Chinese Jian

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Rick, I look forward to viewing them. If you catch this posting Josh, I'd love to see your Chinese swords too, and for that matter, anyone else out there who has examples they can share.

regards

Gavin

[josh stout]

I will see if I can get some newer pictures of things soon. Most of the pictures I have at the moment have already been posted somewhere. So anyway, here are a few randomly selected Chinese antiques that I don't think I have posted on this forum.

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...B4E5888002.jpg

This is a willow leaf dao with a widening of the tip that makes it what Phillip Tom has called a "proto-oxtail dao". It would have been a military weapon. The handle wood is obviously new, but the pommel and guard are typical 19th c. Qing military fittings.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...opai/dadao.jpg

This is a civilian weapon often called a podao/pudao. It differs from the dadao in that the handle length equals the blade length.

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation358.jpg

This is an atypical dadao with a willow leaf blade next to an extra large oxtail dao.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation359.jpg

Same.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation360.jpg

Tip of the dadao.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation364.jpg

Dragon decoration on blade of dadao.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation362.jpg

"Good luck" characters added by period owner.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation365.jpg

Handle with original wrap.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation338.jpg

Some village made shuang jian.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation342.jpg

The blades showing unusual versions of the typical stars.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...58F8CE5899.jpg

Full length picture.

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...LoGrH1o-To.jpg

A chopper of ambiguous name, that is similar to one seen in Qinlong era regulations. In the regulations it is called a pudao, Scott Rodell calls it a "demon head chopper" the dealer called a yantoudao (flying goose knife?), and I have seen other names proposed.

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

Duan jian with village made guard and scabbard.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...pai/mm5658.jpg

3000 g pole arm blade on a cut down handle.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...ai/0e79_12.jpg

Full size pole arm without a clear name.

OK, I obviously just broke the "one sword one thread" rule, but it seemed like a good time to get some random pictures out there. These are typical of most of the things in my collection. They are not top quality with beautiful fittings, but the blades are all good pattern welded steel. They are just a random selection of things I already have pictures of. I would be happy to discuss things in detail, or if you have a question about a particular type of sword, I can start a thread with additional examples, but that could take some time.
Josh

[Yu-Ming Chang]

I've seen this specific Yazi guard quite often in late era, early 20th century jian. Most often they were on decorative chang jian that had the characters for Lung Chuan and a dragon carved into the forte, but I've seen them on "user" pieces as well. The rest of the fittings on those pieces are variations of the ones seen in this jian. Based on those examples, I think that everything is ensuite on this jian in terms of fittings and that the Yazi guard is contemporary to the rest of the fittings.

I see what look to be cold shuts delineating the edge from the softer cheeks, suggesting sanmei. The cheeks don't look like they have much grain or laminations, which is consistent with a Republican era pieces that I seen/own.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thank you for the images Josh, I am sure all interested in Chinese weapons appreciate them greatly as I know I certainly do.

I do in particular like the full length polearm.

With regards to this link;

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...LoGrH1o-To.jpg

To my eyes it looks like a Kora blade with a sabre handle, although deviating from the original Jian posting, what are you views on this piece you provided the link to?


Thank you too Yu-Ming Chang, I appreciate hearing about your knowledge on these swords.
I certainly think the Yazi guard is original to the piece, only in that the patina displayed is consistant throughout the brass fittings, not through absolute knowledge of these swords history.
If you have the chance Yu-Ming Chang, would you kind enough to post images of example you have for further discussion here?

very best regards fellow collectors

Gavin

[josh stout]

Originally Posted by freebooter

....With regards to this link;

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...LoGrH1o-To.jpg

To my eyes it looks like a Kora blade with a sabre handle, although deviating from the original Jian posting, what are you views on this piece you provided the link to?....
Gavin

I will set up a thread.
Josh

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Josh, I will view shortly with interest.

regards

Gav

[Gavin Nugent]

Well the good news is that the sword arrived today, they bad news is the macro function has gone kaput on my ole Sony F505V, time to explore new options.

From good examination of the sword I can state the following.

The scabbard is in considerably good condition, upon first glance it just looked like a black lacquer over wood but when looking closer it is black lacquer over ray or shark skin. Although the lacquer hides the grain in places, it looks to be completely intact bar the odd dint, scratch, cut in the hide or small fracture in the wood. It also sports a fine copper type wire at the ends of the scabbard under the fitting, I am guessing being wrapped to hold the skin in place and then lacquered over before having the fittings placed on.

What at first I thought from the images was just a cloth below the guard is in fact what I would consider a tassel, there is a rawhide loop bound with red woollen type fibre that has had glue or a lacquer placed on it to stop it unravelling itself, from there it has three fabric strips bound under the red material. The tassel colour scheme is red blue red, a wider light blue strip then blue again. Images will explain it better when I get the photos up.

The hilt and guard are lovely and look better than the images posted, maybe a better light can reveal this. All fitting are very tight with no movement.

The blade.. I would like some advise before I tackle cleaning the blade. I have rubbed all the inlay and all is present. The blade has a good amount of flex and when pushed against the floor, my grip breaks before I push the blade any further. The first six inches of the 29 inch blade is thicker in the spine then the rest of the blade and when I rub my fingers the full length it too can be felt, to my eyes it also thickens slightly at the tip, remains unsharpened and would be a thrusting weapon rather than a slashing weapon but would leave a nasty gash I am sure if slashed. Between the 13th and 17th inch of the blade there are about 4-5 nicks in the edges.

All for now, time to shop for a new camera.

regards

Gav