Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature

Description

Dāobǎ (刀把) means "saber grip".¹ Sometimes the alternative dāobǎ (刀把) is used, it has exactly the same pronunciation but is written slightly differently.²

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

Grip of a Chinese imperial saber of the 18th century.

References
1. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彙全書) or "Enlarged and complete dictionary" of 1704. A Qing imperial dictionary in Chinese and Manchu, each entry double checked and approved by the Kangxi emperor.
2. Qinding Gongbu Junqi Zeli (欽定工部軍器則例) or "Imperial regulations and precedents on weapons and military equipment by the Ministry of Public Works", 1813. Chapter 36.