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		#9 | 
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			Join Date: Dec 2004 
				
				
				
					Posts: 1,247
				 
				
				
				
				
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			While I could go with an African bearing sword, I've seen that circle on Chinese blades before.  I agree with Gav: it feels like a composite piece based on a Chinese original.  I'm not happy about the rawhide(?) and copper wire binding.  It looks crude.  My guess is that the basal half of the blade was cut down from a longer sword, and/or the base was welded onto an existing chinese sword blade.  The function of the current piece is what I don't get. 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Best, F  | 
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