Qing Dynasty sword with tag
I found a sword in my basement when I was cleaning it out. It looks very old and had two tags attached to the handle. One tag was wooden written in chinese. The other described the sword itself and the year (1871) that it came to america
Other
Yes
Hello, this item is a Chinese single-edged dao-type sword or boarding sword, probably dating to the late Qing dynasty or possibly the late 19th century. The long straight-to-slightly-curved blade, plain utilitarian hilt, cord-wrapped grip, iron fittings, and simple scabbard relate more closely to a practical military, militia, maritime, or guard weapon than to a high-ranking court or presentation sword. The wooden tag with Chinese characters and the old paper tag are interesting provenance elements, especially because the paper tag appears to reference China and the year 1871, but the photographs do not provide enough clarity to treat the tags as firm proof of Qing manufacture or documented historical ownership.
The sword appears to be in untouched attic or basement condition, with visible oxidation, dark patina, wear to the grip, a rough or damaged scabbard, and limited visible decoration. The lack of clear close-up photographs of the blade profile, tang, guard, scabbard fittings, inscriptions, and any forging activity limits a stronger attribution. Its value depends heavily on whether the blade proves to be a genuine late Qing working weapon rather than a later assembled or souvenir piece. As shown, the tags add interest, but the condition and uncertainty keep the market value moderate.
Fair Market Value: $450 to $900 USD
Hello Nate,
Thank you for pointing that out. I reviewed the additional photographs of the handle and pommel. The faint mark on the end fitting is useful and appears consistent with an intentionally stamped or cast mark rather than random wear. Unfortunately, it is too worn and indistinct in the photographs to identify confidently as a maker’s mark, arsenal mark, ownership symbol, or other specific Chinese insignia.
The additional handle images do support the impression that the sword has genuine age and that the fittings, cord wrapping, and scabbard construction belong to a utilitarian late 19th-century weapon rather than a modern decorative sword. However, without a clearly legible mark or further documentary evidence, I would not substantially change the attribution or valuation at this stage. I would therefore retain the current Fair Market Value of $450 to $900 USD.
Best,
Hi thank you for the information, not sure if it helps but I did upload more pictures of the handle. There is a logo on the bottom of it but it looks very faint and worn