Hook swords

[fearn]

Hi Vandoo,

I knew someone out there had a set. As for the rooster knives of baguazhang, so far as I know, they were first used by Liang Zhen Pu, the youngest disciple of Dong Hai Chuan, the system's founder.

One charming thing about the founder and first generation of bagua practitioners, almost all of them had unique weapons that were their signatures. Some were used by prior warriors, some were invented or adapted by these guys.

Bottom line for this thread is that the tiger double hooks are sort of the normal form of this weapon, and the more exotic variations tend to be the personal weapons of noted martial artists.

Fun pattern, isn't it?

F

For those who are interested, here is the list I have of first generation bagua artists and their personal weapons. The ones starred appear to be unique to bagua, at least originally.

Dong Hai Chuan (founder): deer horn knives*

Yin fu: emei/bagua needles (underwater weapon. 20 cm double-ended needles with a ring on a pivot, to slip onto your fingers)

Cheng Ting Hua: elbow knives (paired forearm length knives. Supposedly these are a soldier's weapon, but I've never seen them outside of bagua. They aren't hudiedao)

Li Cun Yi: Bagua dao (this is the double-sized willow-leaf dao that Cold Steel and other companies are selling. I think it was a weapon of the Imperial Court before bagua came along).

Zhang Zhao Dong: Bullwhip (shades of Indiana Jones--this art was never passed on to his students).

Liang Zhen Pu: Rooster knives* aka ji zhua yin ran rui

[M ELEY]

www.sevenstarstrading.com

Scott Rodell's catalogs are great and occasionally have some of those awsome hooks. His site has one for sale right now, but I didn't post a direct link as I didn't want to breal any forum rules. I'd like to see more of these posted, if anyone else wants to share (Barry, that is too cool that you have a set of these!) I've always wanted one. Maybe some day...

[Gavin Nugent]

Gone for 2 nights and a day and look what I come back too.....

Excellent, thanks.

Gav

[VANDOO]

MY EXAMPLE IS 39 INCHES LONG AND HAS EDGES FRONT AND BACK ON ALL STRIKING SURFACES. THE EDGES ARE NOT RAZOR SHARP BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY ENOUGH OF AN EDGE TO CUT AND BREAK BONES WITH A GOOD STRIKE. NOTE THE HOOKED TIP IS DESIGNED TO STRIKE AND PENETRATE A TARGET AND THEN HOOK INSIDE.
HERE ARE SOME MORE VARIATIONS, THE MAN HAS THE CHICKEN CLAW WEAPONS.

[DaveA]

Greetings all,

I am also fascinated by the hook swords and other weapons of complex design where function is sometimes hard to discern. I recently won the pair shown in this picture at auction, identified as “Hu Tou Gou” Chinese Hook Swords. Each one has overall length of 37 inches. I will post more pictures after I receive them.

Dave A

[David R]

There's a couple in Leeds (UK) royal armouries.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Greetings all,

I am also fascinated by the hook swords and other weapons of complex design where function is sometimes hard to discern. I recently won the pair shown in this picture at auction, identified as “Hu Tou Gou” Chinese Hook Swords. Each one has overall length of 37 inches. I will post more pictures after I receive them.

Dave A

Hi Dave,
Those look like an interesting pair. I look forward to you sharing them with the group. I would be very curious to learn more about the specifications of them like their weight, flexibility or lack of it, and if any sections are sharpened?