[Ian]

Hello DD:

Very nice Viet guom. It is, as you say, unusual in its hilt and perhaps the scabbard. I'm wondering if this one was made for a European or at least influenced by European design.

There are a nice set of pictures of these swords on Artzi Yarom's site (oriental-arms.com)--a search for guom will turn up 11 examples. This selection shows a distinct pommel on all examples--what appears to be a tiger with the knuckle bow emerging from its mouth. The scabbards each have three metal fittings in various designs and only a couple show sturdy ring mounts for suspension.

The wire-wrapped, wooden (?) hilt on yours resembles a 19th C. cavalry saber from many parts of Europe (certainly plenty of French examples in Vietnam to base this hilt on). I have not seen a previous example of a wire-wrapped hilt on a guom.

Chinese motifs are prominent on the scabbard and nothing particularly unusual except for the depiction of a raptor (eagle or hawk). Perhaps the bird offers a clue about the owner of the sword. Certainly a nice functional complete example with a well decorated scabbard. Good find!

Ian