'Basters of Chinese Swords' a Chinese/Vietnamese Da Dao :P
 

The title I got from a discussion with Philip :p

I took these off the swap...had never posted them here for show/ discussion.

I've never looked much into the history of the Da Dao (big knife)...but it's easy to see how they might be inspired from a sawed off version of a polearm similar to the Guan/kwan Dao or Pu Dao...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5124.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5126.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5128.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5129.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5131.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5132.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/100_5134.jpg

Weight = 2.4 lbs

Sword 1:
Blade: 19inches
Handle 15 1/2 inches

Sword 2:
Blade 19 1/2 inches
Handle: 15 inches

Blade Width = 3 inches at the widest

Blade Thickness at hilt 0.6mm, 0.7mm

Here are a nice couple of pages of pictures of Chinese pole arms

http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/photo4.html


and the Da Dao:

http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/photo6.html