I see I see... too bad there doesn't seem to be as much demand for plain iron disc guards on reproductions, would much rather have that (personally) than a fancy brass one - but I can appreciate the artistry, and I can see why people like them.
Typically Chinese dao had tangs running all the way through even through a hole in the pommel and then peened, right?
I remember taking apart a modern repro which had a nut screwed on to tighten the handle/tang relationship and then a pommel fitted and glued on. Pommel came off with heavy use.
Studying Chinese saberplay, I can see the usefulness in a strong disc guard, though techniques don't involve much emphasis on the bind or catching of weapons.
I must get myself a good antique dao to study one of these days.
