Chinese Sword

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by josh stout

What makes this a "Manchurian dao"? I can see the resemblance between the examples, but I had not seen that designation before. They are interesting in their similarities, given that most oxtails do not have scabbards and tend to be somewhat varied in appearance given their use outside the regular military. Was there a particular Manchu militia group that used them, or is this more of a collectors designation regarding a recognizable type?

They all look like somewhat late examples. The scabbards made from leather wrapped with wire all look post 1900 to me, and the technique certainly continues into the Republican period. I find such nice examples difficult to date sometimes because i am used to very obvious signs of age, but my guess for a date would be 1900 through the mid thirties.
Josh

G'day Josh and well noted.

These examples as I understand it were found up to a couple of decades prior to 1900 and certainly were found up to 1930 too. I tend to think the dao found with the brass cup guards were more towards the 1930's.
If you can refer to an old Scott Rodell catalogue, inventory number 717, you will see these referred to as Manchu Dao's. As for particular units, I cannot comment.
As a note, the single one I presented seems to be covered in a very fine fish skin.

Gav