Chinese Maritime Customs sword. The hilt is gilt, with a solid half basket guard with raised bars and in the oval, a foul anchor with a Chinese dragon superimposed upon it; folding flap has a small hole and slightly longer quillion than is usual, up-turned and with a disc terminal. The guard is pierced by a slit near the pommel and by two small holes forward of the shoulder. The lion's head pommel and back-piece has a mane extending all the way up to the evenly striated ferrule; very prominent, near the spherical tang button. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires.

The blade is slightly curved, flat-back with a single broad fuller running from the 1.3 inch deep shoulder to within 10 inches of the even point. The false edge is about 9 inches long. The blade is engraved, on a frosted ground, for rather more than half its length. On the obverse the engravings are, at the shoulder, with in the Shield of David, the brass proof marking bear 'PROOVED'; twin ropes and oak wreaths entwined; a blank space for the owner's name; oak wreaths and twin ropes; a foul anchor and dragon (as on the guard); oak wreaths and twin ropes terminating in a cluster of acorns. On the reverse at the shoulder 'J R GAUNT & SON LIMITED, LATE EDWARD THURKLE, 53 CONDUIT STREET, LONDON W' is engraved; entwined oak wreaths and twin ropes; circular device of 'Yang' and 'Yin'; twin ropes and oak wreaths terminating in a cluster of acorns. The scabbard is missing.

This sword is yet another example of the work done by British cutlers for foreign navies where those navies have adopted the British style. In most respects, this sword resembles the contemporary British weapon. The blade decoration is similar to work done in both this country and Germany during the first quarter of this century.

The dragon on the anchor suggests Chinese and the Yan Yin device is Chinese in origin. It is said to date back to the philishoper Chu Hsi (1130 - 1200) and perhaps to his synthesis of Confucian and Buddhist beliefs. At any rate, it has a religious significance which began in China but which became known outside that country. In particular, the device was adopted many years ago by the Korean Empire (and is still used by the Republic of Korea today). As Korea effectively disappeared as an independant state in 1910 when it was annexed by Japan it is hardly conceivable that any Korean navy remained in existance except perhaps as a coastal force under Japanese orders. If the sword is Chinese, it could belong to the last days of the Empire, to the Republic of Sun Yet-Sen or to the regime of Yuan Shih-K'ia.