Chinese Short Sword Excellent Gilded Blade 400-300 BC

A very early Chinese Warring States Period (c.400-300 BC) bronze sword. The hilt of tubular form with a well-defined flared pommel measuring approximately 1.6" in diamter. The 11/14" gilded blade with a strong medial ridge. Overall length 14.97" guard width 2.1".  The sword comes with a letter from the former collector and well known Gun Author and Winchester Museum Curator, Herb Houze. 

This sword belongs to a well-defined group known to have been made in China between C. 400 and 300 BC, examples of which are preserved in numerous museum collections. For similar examples see Max Loehr, "Chinese Bronze Age Weapons" (Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press), PP> 77, 196-197, 202,203, PL. XXXVII (No. 93), P. XXXVIII (No. 100).