I just couldn't wait!!! - Page 2

Gavin Nugent · 20th November 2008, 10:32 AM

Okay this is the last piece of info I can currently provide about this particular polearm.

Any questions, please do ask.

The shaft from within the Dragon's mouth where the blade meets it, to the iron butt spike is 63 &1/2 inches. It is 2 inches in diameter which makes the distance around shaft about 6 & 3/4 inches. It is completely lacquered a earthy reddish colour, the colour reminds me of the red oxide paint I used in my trade years but with remnants of gloss in places. The timber itself is extremely hard, I cannot say what timber it is only that even if only the shaft hit you, you wouldn't get up.
At the base of the shaft there is a tapered iron ring lacquered the same colour as the shaft, it looks about 1/4 inch thick and is about two inches high and it is sleeved over the timber. At the end of the shaft and iron ring sits a very nice iron spike whose tip has been flattened over time. It has a number of sides that can be seen in the images that I will provide shortly. The spike measures 3 & 1/2 inches tall.

In answer to your questions about balance Josh, it is perfectly balanced at the point between the two iron pins on the Dragons mouth that hold the blade's tang and the shaft together.

I am in agreement that it is both a martial arts training weapon and a ceremonial display item. It could be used very effectively if the situation warranted it.
It has been noted by other authors that only the powerful and rich could ever afford a Kwan Dao so it does make me wonder whose hands have held this one over time as it is definitely the big brother to what examples I have seen. It has also been written that the heavier the better when it comes to Kwan Dao training as the heavy weights makes one use the proper structure in martial forms.
After taking this piece into the back yard and working with it short term there is absolutely no fumbling with this piece at all, it swings, pivots and turns with amazing agility despite the weight. The only draw back I feel is that the Dragons mane can and will catch you unaware when using it.
I could see a master of old using this in his training and most likely took pride and place within it's former home.

All for now

Gav

PS images soon

Gavin Nugent · 20th November 2008, 01:43 PM

Haft and spike images;

josh stout · 20th November 2008, 03:59 PM

I think you are very lucky to have found something like that. I have seen a few sets of temple pole arms like the (Vietnamese?) ones displayed earlier in this thread. Those examples are quite good for the type, and they generally go down in quality from there. Yours has the same feel in the decoration, but is much nicer. The heaviness, good balance, and sharp blade all indicate a training weapon.

My feeling is that it was custom made for a local master by village artisans. Despite the overall high quality, the fullers in one photo look wavy and shallow as is often seen in village work. The brass work is very sophisticated so it must have been a larger town with multiple craftsmen not just a village smith. The blade itself and "stars" are nice enough that I wonder if an assistant cut the fullers. As you mention, the owner must have been relatively wealthy to afford it, so I imagine it belonging to a fairly successful school as a training tool/display item. The style is similar to SEA Chinese Diaspora styles, but I think it is purely Chinese. My guess is it is from the South of China and was made by the same Fukienese/Hakka Chinese who made up much of the Diaspora.

The missing eyes were most likely separate pieces of brass on thin stalks designed to bobble around. I will look around to see if there are examples with gems or other decoration as well.
Josh

Mark · 21st November 2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

What a beauty!!

I will post photos if it ever stops raining here. It has a nice forged blade with distal taper and the iron butt spike is still in place.
I am leaning more to ceremonial as it is massive and I just don't know how something so large could be moved swiftly enough to defend and be offensive too, no matter how many youtube videos I watch!!! This one just seems bigger and heavier.

Watch this space, more to come.

Gav

Yaaaay! I have never been happier to be wrong. I can now see clearly from the new photos that what I was afraid were dents are forging irregularities. Its a beautiful piece.

Congratulations.

20th November 2008, 10:32 AM	#31
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Haft, spike and conclusions Okay this is the last piece of info I can currently provide about this particular polearm. Any questions, please do ask. The shaft from within the Dragon's mouth where the blade meets it, to the iron butt spike is 63 &1/2 inches. It is 2 inches in diameter which makes the distance around shaft about 6 & 3/4 inches. It is completely lacquered a earthy reddish colour, the colour reminds me of the red oxide paint I used in my trade years but with remnants of gloss in places. The timber itself is extremely hard, I cannot say what timber it is only that even if only the shaft hit you, you wouldn't get up. At the base of the shaft there is a tapered iron ring lacquered the same colour as the shaft, it looks about 1/4 inch thick and is about two inches high and it is sleeved over the timber. At the end of the shaft and iron ring sits a very nice iron spike whose tip has been flattened over time. It has a number of sides that can be seen in the images that I will provide shortly. The spike measures 3 & 1/2 inches tall. In answer to your questions about balance Josh, it is perfectly balanced at the point between the two iron pins on the Dragons mouth that hold the blade's tang and the shaft together. I am in agreement that it is both a martial arts training weapon and a ceremonial display item. It could be used very effectively if the situation warranted it. It has been noted by other authors that only the powerful and rich could ever afford a Kwan Dao so it does make me wonder whose hands have held this one over time as it is definitely the big brother to what examples I have seen. It has also been written that the heavier the better when it comes to Kwan Dao training as the heavy weights makes one use the proper structure in martial forms. After taking this piece into the back yard and working with it short term there is absolutely no fumbling with this piece at all, it swings, pivots and turns with amazing agility despite the weight. The only draw back I feel is that the Dragons mane can and will catch you unaware when using it. I could see a master of old using this in his training and most likely took pride and place within it's former home. All for now Gav PS images soon

20th November 2008, 01:43 PM	#32
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Haft and spike images Haft and spike images; Attached Images

20th November 2008, 03:59 PM	#33
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I think you are very lucky to have found something like that. I have seen a few sets of temple pole arms like the (Vietnamese?) ones displayed earlier in this thread. Those examples are quite good for the type, and they generally go down in quality from there. Yours has the same feel in the decoration, but is much nicer. The heaviness, good balance, and sharp blade all indicate a training weapon. My feeling is that it was custom made for a local master by village artisans. Despite the overall high quality, the fullers in one photo look wavy and shallow as is often seen in village work. The brass work is very sophisticated so it must have been a larger town with multiple craftsmen not just a village smith. The blade itself and "stars" are nice enough that I wonder if an assistant cut the fullers. As you mention, the owner must have been relatively wealthy to afford it, so I imagine it belonging to a fairly successful school as a training tool/display item. The style is similar to SEA Chinese Diaspora styles, but I think it is purely Chinese. My guess is it is from the South of China and was made by the same Fukienese/Hakka Chinese who made up much of the Diaspora. The missing eyes were most likely separate pieces of brass on thin stalks designed to bobble around. I will look around to see if there are examples with gems or other decoration as well. Josh