Chinese fighting knife
This item has been sold.
Overall length

Sheathed 35.5 cm

Knife 35.3 cm

Blade length

23.6 cm

Blade thickness

Base 7.5 mm

Blade width

37 mm

Weight

265 grams

Point of balance

52 mm from guard

Materials

Iron, steel, leather, cotton

Origin

Southern China

Dating

Second half 19th century

Provenance

From a Scandinavian collection

Sold

Interested?
Anything similar for sale?

Contact me

Description

Fighting knives of this type were often brought back from southern coastal China and Northern Vietnam in the 19th century. Some have typical signs of Chinese manufacture,  while others have some elements that are more Vietnamese. A few are sitting in the middle. With Chinese craftsmen working in every port city, the distinction between one or the other can get quite blurry. Also, quite a few with Vietnamese provenance were probably taken from the Black Flags, a bandit group that moved into Vietnam in 1865 and helped firth the French.

This particular example has a simple, no-frills execution that favors a Chinese origin. (Vietnamese examples have a tendency towards decorated brass mounts.) The pigskin scabbard with a stylized coin cutout is seen in both Vietnam and China but was more common in China.

It has a heavy blade with ridged back. The current blade finish, however, with the final sharpening done with a sort of scraper, is typically seen on Vietnamese arms. So that's where it ended up at some point. This may point toward use by the Black Flags.

The hilt is wrapped with cord. All are in pretty good, original, untouched condition.

 

 

 

 

Southern Chinese ring pommel knife
Southern Chinese ring pommel knife
Southern Chinese ring pommel knife
Southern Chinese ring pommel knife
Southern Chinese ring pommel knife
Southern Chinese ring pommel knife

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me
Currently available:

A Chinese shortsword made by a well-known Longquan maker.

€4200,-

Of pierced iron, elaborately cut with lotus petal border.

€1200,-

A nice example with unusually fine lacquerwork and a monogram in the lid.

€3800,-

Chinese work for the Japanese market.

€800,-

Canton work for the Japanese market, with 28 metal balls in separate compartments.

€1500,-

Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.

€500,-