Description

 A charming fighting knife from northern Vietnam. It is of a type that was also widely in use in southern China, but especially some of the detailing points towards Vietnam rather than China.

It has a thick blade with a straight spine and a curved edge. The blade's body is forge folded over a high carbon steel plate that is exposed at the edge.

The hilt is comprised of a carved piece of buffalo horn, ribbed for added grip, with two copper ferrules. The guard is a fairly thick piece of brass, chiseled with two monster heads, one on either side, as also seen in Nguyễn dynasty architecture. The pommel is a brass nut with facetted sides. Ferrules, guard, and pommel are further decorated with pieces of silver wire.

The piece comes complete with a wooden scabbard, covered with dark brown pigskin and still retaining its old red cotton tassel.

A very charming and unusual piece.