Chinese Glaive

[mariusgmioc]

Is the blade sharp, or at least appears to have been sharp? How thick is the spine of the blade at the base and about 5 cm (2") from the tip?

Regards,

Marius

[Timo Nieminen]

Any chance of a close-up of the symbol next to the hook?

[Royston]

Marius

It is sharp.

The base is 9mm thick
5cm from the top it is 2mm

Timo - see photo, it is the same symbol each side.

cheers
Roy

[kronckew]

Interesting oldish guandao/yanyuedao, a traditional chinese weapon still practised in their martial arts. There would have been an iron ring thriu the blades hole to suspend a red tassle.

[mariusgmioc]

Hello Roy and thank you for the measurements!

It appears it is a genuine fighting Guandao. A great blade!

Congratulations and happy cleaning!

[kronckew]

they also were used in SE asia, particularly Vietnam, these may likely be Viet, as someone pointed out to me, the haft fittings look like viet examples.

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by kronckew

they also were used in SE asia, particularly Vietnam, these may likely be Viet, as someone pointed out to me, the haft fittings look like viet examples.

Similar fittings also in Thailand, and in China. China being large and diverse, it isn't surprising to see varied range of fittings on Chinese examples. Korean ones have fittings similar to northern Chinese examples, SE Asian ones are often similar to southern Chinese examples. Thai blades can look a lot like Japanese blades (Imports re-mounted locally? The Japanese exported naginata to SE Asia).

[Ren Ren]

Very nice Vietnamese subject, not Chinese
Possible, the end of XVIII century.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!