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Message:: [QUOTE="Choucas, post: 7272126, member: 100117"]Another unusual shape that has not been posted yet, even though it is quite commonly seen. Those are often called "Ming" knives, but also "Yi" knives. They were made in ancient China, by the Yan kingdom during the warring states period, between the fourth and third century. The obverse character meaning is debated but the Yi reading seems to be the most prevalent, as it was the capital of this kingdom. There is a large variety of reverse characters and combination, but their meaning remain unsure, some are even undeciphered. Notice that the first one has a bent spade, compared to the other one that is straight, indicating it is an earlier type.[ATTACH=full]1275209[/ATTACH]Obv.: 易 (Yi)Rev. : 左 (Zuo = left)136mm /18,45g. [ATTACH=full]1275210[/ATTACH]Obv. : 易 (Yi )Rev. : 中昌二 (Zhong Chang Er)140mm /  15,8g.[/QUOTE]