qi JA YAo DAO 戚家腰刀 - Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD)

Qi-Ja Yao Dao (General Qi's waist saber) is a single handed military saber. The blade has a gentle curve, a single fuller and a flat back ridge.   Most saber fittings of this era were made of iron with solid and austere aesthetics. 

This Yao Dao is is closely modeled after an antique Ming Dynasty Yao Dao in LK Chen's private collection.  

In General Qi JiGuang's (1528-1588) treatise "Practical Guide for Military Training" he stated:  "To forge a good Yao Dao,  iron needs to be folded many times to improve it's quality, the edge needs to be of hard steel.  The blade needs to be polish with smooth profile, the tip needs to be sharp ...."

During General Qi tenure in the northern frontier against Mongolian invasion,

General Qi specified the type and number of weapons:

For a cavalry unit of 2992 men, 

Single handed Yao Dao        1152, 

Bow                                        1152,

Double handed Chang Dao  432,

Spear and Staff                     432,

Large Forks                            432

For an infantry unit of 2699 men, 

Double handed Chang Dao  1080,

Single handed Yao Dao         216, 

Rattan Shield                          216,

Long bamboo Wolf Spear     216,

Long Spear                             216,

Bow                                         216

Yao Dao was the sidearm for the riders in the cavalry.  

For infantry units, Yao Dao was used in pair with a rattan shield.

Specifications 

Sword only weight:  approx. 800 g   (1 lb. 14 oz)

Blade length approx.          69.6 cm  (27.4")

Handle length approx.        17.34 cm   (6.83")

Total length  approx.           89 cm    (35")

Point of Balance                  12.0 cm (4.7")

Blade thickness  

at base approx.:                   6.5 mm  

4 cm from tip approx.:         3.3 mm  

Blade width 

at base approx. :                   34 mm  

6 cm from tip approx.:         25 mm  

Steel option 1

Folded pattern steel: 

1060 carbon steel + T8 tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel

1060 carbon steel

Element % 

Carbon            0.55-0.660    

Manganese     0.60-0.90           

Phosphorus     <=0.040         

Sulfur               <=0.050 

T8 tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel

Element %                      

Carbon            0.75-0.84

Silicon              <=0.35           

Manganese     <=0.40           

Phosphorus     <=0.035         

Sulfur               <=0.030

Tungsten         <= 0.30

Vanadium       <= 0.02        

Chromium       <=0.25           

Nickel               <=0.20 

Copper            <=0.25

Molybdenum  <= 0.20

Steel option 2

GB 60Si2MnA High Carbon Manganese Steel 

(Compare to AISI/SAE 5160 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 50-53 HRC.
Pommel secured by peening.

Scabbard

High quality white wood scabbard wrapping with "vegan" brown grain leather  

"Fang Shi (Square style)" Iron Fittings

** In Ming and Qing  Dynasty, military Dao use Iron as the hand guard material

instead of brass, a softer metal. **

Hand guard, handle ferrule and pommel - Iron metallic 

Scabbard fittings  - Iron metallic 

Yellow cord wrapped handle and wrist cord.  

Fit and finish

We perfected the fit and finish of our swords and the assembly is meticulously performed by our senior craft masters.  It takes one whole working day for a craftsman to assemble our swords.