Antique Vietnamese swords
A reference list of antique Vietnamese swords and sabers I've had over time. I will periodically update it as more Vietnamese swords pass through my hands. Click the photos for their complete articles. Not all swords…
Jianruiying (1); introduction
The Jianruiying were a small elite unit of specially selected Manchu soldiers under the Qing dynasty. They were trained to overcome rough terrain, obstacles, and rivers in order to commence special attacks towards…
The Bikaner Armory
The enthusiast of Indian arms and armor will sooner or later hear about the Bikanēr armory. A substantial part of the armory was sold in the late 20th century to a number of UK antique dealers, and pieces have been…
Nanban tsuba & Asian export sword guards
For long, "nanban tsuba" literally "Southern barbarian sword-guards" have been a catch-all classification for sword guards for Japanese swords (tsuba), that show foreign influence.
Of geese and willows
The differences between 雁毛刀 yanmaodao (goose-quill saber) and 柳葉刀 liuyedao ("willow-leaf saber") in blade shape can be, to the novice, quite subtle and hard to discern at first blush. However, by picking up the weapon,…
Qing dynasty saber mounts, fangshi & yuanshi
Among sabers of the Qing dynasty, we encounter two basic types of mountings: 1. fāngshì (方式) or "angular style" 2. yuánshì (圓式) or "rounded style". Alternatively, these are called fāngzhuāng (方裝) and yuánzhuāng (圓裝)…
A typology of Chinese sabers
Introduction Historical references on Chinese saber types are scarce, and the information they provide scant. The most comprehensive Chinese military text is the massive Ming dynasty Wu Bei Zhi (武備志) or "Treatise of…
Spears of the Qing dynasty
In this article I highlight a number of spears used by the Qing dynasty military.
Edged Weapons of the Green Standard Army
The Green Standard Army was a large standing army of the Qing dynasty. It was composed entirely of soldiers of the Han dynasty, lead by a mix of Chinese and Manchu officers. It was the largest troop force the Qing had,…
Antique Vietnamese arms
Vietnam produced some of the finest mother-of-pearl inlays, seen on for example on the scabbards of ceremonial swords and sabers.
Chinese long sabers of the Qing dynasty
In the late Ming dynasty, Chinese coasts were raided by Japanese pirates -mockingly called 倭寇 wokou or "Dwarf Bandits" by their Chinese adversaries- who were using their long sabers, nodachi, to great effect. They…
Making a Chinese rattan shield
Ever since I acquired an antique Chinese tengpai (籐牌) or "rattan shield" I had been wanting to figure out how to make these. I ordered rattan of appropriate type and dimensions at a local rattan supplier and got working…