local Jian find x 2 in a week :)
Aug 19, 2017 12:04:10 GMT
Post by stopped1 on Aug 19, 2017 12:04:10 GMT
I am usually a JSA guy (I started to do Baji once a week tho), don't do much Chinese sword except for Chinese military sword.
I have been a good boy, didn't buy any guns at the gun show in Sydney last week, nothing of interest, as I was about to walk out, a Chinese mate was going on about a fake Zhong zheng Jain (aka Chinese Nationalist officer dagger), blah blah blah, it was so fake that it didn't even have fake "presented by Chiang Zhong zheng) engraved on, I knew the fake ones are commonly signed, as they are this type is the most famous, so I went to investigate. Ha, a legit KMT dagger with plum blossom, for $110AU (like 90USD). So I quickly parted with my cash, got home and emailed a page out of Jan Culbertson's Chinese dagger book to my mate to rub it in.
It was a good buy.
The only reason why I could pick up the dagger cheap was because the gun dealer didn't know what it was, so I scored. It got me thinking, how about other local places, Aus isn't exactly known to have many collectable swords but I got bored. So I typed in the word "sword" on Gumtree, unlike ebay, only yielded 200 or so results and most were rubbish. One sword caught my eye, the pics were hazy but I saw three things, pegs in handle, no screwed over pommel and "7 starts" brass disc insert. No other info, except for the owner had it for over 20 years, all fittings were brass and he removed so rust from the blade (not stainless
). Usually I won't take a punt like that, but hell a set of brass fittings will cost me like $80 at least, so what the hell. He asked for $300 but I half heartedly offered $200 as I wasn't sure what I was buying, he agreed. Picked it up today, I was impressed.
Blade was 28 in, the lines were okay and it weights 620g (1.4lb), think it is more scholar sword type than war sword. Handle was tight, and held in place with 2 hollow pegs and pommel peen in, not screw.
There are 7 brass discs insert on each sides and all intact
The brass fittings were thick and solid, most are 2 piece soldered together, I would say they are cast, but the are subtle differences on different sides, maybe they were cast and then hand finished. There is zero mould lines, unlike modern stuff I buy so at least someone put in the effort to finish the parts properly.
Now the scabbard is fun, it has brass sheet inlay that is lacquered over, the hangers and collar appear to be hand engraved, not very flashy tho
Think I have done well for $200AU, would have costed me a whole lot more had I asked for all those on a new sword. I couldn't judge the age, the brass fittings and the blade has been cleaned by the last owner, so I couldn't tell much. The blade is blunt by the way.
Happy days! The seller actually told me that he sold $10000 worth of Japanese swords the other day, I can only wonder who has picked those up and how good they are
I have been a good boy, didn't buy any guns at the gun show in Sydney last week, nothing of interest, as I was about to walk out, a Chinese mate was going on about a fake Zhong zheng Jain (aka Chinese Nationalist officer dagger), blah blah blah, it was so fake that it didn't even have fake "presented by Chiang Zhong zheng) engraved on, I knew the fake ones are commonly signed, as they are this type is the most famous, so I went to investigate. Ha, a legit KMT dagger with plum blossom, for $110AU (like 90USD). So I quickly parted with my cash, got home and emailed a page out of Jan Culbertson's Chinese dagger book to my mate to rub it in.
It was a good buy.
The only reason why I could pick up the dagger cheap was because the gun dealer didn't know what it was, so I scored. It got me thinking, how about other local places, Aus isn't exactly known to have many collectable swords but I got bored. So I typed in the word "sword" on Gumtree, unlike ebay, only yielded 200 or so results and most were rubbish. One sword caught my eye, the pics were hazy but I saw three things, pegs in handle, no screwed over pommel and "7 starts" brass disc insert. No other info, except for the owner had it for over 20 years, all fittings were brass and he removed so rust from the blade (not stainless
). Usually I won't take a punt like that, but hell a set of brass fittings will cost me like $80 at least, so what the hell. He asked for $300 but I half heartedly offered $200 as I wasn't sure what I was buying, he agreed. Picked it up today, I was impressed.Blade was 28 in, the lines were okay and it weights 620g (1.4lb), think it is more scholar sword type than war sword. Handle was tight, and held in place with 2 hollow pegs and pommel peen in, not screw.
There are 7 brass discs insert on each sides and all intact
The brass fittings were thick and solid, most are 2 piece soldered together, I would say they are cast, but the are subtle differences on different sides, maybe they were cast and then hand finished. There is zero mould lines, unlike modern stuff I buy so at least someone put in the effort to finish the parts properly.
Now the scabbard is fun, it has brass sheet inlay that is lacquered over, the hangers and collar appear to be hand engraved, not very flashy tho
Think I have done well for $200AU, would have costed me a whole lot more had I asked for all those on a new sword. I couldn't judge the age, the brass fittings and the blade has been cleaned by the last owner, so I couldn't tell much. The blade is blunt by the way.
Happy days! The seller actually told me that he sold $10000 worth of Japanese swords the other day, I can only wonder who has picked those up and how good they are
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