A fine small Southern Chinese fighting knife with wide blade. The hilt is made of buffalo horn and carved with horizontal grooves to give it more grip. The blade is revited on the brass rounded pommel. The guard is decorated with a filed motif, but the front and back are flat and undecorated as is often seen on Chinese types. The blade is straight, short and quite heavy. The spine of the blade is near flat and straight, while the cutting edge tapers towards the tip.
An etching of the blade reveals a forging pattern with a clear hardened cutting edge.

The origin is often attributed to the ‘Black Flag Army’, a group of bandits and outlaws who were involved in several battles in the border district between China and Vietnam. Knives like these were often made around 1860-1880, but used by pirates and outlaws. Even by Chinese gangsters in the United States up til the early 20th century. Since this example is rather slim, it could be made to conceal within a sleeve or hidden within the clothing of the owner.

Condition: Excellent, including its original pig skin leather scabbard.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 15cm
Blade spine thickness: 5mm
Blade thickness: 2.6cm
Hilt: 9.2cm
Scabbard: 16.8cm
Total length: 26cm

Weight: 121 gr.

Copyright by Peter Andeweg – Antiques by the Sea 2020