Chinese sword? Maybe pirate? Thanks

carlos · 7th February 2020, 10:55 AM

I just received this sword, seller told me sword is chinese, and the hilt seems chinese to me too.
Maybe pirate? Seems a cutlass
Thanks in advance
Carlos

mariusgmioc · 7th February 2020, 04:55 PM

Doesn't look Chinese to me...

David R · 7th February 2020, 09:53 PM

And it looks republic period Chinese to me... and I could be so wrong. Looking forward to more on this one.

Kubur · 7th February 2020, 10:24 PM

For me the hilt is a combination of two European swords
European swords have also stingray skin.
Not Chinese to me
Cutlass and naval sword probably
Pirate... Do you have a skull engraved on the guard?
Impossible to say

Philip · 9th February 2020, 05:22 AM

I agree with Kubur -- this is a non-Chinese composite, in fact I see nothing specifically Asiatic about it at all.

M ELEY · 9th February 2020, 06:10 AM

If you mention 'pirate', you get my attention-

I agree that the components of the guard and knucklebow appear European, but something about the grip strikes me as differing from pieces I have held. Composite? Undoubtedly, but in this circumstance, not in a bad way. This isn't a put-together made to deceive or for resale. It appears to be a real cutlass-type sword of the "private purchase, i.e. not a naval sword type). Pirate? Who knows. Without provenance, it might or might not be. The extra spacer used to tighten the hilt has been seen on some Spanish colonial types.

I know shagreen/fish skin was used on Euro swords, but this grip is a shape more often seen on colonial-type swords. I think that's why some of us are questioning Asian. Could this have been a captured British cutlass rehilted by Malay pirates? I've seen exactly that from a m1840 cutlass cut down and refitting, complete with a Malay grip. Is this sword one such? Again, who knows! This is the frustrating work of collecting composite naval and colonial-type swords.

What we can deduce is that it is a post-1800 naval type sword constructed of materials to be used as a working weapon. Fits the description of many boarding-type swords (see Gilkerson, Boarders Away, private purchase swords). An interesting sword, in any case...

7th February 2020, 10:55 AM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 748	Chinese sword? Maybe pirate? Thanks I just received this sword, seller told me sword is chinese, and the hilt seems chinese to me too. Maybe pirate? Seems a cutlass Thanks in advance Carlos Attached Images

7th February 2020, 04:55 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	Doesn't look Chinese to me...

7th February 2020, 09:53 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	And it looks republic period Chinese to me... and I could be so wrong. Looking forward to more on this one.

7th February 2020, 10:24 PM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	For me the hilt is a combination of two European swords European swords have also stingray skin. Not Chinese to me Cutlass and naval sword probably Pirate... Do you have a skull engraved on the guard? Impossible to say

9th February 2020, 05:22 AM	#5
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	I agree with Kubur -- this is a non-Chinese composite, in fact I see nothing specifically Asiatic about it at all.

9th February 2020, 06:10 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	If you mention 'pirate', you get my attention- I agree that the components of the guard and knucklebow appear European, but something about the grip strikes me as differing from pieces I have held. Composite? Undoubtedly, but in this circumstance, not in a bad way. This isn't a put-together made to deceive or for resale. It appears to be a real cutlass-type sword of the "private purchase, i.e. not a naval sword type). Pirate? Who knows. Without provenance, it might or might not be. The extra spacer used to tighten the hilt has been seen on some Spanish colonial types. I know shagreen/fish skin was used on Euro swords, but this grip is a shape more often seen on colonial-type swords. I think that's why some of us are questioning Asian. Could this have been a captured British cutlass rehilted by Malay pirates? I've seen exactly that from a m1840 cutlass cut down and refitting, complete with a Malay grip. Is this sword one such? Again, who knows! This is the frustrating work of collecting composite naval and colonial-type swords. What we can deduce is that it is a post-1800 naval type sword constructed of materials to be used as a working weapon. Fits the description of many boarding-type swords (see Gilkerson, Boarders Away, private purchase swords). An interesting sword, in any case...