Great pair of Chinese short swords (aka Butterfly pair, aka double swords) without scabbard. These were intended to sit side-by-side (back-to-back) in a common single scabbard. By design, the backsides of the hilts are flat.
These swords are believed to date from the period of the Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901 and perhaps earlier. Heavy, wide blades, ~17-3/8" in length; ~2-1/2" wide and ~1/4" thick at the ricasso. Brass D-guards with forward swept upper quillons; wood grips carved with decorations in Chinese fashion on the front, flat on the backsides without decorations. Average overall length is ~22-1/4".