This Dao is very similar in style to Chinese butterfly knives and indeed may be a form of one. Butterfly knives are traditionally carried and used in pairs and have a flattened side to allow for the pair to fit snugly together within their sheath. This Dao has a rounded grip so is unlikely to have been one of a pair.
This style of Dao was widely used in Northern China and is also linked to the infamous Chinese pirates that infested the Yangtze River and South China Sea.
This Dao dates from the Chinese Warlord Era, although the blade may be earlier, from the Qing Dynasty. The Warlord Era (1916-1928) was a period in the history of China after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, when national authority disintegrated and the country split into a number of regions, all controlled by powerful local warlords.
The 385mm forged blade is typical of butterfly knives, being the length of the forearm and fist. This is the optimal length for its style of use. The blade has a flat spine above two narrow fullers and terminates in a hatchet point with a 100mm upper false edge. The broad, slightly curved blade is ideally suited to cutting with its wide, weighted point. The profile of the blade also allows for an effective thrust. The blade measures 37mm at the forte and flares to 58mm. The spine is 6.2mm at the shoulder. The blade is extremely sharp.
The blade is in good condition. There are light scratches along its length and an area of delamination towards the point on one side.
The blade is firmly fixed into a hardwood grip with a copper bolster. The grip and bolster have a great age patina. The steel knuckle-bow is typical of butterfly knives, having a forward pointing blade catching quillon. The one-piece quillon and knuckle-bow also form the pommel of the grip through which the tang of the blade is peened. The number 36 has been engraved on the inside of the knuckle-bow.
This is a robust and excellent example of a Chinese fighting Dao from a tumultuous period of Chinese history.
