Double handed steel swords of King Zhao Mo (137-124 BC)
STRIKING EAGLE (137-124 BC)
Striking Eagle
Striking Eagle is the longest (148 cm - 4' 10.26") double handed Chu Jian we craft. This is a sword for the sword master and appeals to discerning sword collectors looking to add one of the longest Chinese sword ever forged to their collection.
Striking Eagle is model after the design of 2,000+ year old Chu double hand swords excavated during the 1950-1980 from tombs dating back 315 - 221 BC of the ancient Kingdom of Chu. We adopt the length of the longest Jian ever excavated in China, discovered in 1983 from the tomb of King Zhao Mo (D. 122 BC).
The blade is agile and light for this extraordinary length and has a subtle mix of flex to absorb impact and rigidity for thrust and strike. A master's sword.
The hilt has an oval cross section profile for accurate edge alignment.
Blade
Sword only weight: approx. 1137 g (2 lb. 8.6 oz)
Blade length: 106.5 cm (42")
Handle length: 41.5 cm (16.3")
Total length: (148 cm - 4' 10.26")
Gradual tapering
Width at hand guard: 30 mm, Width at tip: 18 mm
Thickness: 7 mm - 2.5 mm at the tip
POB: approx. 12 cm (4.72") from hand guard
Blade Profile: 8 surfaces shallow groove
Steel
Folded pattern steel:
1065 carbon steel + T9 tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel.
1065 carbon steel
Element %
Carbon 0.55-0.660
Manganese 0.60-0.90
Phosphorus <=0.040
Sulfur <=0.050
T9 tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel.
Element %
Carbon 0.85-0.94
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
Superior heat treatment:
Hardness 54-55 HRC.
Blade rebounds to true after bending.
Cut bamboo with ease.
Hand polish to smooth soft shine and sword sharp edge.
Fittings
Industrial grade precision case brass fittings.
Striking Eagles fittings is a 1:1 replica of an ancient bronze fitting with a Raptor Beak hand guard, accenting the swift and powerful design of this sword.
Scabbard
Ancient Chu Style thin edge and slim scabbard in black.
Fit and finish
We perfected the fit and finish of our swords and the final assembly is meticulously performed by our senior craft masters. It takes a skill craftsman one whole working day to assemble our sword to a precision fit.
Sword dynamics GRAPH of a TYPICAL STRIKING EAGLE
Sword Dynamics is first conceived by Peter Johnsson to objectively record the dynamics properties of medieval swords he encountered.
To learn how to interpret the Sword Dynamics Graph, click here!
Sword Dynamics was implemented by applied mathematician Dr. Vincent Le Chevalier as a free Weapons Dynamics Computer.
To learn how to measure basic data for the Weapons Dynamics Computer click here!
Photo Gallery
HAN DYNASTY MURAL - SWORDSMAN WITH HIS LONG SWORD
國殤 Hymn to the Fallen
This famous Hymn was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Chu state, written during late Warring state period 300 BC-221 BC.
One of the verse in this ancient hymn mentioned the famous Chu long swords !
Warfare at the Warring state period was on chariots drawn by four horses and on foot. This hymn was one of the most vivid description of the warfare in the Warring state period.
Translated by David Hawkes, who says this
‘is surely one of the most beautiful laments
for fallen soldiers in any language.’
國殤 HYMN TO THE FALLEN
操吳戈兮被犀甲， 車錯轂兮短兵接。
Grasping our great shields and wearing our hide armor
Wheel-hub to wheel-hub locked, we battle hand to hand.
旌蔽日兮敵若雲， 矢交墜兮士爭先。
Our banners darken the sky; the enemy teem like clouds:
Through the hail of arrows the warriors press forward.
凌餘陣兮躐餘行， 左驂殪兮右刃傷。
They dash on our lines; they trample our ranks down.
The left horse has fallen, the right one is wounded.
霾兩輪兮縶四馬， 援玉枹兮擊鳴鼓。
The wheels are embedded, the foursome entangled:
Seize the jade drumstick and beat the sounding drum!
天時懟兮威靈怒， 嚴殺盡兮棄原野。
The time is against us: the gods are angry.
Now all lie dead, left on the field of battle.
出不入兮往不反， 平原忽兮路超遠。
They went out never more to return:
Far, far away they lie, on the level plain,
帶長劍兮挾秦弓， 首身離兮心不懲。
Their long swords at their belts, clasping their Qin bows,
Head from body sundered: but their hearts could not be vanquished.
誠既勇兮又以武， 終剛強兮不可凌。
Both truly brave and also truly noble;
Strong to the last, they could not be dishonored.
身既死兮神以靈， 魂魄毅兮爲鬼雄。
Their bodies may have died, but their souls are living:
Heroes among the shades their valiant souls will be.