A Chinese dau

Shakethetrees · 13th August 2015, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakethetrees

I would use dirty cotton tape about 1/2" to 1" wide. The colors I've seen or owned are red, white, blue, or white with blue or black stripes. The white cloth was brown/rust colored and has calligraphy. If I can locate it I will post images.

Here are two examples of wrapped grips. The striped one is from a pair of tiger hook swords, the bottom is from a Dadao. The image quality ain't so great, (and I apologize for this rush job!), but you can see some ink inscription that I can't make out enough to attempt translation.

You get the idea!

M ELEY · 14th August 2015, 12:28 AM

Hello all and thanks for responding!

Shakethetrees, yes, that is an excellent effect and look! I will definitely consider it for my dau.

Timo Nieminen, the sword appears to be very sound, weighs approx 5-6 lbs, is thickest near the hilt ring (at just under 1/4") narrowing towards the tip. The blade is sturdy and has a nice ring to it when tapped. Thanks for the info on the smaller ring purpose (makes total sense!) and the usage of dadau vs dau. I'd like to think of it as at least Boxer or earlier, so your 'guess' is welcome! I didn't realize that these always had a guard/crossguard, of which mine is missing? I've seen knuckle bows and disc guards on dau, but I've also seen many without, leading me to assume there were types with and without guards-

Timo Nieminen · 14th August 2015, 01:25 AM

There have been types of dao without guards, including recent ones (see pic), and plenty of Han through Tang dao. But I think most, if not almost all, dadao had guards. I don't remember seeing a contemporary photo of one without a guard. Disc, cup, short curled-tip cross-guard, and S-guards are all common. I do see some that are without guards today.

5-6 lbs is very heavy for a dadao, and seems too heavy for 1/4" and tapering.

Is the cross-section of the blade wedge-shaped?

As a one-piece sword, it should ring. Swords that don't usually have some movement in the hilt or guard that absorbs the energy of the vibrations.

Would be interesting to know how hard the edge is. One can estimate using hardness-testing files without much impact on the blade. Not so easy to do it completely non-destructively.

Shakethetrees · 14th August 2015, 04:31 AM

As I understand, dao translates to blade or edged weapon as a concept or idea. Daosi is a diminutive that translates to knife. Dadao, on the other hand, means large blade. All Dadao I have seen, both here and in China, were flat or had one or two shallow and narrow fillers running maybe 2/3 of the blade length. The point was of a "clipped" configuration with an expansion where the back meets the clip. Some, but not all, had a hole at this place for a streamer ring.

Guards were, as stated before, either disc/cupped, "S" or "C" shaped with a small scroll or rat tail at each end. During the 1920's to WWII era (loosely interpreted here) there were some with flat "C" shaped guards of cast brass and two narrow shallow fullers as I described. This brass guard terminated in a closed ring cast integrally with the guard. The example I have now (I need to find it!) has a macrame like woven string grip and ring cover that was lacquered. I've seen others with cloth and one with spiral leather wrapping.

There are two similar sized swords, but the names are euphemistic, one being ox tongue sword and I forget the other right now. The blades could be thick or thin, but did not follow the same lines as the Dadao.

I will go on a hunt to flesh out what I have written here, maybe get some pictures and more specific names. I need to find my notes!

M ELEY · 15th August 2015, 12:50 AM

Sorry, I was at work and sleeping!

Timo, I am a horrible judge of weights. My daughter used to have a mini-scale for measuring portions, but it's long gone. Perhaps a more accurate weight would be 3 lbs? Yes, the blade is wedge shaped and tapers from thick to thin at the tip (no gross fluctuations of thickness along its length).

Shakethetrees, please do attach whatever you have! I know there have been other threads on the subject, but there's always room for more! They are an interesting sword type.

14th August 2015, 01:25 AM	#3
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	There have been types of dao without guards, including recent ones (see pic), and plenty of Han through Tang dao. But I think most, if not almost all, dadao had guards. I don't remember seeing a contemporary photo of one without a guard. Disc, cup, short curled-tip cross-guard, and S-guards are all common. I do see some that are without guards today. 5-6 lbs is very heavy for a dadao, and seems too heavy for 1/4" and tapering. Is the cross-section of the blade wedge-shaped? As a one-piece sword, it should ring. Swords that don't usually have some movement in the hilt or guard that absorbs the energy of the vibrations. Would be interesting to know how hard the edge is. One can estimate using hardness-testing files without much impact on the blade. Not so easy to do it completely non-destructively. Attached Images

14th August 2015, 12:28 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,165	Hello all and thanks for responding! Shakethetrees, yes, that is an excellent effect and look! I will definitely consider it for my dau. Timo Nieminen, the sword appears to be very sound, weighs approx 5-6 lbs, is thickest near the hilt ring (at just under 1/4") narrowing towards the tip. The blade is sturdy and has a nice ring to it when tapped. Thanks for the info on the smaller ring purpose (makes total sense!) and the usage of dadau vs dau. I'd like to think of it as at least Boxer or earlier, so your 'guess' is welcome! I didn't realize that these always had a guard/crossguard, of which mine is missing? I've seen knuckle bows and disc guards on dau, but I've also seen many without, leading me to assume there were types with and without guards-

14th August 2015, 04:31 AM	#4
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	As I understand, dao translates to blade or edged weapon as a concept or idea. Daosi is a diminutive that translates to knife. Dadao, on the other hand, means large blade. All Dadao I have seen, both here and in China, were flat or had one or two shallow and narrow fillers running maybe 2/3 of the blade length. The point was of a "clipped" configuration with an expansion where the back meets the clip. Some, but not all, had a hole at this place for a streamer ring. Guards were, as stated before, either disc/cupped, "S" or "C" shaped with a small scroll or rat tail at each end. During the 1920's to WWII era (loosely interpreted here) there were some with flat "C" shaped guards of cast brass and two narrow shallow fullers as I described. This brass guard terminated in a closed ring cast integrally with the guard. The example I have now (I need to find it!) has a macrame like woven string grip and ring cover that was lacquered. I've seen others with cloth and one with spiral leather wrapping. There are two similar sized swords, but the names are euphemistic, one being ox tongue sword and I forget the other right now. The blades could be thick or thin, but did not follow the same lines as the Dadao. I will go on a hunt to flesh out what I have written here, maybe get some pictures and more specific names. I need to find my notes!

15th August 2015, 12:50 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,165	Sorry, I was at work and sleeping! Timo, I am a horrible judge of weights. My daughter used to have a mini-scale for measuring portions, but it's long gone. Perhaps a more accurate weight would be 3 lbs? Yes, the blade is wedge shaped and tapers from thick to thin at the tip (no gross fluctuations of thickness along its length). Shakethetrees, please do attach whatever you have! I know there have been other threads on the subject, but there's always room for more! They are an interesting sword type.