Original Chinese 19th Century Short Sword with Scabbard

An antique Chinese short sword, or "Duan Jian," dating to the mid-nineteenth century, circa 1850. The sword features a straight, double-edged steel blade, a cast brass hilt with decorative engravings, and a wooden grip. It is housed in its original shagreen-covered scabbard with brass mounts. Dating to the late Qing Dynasty, this short sword represents traditional Chinese martial arms of the era. Swords of this size were carried by civilian guards, martial artists, and military officers for close combat defense. The shagreen (stingray skin) wrap on the scabbard shows natural shrinkage and age separation but remains largely intact. The cast brass mounts on the hilt and scabbard show a dark unpolished patina with traditional geometric carvings.