Antique 18th- 19th Century Chinese Or Vietnamese Trident Polearm Halberd Spear

Antique,18th -19th century, Chinese or Vietnamese, large combat polearm, halberd, trident, spear.

The massive trident is made of hand-forged iron with a visible forged structure of layered lamination. It consists of two elements: a sturdy central tapered spear-shaped blade of diamond cross-section and a crescentic cross blade with recurved terminals.

The crescentic cross blade is engraved on both sides with scrolled decorations.

The long, stout tang with a faceted block is fitted to the original red lacquered bamboo pole (shortened) with a large, ribbed bronze ferrule.

These types of tridents with identical forms were used in China and Vietnam. Thus, in many sources, this type of trident is described as a Vietnamese trident and, in others, as a Chinese trident. Sometimes even experts cannot recognize where a given trident comes from, from China or Vietnam.

MEASUREMENTS:

The overall length, including pole: 135 cm. (53.15 in).

The overall length of the iron head, including tang: 55.7 cm. (21.93 inches).

The overall length of the iron head, including faceted block: 41.5 cm (16.34 inches)

The overall length of the cross blade: 29.5 cm (11.61 inches).

CONDITION: It shows age and use, iron head with minor slight pitting, pool cut down, red lacquer slightly worn, however, in good condition considering its age.