A scarce Chinese two handed sword (wodao)

A scarce Chinese two handed sword (wodao), slightly curved single edged blade 39 in., the back with sloping sides until 1.75 in. from the point, where it is flat and provides reinforcement to the tip; oval iron guard with reinforced rim, long hilt with iron collar and pommel, grip loosely bound with rattan. Huang Fu Jiang illustrates a very similar sword and attributes it to the Ming Dynasty, describing it as an Imperial Guard Sword*.

* Huang Fu Jiang, 'Iron and Steel Swords of China', pp. 102-103. ISBN 978-7-5332-5358-5