Vietnamese Sword

[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

[ariel]

There is a funny similarity between the handle of Guom and those of Luzon Minasbad.

[kai]

Hello Ariel,

There is a funny similarity between the handle of Guom and those of Luzon Minasbad.

While I usually agree with your astute observations, I beg to differ on this one: I don't see any similarities short of European influences (handguard, spiral grip binding).

Different creatures, different disk guards, different styles, different construction - please explain what you see!

Regards,
Kai

[ariel]

I was talking about the unusually tight space between the D-guard and the grip.
As a rule, D-guards are convex, providing ample space for the hand, but here the guard is either straight or even deliberately concave, almost touching the knuckles . I cannot recall anything similar in any other example of D -guarded handles. Do you?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I know nothing about Vietnamese swords.....Peter Dekkers Mandarin Mansions refers...all sold items and worth looking at...http://mandarinmansion.com/antique-vietnamese-swords

[Ren Ren]

Rare vietnamese military officer's sword, not civil ceremonial subject.

Lengh about 30 inches?

[DhaDha]

Thanks for the information everyone!

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

Rare vietnamese military officer's sword, not civil ceremonial subject.

Lengh about 30 inches?

36 inches in the scabbard.

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

I know nothing about Vietnamese swords.....Peter Dekkers Mandarin Mansions refers...all sold items and worth looking at...http://mandarinmansion.com/antique-vietnamese-swords

This is siamese court sword.

[DhaDha]

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

This is siamese court sword.

Thank you for showing this. I thought I saw similar pieces at the museum in Luang Prabang as well. If memory serves me correct the handles were a little oversized. But it was almost 10 years ago. And I can't find the pictures in my files.