Vietnamese Ceremonial Guom

With the colonizing by the French in 1802, the European influence on Vietnamese weapons began. The typical D-shaped guards and lion head pommels were slowly introduced during the beginning of the 19th century ending up in a mixture of French influence, but with eastetic pleasing Asian features such as silver and mother of pearl inlays and the use of precious sorts of wood.

Most of these sabres were used by high ranked palace guards and other dignitaries during traditional Mandarin inspired traditions. High rank officers carried special parade sabers finely decorated with mother of pearl or silver and copper inlays with silver fittings. The hilts were often made of ivory, molar tooth, horn or brass and pommels of silver or silvered bronze.
The blades were purely made for ceremony, sometimes even made of brass, occasionally we encounter real functional saber blades with floral engravings and sometimes even with French imported blades.

A Mandarin surrounded by his guards. (Source Vo Quan Nguyen Committee)

A Vietnamese officer carrying a ‘Guom’ during a ceremony – 19th century.

A Chief of the Royal Guard with a guard holding a ‘Guom’

This example:

A fine example with a combination of good quality silver fittings and silver and coper alloy inlay. An actual strong blade and fine hilt. Brass knuckle bow with silver and brass inlays and silver lionhead pommel.

The blade:
European in style with a shallow fuller on both sides. Entirely nickel plated and slightly curved towards the tip. The spine is flat and narrows down towards the tip. The blade shows hand engraved floral decorations on the forte and is only sharpened near the tip.

The scabbard:

A good example of fine quality silver and copper inlay combined with high quality silver fittings. The silver fittings are embossed by hand and depict dragons and floral motives with in the centerpiece a variation of a rising phoenix. The silver and brass inlay is very well done, with quality cut pieces depicting floral vines accompanied by butterflies in true inlay.