second look at a Chinese chopper

Gavin Nugent · 17th March 2008, 03:02 AM

Thanks Josh.

I am familiar with the distinct clipped tip found on "choppers" past and present but this type of wavy curved tip is somewhat of an unknown for me on Chinese edged weapons.
As yet I have not seen, other than yours, a tip of this type except on Koras.

I do hope with a little tenacity, a collective reasearch effort can pin point this style more so. What can a detailed examination of the hilt, guard and peened tang reveal? Is there any evinence suggesting it being rehilted at any stage?

regards

Gavin

josh stout · 17th March 2008, 04:42 PM

I have only seen two other examples. One was from the same seller mine came from and was possibly older with a thinner blade. The other I saw on SFI a few years ago where the majority opinion wrongly concluded it was a modified pole arm. In ISSC there is a Ming statue pictured holding a similar looking wavy tipped chopper, and in the Qianlong era HuangChiao LiQi DuShih there is another wavy tipped one, also quoted in ISSC. That is the one associated with the term "podao". (Not to be confused with "podao/pudao" a type of dadao with an extra long handle.)

The chopper is wrapped up and put away with the majority of my collection to keep it from my kids, so I haven't looked at it in a bit. I do not remember anything unusual about the guard or handle attachment. Nor did I see any reason to think it had been rehilted.

Nice collection BTW.
Josh

17th March 2008, 03:02 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Thanks Josh Thanks Josh. I am familiar with the distinct clipped tip found on "choppers" past and present but this type of wavy curved tip is somewhat of an unknown for me on Chinese edged weapons. As yet I have not seen, other than yours, a tip of this type except on Koras. I do hope with a little tenacity, a collective reasearch effort can pin point this style more so. What can a detailed examination of the hilt, guard and peened tang reveal? Is there any evinence suggesting it being rehilted at any stage? regards Gavin Attached Images

17th March 2008, 04:42 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I have only seen two other examples. One was from the same seller mine came from and was possibly older with a thinner blade. The other I saw on SFI a few years ago where the majority opinion wrongly concluded it was a modified pole arm. In ISSC there is a Ming statue pictured holding a similar looking wavy tipped chopper, and in the Qianlong era HuangChiao LiQi DuShih there is another wavy tipped one, also quoted in ISSC. That is the one associated with the term "podao". (Not to be confused with "podao/pudao" a type of dadao with an extra long handle.) The chopper is wrapped up and put away with the majority of my collection to keep it from my kids, so I haven't looked at it in a bit. I do not remember anything unusual about the guard or handle attachment. Nor did I see any reason to think it had been rehilted. Nice collection BTW. Josh