Chinese double swords
lengths: 25 1/4"
I'm really torn about the identification of this set. On one hand, they show
characteristics of swords made for tourist export in the 1920's or so, and
on the other hand they also could quite well have been made as usable weapons from
the 1880's through the 1930's. The blades are distally tapered and
quite springy which says weapons, but they're etched with dragons which say
export. I wouldn't shave with one of these, but the blades definetly were
sharpened at one point. Double fullers on each blade, grips are wood wrapped
with flat cord, fittings are brass. Guards rattle, but they were actually
designed that way. Chinese warriors and martial artists were really into the
whistle, rattle, clank, and jangle of weapons throughout their history. Kind
of like the "ka-chunk" of a 12-gauge shotgun to Americans. No scabbard, but
they both would have fit into one scabbard for ease of transport and
annoying the hell out of your opponent when what looks like one sword
suddenly becomes a sword in each hand. You know, the more I sit here and
play with them, the more I'm willing to classify them as weapons. These
would definetly do some damage to unarmored targets.
blades: 20"
blade widths: 1 1/16" base
grips: 5 1/4"
guards: 3"
3/12/01