Chinese saber guards - forged or cast?

David R · 28th January 2015, 10:23 PM

It just occurred to me to mention, the Dadao I have coming, and in the pic. is a 1937 dated Chinese Army piece, which is why the guard is somewhat "Industrial" in form. I am hoping it is the real deal, so I shall see what it is like when it arrives. See photo below for type of Dadao.

Timo Nieminen · 28th January 2015, 11:53 PM

Yours looks like the usual ebay fakes. Compare the guard with the ones in the picture of the Chinese troops (or, http://mandarinmansion.com/republican-dadao ). I've seen these both in cast brass and forged iron. While these "curled tip" guards aren't the only ones used (plenty of disc guards, some S-guards, some other guards), I've never seen one like the one on your incoming dadao on a known-to-be-genuine old dadao, but have seen plenty on known fakes.

(When you get it, can you post (or PM to me) some details of the blade thickness and cross-section. Basically, how much does the blade taper in thickness, and how close to a triangular wedge is the cross-section.)

David R · 29th January 2015, 01:18 PM

I have my reservations as well, but at a price of a quarter that asked for a repro. I thought it worth a punt. I will post pics and details when I get it. More pics from the seller.

28th January 2015, 10:23 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	It just occurred to me to mention, the Dadao I have coming, and in the pic. is a 1937 dated Chinese Army piece, which is why the guard is somewhat "Industrial" in form. I am hoping it is the real deal, so I shall see what it is like when it arrives. See photo below for type of Dadao. Attached Images

29th January 2015, 01:18 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	I have my reservations as well, but at a price of a quarter that asked for a repro. I thought it worth a punt. I will post pics and details when I get it. More pics from the seller. Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

28th January 2015, 11:53 PM	#2
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	Yours looks like the usual ebay fakes. Compare the guard with the ones in the picture of the Chinese troops (or, http://mandarinmansion.com/republican-dadao ). I've seen these both in cast brass and forged iron. While these "curled tip" guards aren't the only ones used (plenty of disc guards, some S-guards, some other guards), I've never seen one like the one on your incoming dadao on a known-to-be-genuine old dadao, but have seen plenty on known fakes. (When you get it, can you post (or PM to me) some details of the blade thickness and cross-section. Basically, how much does the blade taper in thickness, and how close to a triangular wedge is the cross-section.)