A functional Vietnamese saber from the Tonkin area. This Vietnamese saber is heavily Chinese influenced and features a curved blade with large rounded guard held with Japanese style washers and fitted to a wooden hilt bound in rattan. The guard features a chiseled design of foliage in Vietnamese fashion which simulates silver inlay. The blade shows a curve, like many Chinese ‘Dao’ sabers and has two fuller running down towards the tip. The forte and tip are decorated with an engraved floral design, commonly seen on Vietnamese blades from the 19th century.

The wooden hilt is segmented, providing a firm grip and has the aesthetics of segmented bamboo. The hilt is peened to the blade with a round horn scale and is decorated with two rattan strips holding the fittings in place. These sabers were used among troops and were actually functional made for battle. This example seems to have seen action in its days due to the re-shaping of the blade.

Condition: General good condition, some slight movement on the guard and the blade was reshaped long ago, presumably due to damage caused in battle. Further good patination.

Dimensions:

Hilt length: 19cm

Blade length: 53.6cm

Blade spine thickness: 8mm

Total length: 72.8cm

Weight: 641gr.

Provenance: French art market