Chinese sword old or ??
 

I picked up this Chinese sword over the weekend. Neither seller nor I weren't sure of it's age. I didn't know about the second blade until I got home, the seller didn't know about it as well.
I don't think this was made for the tourist market or am I wrong....
Both blades are 15.5 inches in length.

i'm not sure it is old, but it is pretty cool... :cool:

Not old
 

Hi,

Not very old in my opinion but of the half dozen I have seen, this is the best looking piece with the most authentic and substantial looking fittings and the baldes don't look too bad either.

Gav

The way the tassel is attached with the ring is interesting. Has anyone else see this before.

This style of double weapon seems to be later, but genuine examples exist. Scott Rodell has one that looks like a standard late issue Qing military short sword with the extra hidden blade. I have one that may have been put together later (1900-1940), but with older inserted edge blades. There was a time when they were not uncommon on eBay, but I have not seen them in a while.

Yours looks like it may have been refurbished, or it may be newer. I have not seen the snake skin looking covering on old dao. Mine and Scott's were the typical black leather. The fittings look genuine, but do not have the patina of something old, but they just might have been well cared for.

The tassel is not in a typical style. The most common tassel attachment is through a hole in the handle. The late Qing way to do a tassel like that involves a fixed ring attached to the hole in the handle, and then a tassel through that. Yours looks like some modern designs I have seen, with the ring added.

For me the bottom line is the blades. Do they have inserted edges?
Josh

I'll clean it up and find out this weekend.

Did a quick etch on one of the blades.
Have look............

That is a very nice blade. If I had to guess, I would say that the whole thing was put together post Qing, but that the blade is a good older example. The set I have is similar, but not in as nice condition. The snake skin appearing scabbard reminds me of late 20th c. things sold commonly, so it might be a later refurbishment, or the later example may have been copying ones like yours.

Either way, the blade is a nice genuine example and the fittings are appropriate and matching. My guess is it was all put together around 1930 for the tourist trade, but using a good quality surplus Qing blade.

Nice find :)
Josh

Did you etch both blades?