Asian Export sword guard
Private collection. Not for sale.
Antique Chinese bronze mace
Introduction
Chinese civilian martial artists used a wide variety of weapons.
Taiwanese Aboriginal Pingpu knife
Introduction
The Island of Taiwan was briefly under Dutch colonial rule in the 17th century, after which it
Chinese trousse with inlaid iron mounts
Background
Sets with a knife and chopsticks -and sometimes some other utensils- were common all over the Qi
Qing dynasty hunter's powder flask
Introduction
The elite of the Qing dynasty was Manchu, who before taking over China from the Ming lived in
Early Qing saber
A rare Chinese officer's saber of the 17th century.
A Japanese kusarigama
The Japanese kusarigama is a variation of the gama, a scythe-like weapon that was likely inspired
Chinese tiger fork
One of the classic weapons in Chinese martial arts.
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Things Chinese, 1719
Description
A Japanese volume from the 唐土訓蒙圖彚 or "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Things Chinese", it was publi
A nanban kozuka / kogatana
Nanban kozuka are extremely rare, and this is a particularly fine example.
Chinese sword breaker
With tapering blade, hollow ground on each side to make the edges slightly sharper.
Chinese repeating crossbow
Perhaps one of the most famous and long-lived of Chinese weapons.
Excellent Qing officer saber
Introduction
The yaodao, literally "waist saber" was the standard side-arm for the Qing dynasty mi
A Sirdan, or Manchu war arrow
This large and imposing type of war arrow is often compared to a small spear.
Ming dynasty saber blade
Introduction
The Chinese saber comes in a great variety of curvatures, profiles, and with different combina
Peidao in iron fangshi mounts
Introduction
The terms peidao or yaodao are synonyms that were in use simultaneously in Q
A fine Chinese yànchìdāo
It comes with its complete set of fittings in a thick gauge of báitóng.
Chinese sword with Qianlong reign mark
Often mistaken for true Qianlong work.
Southern Chinese saber
Introduction
The yaodao, literally "waist saber" was the standard side-arm for the Qing dynasty mi
Converted Chinese guard
A purely Chinese guard and not a very ornate one, converted for Japanese use.
A Chinese sword breaker (jian)
Introduction
In Chinese military culture, there has long been a distinction between two hea
Heavy Manchu war or strength bow
With an estimated draw weight of 160-200 pounds.
Zhibeidao with spectacular blade
Introduction to the type
This type of sword is referred to as zhibeidao (直背刀) or s
A good pair of butterfly swords
Introduction
The hudiedao (蝴蝶刀), are a type of double swords peculiar to the port
Chinese saber of the Chaoyang army
Late 18th century, complete with its original scabbard.
19th century Qing military saber
With massive 10mm thick blade with strong distal taper.
18th century Chinese saber
With fine blade, of liuyedao form with a gentle curvature.
Qing dynasty imperial edict box
Used to move imperial orders from the emperor’s quarters to the recipient.
Buryat bowcase and quiver
Of the Western Buryats, living near the shores of Lake Baikal.
A wide Chinese fighting knife
With the relatively rare feature of a raised backedge.
Qing Bannerman's helmet
Of a type worn among others by the Valiant Cavalry.
Chinese shuangdao - double sabers
With narrow liuyedao blades of moderate curvature.
Chinese trousse set with glass trinkets
Introduction
Sets with a knife and chopsticks and sometimes some other utensils were common all over the Qi
A large Manchu knife
Of a type also issued to the Qing Vanguard.
Shuangjian with ivory grips
A deluxe set of double straightswords with carved ivory grips and gilt mounts.
Chinese twistcore presentation saber
An unusually large presentation saber in the style of high-end Chinese military sabers.
Chinese saber with "naginata-hi"
A Chinese waist saber or yaodao / peidao of the first half of the 18th century.
A Chinese scholar's sword
Introduction
The Chinese straightsword or jiàn (劍) was traditionally the side-arm
Ming militia sword
An honest, unpretentious fighting weapon of the Ming-Qing period.
Chinese saber with U-grooves
With twist-core steel and of early liuyedao form. Probably 17th century.
Chinese saber with segmented grooves
With openwork brass mounts in early imperial style.
Large Chinese Daoist sword
Chiseled in the blade is “勅今” which could either mean "imperial order" or "Daoist magic command".
Chinese export sword guard
An iron openwork guard two dragons chasing a flaming pearl.
A nanban tsuba with Christian orb
A near round tsuba with beaded rim depicting two dragons in vegetal scrollwork.
A nanban tsuba
A rather good example of a Japanese-made nanban tsuba.
Chinese javelin head
Description
At first sight, this may look like a miniature version of a standard Qing spearhead.
Antique Miaodao
Miaodao simply being a more recent name for the wodao.