ANTIQUE WO YAO DAO - LATE MING DYNASTY

Wo Yao Dao (Japanese style waist saber) is a single handed saber.  It has a slender profile, with an accelerated curve towards the tip, which is typical for Ming to early Qing sabers. It has a ridged cross-section, much in the style of Japanese swords but without the kissaki that is so characteristic for Japanese work. 

Since the Song Dynasty, the quality of Japanese swords was well received and the Ming government set up import trade agreement with Japanese feudal lords of the sword production areas in Japan.  Between the 115 years from 1432 to 1547,  there were 11 official sword import contracts and many unaccountable smuggling of Japanese swords via Macao.  The number of Japanese swords imported were number over 200,000.  These Japanese swords were often made to Chinese specifications to adapt to single handed use and the imported swords are of various qualities and not all were heirloom quality.

With the abundance of Japanese imports as inspiration, Chinese sword makers craft swords with Japanese influence and with Chinese forging techniques, the results were often blades with equivalent quality of the imports with the added benefits of local repair and restoration if needed.

This Wo Yao Dao is closely based on an antique Late Ming Dynasty Yao Dao in the fame Mandarin Mansion Collection.

Specifications 

Sword only weight:  approx. 900 g   (2 lb.)

Blade length approx.          77.3 cm  (30.43")

Handle length approx.        17.34 cm   (6.83")

Total length  approx.           94.0 cm  (37.00")

POB from hilt:                      14 cm  (5.51")

Blade thickness  

at base:                   7.0 mm  

mid-point:                4.7 mm

near tip:                   3.0 mm  

Blade width 

at base:                   30.0 mm  

mid-point:                26.5 mm

near tip:                   22.0 mm  

Steel Option 1

Labor intensive classic forging embed steel.

Folded pattern steel (1060 & T9) embed T10 core.

Steel option 2

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 3

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. 

Through spring tempering with oil quenching. 
Pommel secured by peening.

Scabbard

High quality white wood scabbard wrapping with "vegan" black ray skin  

"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

Scabbard fittings  -  iron

Military Green cotton 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.