East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. early 20th century CE. An elegant pole weapon known as a pudao (or podao) presenting with a lengthy, wooden hilt, and a curved, steel blade. The broad single-edged blade rises to a sharp point and is held in place via steel pins that are applied beneath the discoid steel crossguard. A steel loop containing three circular chain pieces sits at the bottom of the finely carved-wood hilt. An infantry weapon used against cavalry, a pudao is sometimes called a "horse-cutter sword" and is said to be able to slice the legs out from under a horse during battle. It is still used as a training weapon for many Chinese martial arts. Size: 67.25" L x 4.2" W (170.8 cm x 10.7 cm)
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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#161741
Condition
Slight bending to overall form of blade, with abrasions and a few stable hairline fissures to wooden pole, otherwise intact and very good. Nice sharpness to blade edge.