Historica: http://www.hermann-historica.de/aukt...db=kat57_a.txt

12th March 2009, 08:51 PM	#3
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	Neat, weights seem very similar to this one I posted a while ago: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...manrikigursari

14th March 2009, 11:18 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Interesting hybrid between a chain whip and a manriki-gusari (or perhaps a chain spear?). The classical chain whip has links about the size of the end darts, and it moves like a chain. The kusari has a lighter chain with heavier heads, and it moves like a flail. This one is in between, because those links appear light enough that this weapon will move like a kusari, but the joints have so many corners that (I'm guessing) it would really hurt to use the traditional wrapping motions (say around your arm or leg) to redirect its motion. Kusaris and chain whips usually have fairly smooth links, just to protect the wielder. In any case, I'd guess early 20th century, or late 19th century. This was the golden age of Chinese martial arts, and a number of more exotic weapons showed up then. F

16th March 2009, 03:39 AM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Several knowledgeable people have been given me a date of 1900-1920, so I think it should be relatively accurate. In use, the chain can wrap under the arms without a problem. It is too short to use the legs in wrapping. I have now seen six or seven with almost exactly the same weights, so I think this was a standard form for the time. I think the chains on many have been replaced, but mine appears to be original. Josh