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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2010 16:27:33 GMT
I stumbled across a Chinese Qing period sword. It came without a handle nor guard and I have been looking for parts to restore the sword but had little success. I was told that unlike Nihonto parts, Chinese sword parts are very, very scarce. I even tried to have the parts made, it looked OKAY, but I thought I could do better.
Can you recommend a supplier of good quality but preferably fairly plain Dao parts? I am looking for the collar, pommel cap and hand guard. And if I can’t get the scabbard fittings off without damaging the old scabbard (they are pretty stuck because the last owner put auto paint all over them, agrrrrrr), I will have to buy them too.
Also I would need to wrap the new handle properly, what would be the proper cords for wrapping? And where can I buy them?
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Post by sicheah on Jun 12, 2010 16:33:56 GMT
I am not sure if Garrett at Jin-Shi could get you some fittings from the Chinese forge, worth a try though. Seven stars trading has some, but pretty expensive IMO. Can't blame them though cuz there is not much demand from them: www.sevenstarstrading.com/html/bladesfittings/fittings.htmlSinosword might have some fittings if you ask them www.sinosword.com/Not too sure on the cords though. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2010 17:14:13 GMT
I checked the stuff listed on Seven Stars trading a few days ago, yeah they are pretty pricy, and not just that, pretty bling too and that's my biggest problem. I will give the other sites a try then, Thanks! BTW here is my sword with the home made handle  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2010 21:17:55 GMT
You can also try Peter Dekker's website, Mandarin Mansion: www.mandarinmansion.com/If you check out some of the antique consignment pieces on his Armory page, the prices are quite fair and many are basic civilian antiques, which should suit your tastes. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2010 0:03:32 GMT
You should verify that it is a genuine antique first. (The lack of patina on the tang looks very suspect). Then you can determine if it is worthwhile. It looks like it has been polished. Sometimes inexperienced polishers ruin blades while "polishing" to get them to look cleaner to sell on eBay. There is a genuine antique dao blade for sale on SFI which has lost its temper and the owner can't sell it for even $300.
For fittings, cheapo brass sheet fittings and handle wrap will run you over $100 shipped. For historical iron fittings and Peter's wrap it would be considerably more. Genuine antique fittings are pretty much inaccessible.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2010 7:47:35 GMT
You can also try Peter Dekker's website.......................many are basic civilian antiques, which should suit your tastes. I will do so.... and some of the lower end dao look very tempting too  You should verify that it is a genuine antique first..................... cheapo brass sheet fittings and handle wrap will run you over $100 hipped.................................................... Genuine antique fittings are pretty much inaccessible. While I couldn't find any experts in the topic (we all collect Nihonto in this part of the world, myself included, sigh) I am fairly sure that it is antique, the tang probably HAD patina on, I got it with a handle made entirely of epoxy (even plastic gem stones stuck on to bling it up...agrrrrrrrr) and had to crack it open. The hole in the tang is punched, not drilled and the blade has lots of minor forging flaw in it. Don't think I will have to blade polished, while functional, the surface far too wavy and will be a huge job that I would have to pay for. I Just want to put it in respectable mounts for now, I can always get more work done on it later if I don't mess it up. Maybe I will just leave it as it is for now then, the fittings we made are already from 2mm sheets and guard 6mm plate. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2010 20:41:55 GMT
grey beard is a artificer of brass. give him a PM. even if it turns out to not be antique, and you still want to restore he could probably come up with something.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2010 5:30:41 GMT
Thanks for the info !! :-)
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