Shang Dynasty 3000 year old sword

[MermaidTreasureHunter]

We live in Okinawa, Japan, on the East China Sea. My husband and I were looking through the tide pools in front of our house one afternoon and I found a 14k white gold mens wedding band. I said, I want a metal detector for Christmas, Daddy. This was 2019. I received an Equinox 800 and headed into the back yard to see if there was anything to find. Our house was 5 years old at the time and I found rusty screws and nails and parts of cans. I got a signal that was strong and seemed to be surface so I pulled the grass away. I found what I thought was a semi flattened hose bib. I almost covered it up, but decided that I didn't want to keep finding it as I practiced with my new machine. As I pulled it out of the ground I noticed it had really cool detail and it just kept coming. Not a hose bib at all. It is a 32" sword. I was SO EXCITED. I posted it on a sword collectors site. I got a message right away from a guy who said he lived in our house before us and he is a sword collector. He bought the "replica" Shang Dynasty Sword from eBay for $300 or $400 and he buried it in the ground because he wanted to see what it would look like with Patina on it. What a day and what a find. It is in my top five most prized finds. I was so hooked that I have detected wherever I may be just about every day since.

 

[Wolf-Dog]

Nice write-up and nice find! Not everyday you find a sword - replica or not!

 

[jmaryt]

woot! woot! for sure! hmmmm!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[Princess]

That must have been an exhilarating recovery! The collector's idea of burying it to achieve a natural patina was a good one; and he must have been thrilled to see that you found it. Is there a significance behind the strange engraving on the handle, or was it just decorative?

Thanks for joining us!

 

[MermaidTreasureHunter]

That must have been an exhilarating recovery! The collector's idea of burying it to achieve a natural patina was a good one; and he must have been thrilled to see that you found it. Is there a significance behind the strange engraving on the handle, or was it just decorative?

Thanks for joining us!

I believe it was just decorative. Super fun find for sure.

 

[hoser]

Very cool indeed.

 

[Vlad]

Very unusual find!
Welcome to the forum!

 

[MermaidTreasureHunter]

That must have been an exhilarating recovery! The collector's idea of burying it to achieve a natural patina was a good one; and he must have been thrilled to see that you found it. Is there a significance behind the strange engraving on the handle, or was it just decorative?

Thanks for joining us!

I’m not really sure about the design. If you look up info on Zheng Dynasty, you may be able to learn more about it.

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Replica or not it’s a cool find.

 

[SS_Wonder]

I suggest selling it to the History Channel so that the laginas can “find” another sword on oak island.