Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature

Description

Dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍) literally means "saber end loop".1 It is the scabbard endpiece, also known in English as chape. 

Dāo dǐ gū specifically refers to the type with simple geometry, as opposed to dāo dǐ yún (刀底雲) "saber end cloud" that is in the same text for a type of chape with cloud cutout. 

An alternative term used is dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍 ) "saber end loop".2

Saber

Antique Qing dynasty saber with dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍) type chape.

Fangshi endpiece

Typical minimalistic scabbard endpiece on an 18th century Chinese saber.

 

18th century military saber

An 18th-century military saber with its angular style scabbard and simple chape.

 

Also see

For a complete overview of saber terminology, see: A Chinese saber glossary.

References
1. Gongbu Junqi Zeli (工部軍器則例) or "Regulations and precedents on military equipment for the Board of Works" of 1815. A Qing imperial text dealing with the details of arms manufacture.
2. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彙全書) or "Enlarged and complete dictionary" of 1702. A Qing imperial dictionary in Chinese and Manchu, each entry double-checked and approved by the Kangxi emperor.

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me

With a golden damascened lock of the Indo-Portuguese type.

€17500,-

Very good example with a finely carved warrior scene.

€3000,-

Probably of Southern origin, with a straight blade and flaring tip.

€2200,-

In the style of northern work of the 16th and 17th centuries

€3000,-

A simple utilitarian weapon, probably made for rural martial artists or militia.

€450,-

A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.

€1900,-