MIlitary cutting Dao (1900-1949)

In June 1933, during the Sino-Japanese War,  a saber manual titled 

"Practical Techniques for the Large Saber", 

authored by Jin ZnZhong, was published.

Examining our nation’s arts of pouncing saber, shaving saber, and dragging saber, I have now made a study of a dozen postures of practical large saber techniques. Within them, there is no solo set, no secrets, no branches, no styles, just “large saber techniques”. I have used none of the decorative prettiness of flowery postures, the sudden back and forth of solo sets, or any of the elegant structure of a series of phony poses. Selecting the intention of advancing directly to kill the enemy, I have made use of Japanese bayonet techniques – straight stab, sliding stab, downward stab – for the role of the imaginary opponents.

Here, we present 2 authentic recreations of such military sabers

Specifications 

Standard Edition (approx.)

Sword only weight:                  1096 g (2 lb 6.6 oz)

Total length:                             98 cm (38.58")

Blade length:                           69 cm  (27.16")

False Edge portion:                 18.5 cm (7.28") 

Handle length:                         26 cm  (10.23")

Blade width 

by guard:                                 4.8 cm  

by false edge:                         5.6 cm

Blade thickness 

by guard:                                 5mm

by false edge:                          2mm

Point of Balance                      11 cm (4.33")

Extended Double-Handed Edition (approx.)

Sword only weight:                  1603 g (3 lb 8.5 oz)

Total length:                             133 cm (52.36")

Blade length:                            95 cm  (37.4)

False edge portion:                 22.5 cm (8.85) 

Handle length:                         30 cm  (11.81)

Blade width 

by guard:                                 4.8 cm 

by false edge:                          5.6 cm  

Blade thickness 

by guard:                                 5mm

by false edge:                         2mm

Point of Balance                     17 cm (6.69")

Blade profile

Simple triangular wedge shape with unsharpened false edge

2 fuller on each side of the blade   

Handle Wrap

Recreate the original 2-layer hemp string wrapping

Fine hemp string at the inner layer 

and a more gripping hemp string at the outer layer

Hand Guard and scabbard fittings

Stainless steel

Hand guard has a characteristic reverse S shape with a bamboo notch decoration

Scabbard steel fittings faithfully recreate the original design from antiques

Scabbard  option

Rosewood for Premium edition

White beech for Standard edition

Steel  

GB 60Si2MnA 

High Carbon Manganese Spring Steel (Compare to AISI/SAE 5160 spring steel) 

Element %       60Si2MnA    AISI/SAE 5160 

Carbon            0.56-0.64      0.56-0.61

Silicon              1.60-2.00       0.15-0.35

Manganese     0.60-0.90      0.75-1.00

Phosphorus     <=0.030        <=0.035

Sulfur               <=0.030        <=0.040

Chromium       <=0.35          0.70-0.90

Nickel               <=0.35          <=0.25

Superior heat treatment:  Hardness 56-58 HRC. 

Medium to Low firing and through quenching for hardness