Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature

Description

Dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍) literally means "saber end loop".¹ It is the scabbard endpiece, also known in English as chape. 

Dāo dǐ gū specifically refers to the type with simple geometry, as opposed to dāo dǐ yún (刀底雲) "saber end cloud" that is in the same text for a type of chape with cloud cutout. 

An alternative term used is dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍 ) "saber end loop".²

Antique Qing dynasty saber with dāo dǐ gū (刀底箍) type chape.

Typical minimalistic scabbard endpiece on an 18th century Chinese saber.

An 18th-century military saber with its angular style scabbard and simple chape.

Also see

For a complete overview of saber terminology, see: A Chinese saber glossary.

References
1. Gongbu Junqi Zeli (工部軍器則例) or "Regulations and precedents on military equipment for the Board of Works" of 1815. A Qing imperial text dealing with the details of arms manufacture.
2. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彙全書) or "Enlarged and complete dictionary" of 1702. A Qing imperial dictionary in Chinese and Manchu, each entry double-checked and approved by the Kangxi emperor.