help to date a chain whip

[josh stout]

Antique Chinese chain whip. 1920?
:shrug:
Josh

The 36 inch hand forged steel chain is faceted along the central bar of each link. The bar connects to a disk shaped swivel at each end, and the disk at each end is attached to a stirrup. The stirrups are then linked together to form a chain. The handles are smooth and fluted, 4.5 inches in length, with the last inch being given to carved decorative elements and rings on a central pin. The pin is connected to the rest of the chain via a disk swivel and stirrup arrangement similar to the rest of the chain. There are small rings in the stirrup attachment to the handles. These are designed to make a pleasant jingling sound when in use.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/Copyofsword017.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/Copyofsword018.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/Copyofsword020.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/Copyofsword021.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/sword019.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/pekhopai/sword022.jpg

[stekemest]

Those could be hard to date, but I think +/- 1900 should be correct.
Look at those currently on auction at Hermann Historica:
http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm57.pl?f=NR&c=76152&t=temartic_A_D&db=kat57_a.txt

[CourseEight]

Neat, weights seem very similar to this one I posted a while ago:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4616&highlight=manrikigursari

[fearn]

Interesting hybrid between a chain whip and a manriki-gusari (or perhaps a chain spear?).

The classical chain whip has links about the size of the end darts, and it moves like a chain. The kusari has a lighter chain with heavier heads, and it moves like a flail. This one is in between, because those links appear light enough that this weapon will move like a kusari, but the joints have so many corners that (I'm guessing) it would really hurt to use the traditional wrapping motions (say around your arm or leg) to redirect its motion. Kusaris and chain whips usually have fairly smooth links, just to protect the wielder.

In any case, I'd guess early 20th century, or late 19th century. This was the golden age of Chinese martial arts, and a number of more exotic weapons showed up then.

F

[josh stout]

Several knowledgeable people have been given me a date of 1900-1920, so I think it should be relatively accurate.

In use, the chain can wrap under the arms without a problem. It is too short to use the legs in wrapping. I have now seen six or seven with almost exactly the same weights, so I think this was a standard form for the time.

I think the chains on many have been replaced, but mine appears to be original.
Josh