Unknow sword

Rick · 9th April 2006, 07:56 PM

What makes you guys think that this is not just another faked antique from China ?

Tim Simmons · 9th April 2006, 08:23 PM

This is trying to be something special but the casting is only average, and only a imitator

would cast the script. Also an object of this supposed age and prestige would not have file or grinding marks. I almost forgot the unconvicing patina.

smp · 10th April 2006, 06:56 AM

I added some new pictures if someone interesting of looking them. Trying to save your forum space so did put them here.Big pictures Several MB!

Thanks for dicussions so far.

Tomik · 10th April 2006, 11:19 AM

Looks new to me, I would bet you could find similar onces from ebay.

micas · 10th April 2006, 12:06 PM

I work in China and I've seen a lot of these bronze reproductions everywhere in cities and little rural villages. The variety is astonishing. I've got a couple myself but simply as a reference to how ancient Chinese swords looked like.

I buy these bronze reproduction swords (as opposed to the fantasy swords) for about 5usd each or less.

My advice is never buy bronze objects in China or from China ebayers if it's being sold as an "old", "genuine", "fantastic", "exquisite" piece of history. Nor should you expect to get a real antique sword for 100usd or less.

I can't tell the difference between the bronze swords such as those at the terra cotta warrior exhibits in Xian versus the fake bronzes sold everywhere. I'm certainly no expert but I think it's easier to fake bronzes.

I suspect all the genuine stuff of good quality are already in museums, private Chinese/HK/Taiwan collections and not for sale, or in foreign ownership looted by the Western (British, French, German, US, Russian, Portuguese) and Japanese colonials.

English language material on Chinese sword-making is almost non-existent. Someone should write a good book on the subject - from bronze to steel. I've seen a decent one on development of Chinese archery. I'd like to learn more but don't even know where to start. But it's there in Chinese, I've browsed book stores with intriguing illustrations and seen the real stuff in various museums. Too bad I can't read Chinese.

But who knows, maybe some of the bronze swords being sold in those little rural villages were actually dug up when they were plowing the fields and I passed on some read deals in my travels inside China :-). It's actually not an uncommon event.

smp · 10th April 2006, 01:06 PM

Yes it is true that you can find all kinf of swords from China, most of them probably fake. But i still believe that they dig up some real stuff from fields...will it end to western collectors is another thing..

I bought this sword from Shanghai,China in 2003. It just looked nice soveunier to me and i liked to bargain with that certain shop owner. It was not expensive, only few bucks., after "hard" bargain

I bought it as a fake so if its not fake is only plus.

It´s really interesting to find history of certain object. Well if that is a fake, is it copy of real word?

I think i have to take it to test to university and check whats it made of(100%). Lots of ppl thought its made of copper, dunno then.

micas · 10th April 2006, 01:51 PM

Were you a tourist in China? Did you buy it from Xiangyang market or Shanghai lao jie at YuYuan? Because I hope you didn't pay more than 40yuan for it in Shanghai.

9th April 2006, 07:56 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Curious What makes you guys think that this is not just another faked antique from China ?

10th April 2006, 12:06 PM	#5
micas Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 30	I work in China and I've seen a lot of these bronze reproductions everywhere in cities and little rural villages. The variety is astonishing. I've got a couple myself but simply as a reference to how ancient Chinese swords looked like. I buy these bronze reproduction swords (as opposed to the fantasy swords) for about 5usd each or less. My advice is never buy bronze objects in China or from China ebayers if it's being sold as an "old", "genuine", "fantastic", "exquisite" piece of history. Nor should you expect to get a real antique sword for 100usd or less. I can't tell the difference between the bronze swords such as those at the terra cotta warrior exhibits in Xian versus the fake bronzes sold everywhere. I'm certainly no expert but I think it's easier to fake bronzes. I suspect all the genuine stuff of good quality are already in museums, private Chinese/HK/Taiwan collections and not for sale, or in foreign ownership looted by the Western (British, French, German, US, Russian, Portuguese) and Japanese colonials. English language material on Chinese sword-making is almost non-existent. Someone should write a good book on the subject - from bronze to steel. I've seen a decent one on development of Chinese archery. I'd like to learn more but don't even know where to start. But it's there in Chinese, I've browsed book stores with intriguing illustrations and seen the real stuff in various museums. Too bad I can't read Chinese. But who knows, maybe some of the bronze swords being sold in those little rural villages were actually dug up when they were plowing the fields and I passed on some read deals in my travels inside China :-). It's actually not an uncommon event. Last edited by micas; 10th April 2006 at 12:36 PM.

9th April 2006, 08:23 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	This is trying to be something special but the casting is only average, and only a imitator would cast the script. Also an object of this supposed age and prestige would not have file or grinding marks. I almost forgot the unconvicing patina.

10th April 2006, 06:56 AM	#3
smp Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	I added some new pictures if someone interesting of looking them. Trying to save your forum space so did put them here.Big pictures Several MB! Thanks for dicussions so far.

10th April 2006, 11:19 AM	#4
Tomik Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7	Looks new to me, I would bet you could find similar onces from ebay.

10th April 2006, 01:06 PM	#6
smp Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	Yes it is true that you can find all kinf of swords from China, most of them probably fake. But i still believe that they dig up some real stuff from fields...will it end to western collectors is another thing.. I bought this sword from Shanghai,China in 2003. It just looked nice soveunier to me and i liked to bargain with that certain shop owner. It was not expensive, only few bucks., after "hard" bargain I bought it as a fake so if its not fake is only plus. It´s really interesting to find history of certain object. Well if that is a fake, is it copy of real word? I think i have to take it to test to university and check whats it made of(100%). Lots of ppl thought its made of copper, dunno then.

10th April 2006, 01:51 PM	#7
micas Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 30	Were you a tourist in China? Did you buy it from Xiangyang market or Shanghai lao jie at YuYuan? Because I hope you didn't pay more than 40yuan for it in Shanghai.