A Niuweidao, Oxtail Saber, for sale
 

I offer this late Qing dynasty niuweidao, also known as oxtail saber, for sale. Before I write here a long story about these swords, just have a look to the description Peter Decker has done it much better as I would be able to do it: FROM PETER DEKKER:
“This is an oxtail saber or niuweidao. This type with black lacquered, wire-wrapped scabbard is usually associated with the late 19th to early 20th century. This is the time where traditional Chinese martial arts started to re-invent themselves into ever more showy or health-focused practices. This example is in pretty good state of preservation, most of them are in far worse condition. The blade is interesting, usually you see these with two grooves, a wide one with a narrower one above that. This example has three grooves of equal width, a somewhat rarer configuration.” This description was for a very similar sword.
I guess that this one is from the late 19th to early 20th century.
The one I offer has its original scabbard with its old wire winding, these scabbards are not unusual but somewhat rare. Sadly the scabbard foot cover from brass is missing and the wood shows wear but this is my opinion the only fault with this sword. The other mounts are from brass, I don't polish them up to shiny but let them the old patination. The sword itself is in a very good state. The blade had rust which I removed with a rust rubber, the original polish is present now with some very minimal pitting. The blade is laminated, very good visible at the spine. I've given the blade a light etch, the lamination is visible with the sword in hand but difficult to photograph, I will repeat the etch and post pics from the result. The edge has some nicks. The hilt cup guard is soldered from two pieces of iron, I removed only the red rust. Hilt from wood, the handle binding isn't the first one, I have received it with this binding. Ferrule and the hilt cup are from brass.
95,5 cm long inside scabbard, 92,5 cm without, the blade is approx. 75 cm long and 6 mm thick at the spine behind the handle. The complete sword has a weight of 1065 gram.
Asking price is 850 Euro plus shipping.
Contact me by mail: deuterdetlef@gmail.com
Shipping to the States is without problem!

More pictures!

The etch was a mild one, here some pics with daylight and some with flash.

Like always, fair offers are welcome!

Everything gets more expensive in the New Year, the dao gets cheaper, for 800 Euro someone?