LK CHEN TIGER FORK BETWEEN antiques

LK Chen present classic Tiger Fork based on Ming / Qing antiques.

Tiger Fork is a  battle weapon evolved from hunting and fishing tool.

There are no definite records of when forks were use as battlefield weapons.  In the novel hero of the Marsh. Two hunter brothers "Double Head Snake" Xie Zhen and "Twin Tail Scorpion" Xie Bo use tiger fork as their  hunting tools as well as using the fork on the battlefield.  This might shown forks were used a battle weapon as late as the Song and Yuan Dynasty.  A Ming Dynasty record mentioned "During the early days of the Ming empire, the weaponry production department made "Cavalry Fork"   This record shown that by the Ming Dynasty, forks were manufacture as standard military weapons in batches by the weaponry production workshop.

Most of the surviving fork today are 3 prongs forks with the central prong longer than the 2 side prongs.  Forks with width less than 30 cm are consider small forks.  Those close to or wider than 40 cm are classified as Large Fork.  Forks can be used on horseback as well as on foot.  Long forks were also used in naval warfare. Ming and Qing musketeers use the folks planted on the ground as a steady aiming frame. Forks also served as ceremonial weapons due to it grand stature.  

Specifications

Diamond shaped cross section with prominent spine made stiff and sturdy prongs, in the hand of a skillful owner, Tiger fork is a formidable offensive and defensive weapon.

Width: 39 cm (15.35")

Length: 60 cm (23.62")

Inner socket width  29.5mm

Weight: 1406 gram (3 lb)

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 54-55 HRC.