Ming Jian

Amuk Murugul · 3rd June 2009, 05:35 AM

Hullo everybody,

Thanks Josh!

Best,

Gavin Nugent · 3rd June 2009, 10:31 AM

Congrats Josh,

Superb piece and a great length.
It seems in quality so akin to some of the finest japanese swords and it is certainly something that is rarely seen.

All the best and thanks for sharing.

Gav

G. McCormack · 3rd June 2009, 03:46 PM

Fascinating! Do you have the weight? Any pics of the tang?

Lee · 3rd June 2009, 05:41 PM

Very nice. I have always found these earlier blades that have been remounted for a much later working life to be most interesting and it is always a thrill when such a sleeper is discovered. A favorite example of mine is in the Schweizerischen Landesmuseum (Zurich, IN6986) where a 7th - 8th century pattern-welded blade has been fitted with a c. 1510 katzbalger hilt!

josh stout · 4th June 2009, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the congratulations. Unfortunately there is no easy way to get a handle off a Chinese sword without some damage so the tang will remain hidden. From memory, the weight is about 800g.

Before I knew what it was, it was my regular practice sword and a pleasure to work with. It is fast but with a balance far enough up the blade to make it feel substantial on the cuts. I first thought it was a modern mono-steel copy because I couldn’t see any lines and someone had put it on a buffer. I cleaned it a bit and noticed a very faint temper line, and it felt so good in the hand, lively, with literally a "good vibration" that I thought it was worth keeping around. Usually it is the look that attracts me to a sword, but in this case it was as much the feel of it. So I put it in the corner as a practice weapon, and brought it to Timonium as an afterthought. It looked lonely in the corner, and I thought the unusually slim blade might be of interest because of its similarities to Vietnamese things.

I can’t wait to see it in person with a full polish.
Josh

fearn · 4th June 2009, 05:50 PM

Hi Josh,

Neat blade. My teacher had a 100-year old jian that had a similar "good feel," and he used it as a practice blade. I hope that when you get this one back, you will continue to practice with it. It's a beauty.

Best,

F

3rd June 2009, 10:31 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Superb Josh Congrats Josh, Superb piece and a great length. It seems in quality so akin to some of the finest japanese swords and it is certainly something that is rarely seen. All the best and thanks for sharing. Gav

3rd June 2009, 05:41 PM	#4
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Nice! Very nice. I have always found these earlier blades that have been remounted for a much later working life to be most interesting and it is always a thrill when such a sleeper is discovered. A favorite example of mine is in the Schweizerischen Landesmuseum (Zurich, IN6986) where a 7th - 8th century pattern-welded blade has been fitted with a c. 1510 katzbalger hilt!

3rd June 2009, 05:35 AM	#1
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 472	Hullo everybody, Thanks Josh! Best,

3rd June 2009, 03:46 PM	#3
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	Fascinating! Do you have the weight? Any pics of the tang?

4th June 2009, 01:51 PM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Thanks for the congratulations. Unfortunately there is no easy way to get a handle off a Chinese sword without some damage so the tang will remain hidden. From memory, the weight is about 800g. Before I knew what it was, it was my regular practice sword and a pleasure to work with. It is fast but with a balance far enough up the blade to make it feel substantial on the cuts. I first thought it was a modern mono-steel copy because I couldn’t see any lines and someone had put it on a buffer. I cleaned it a bit and noticed a very faint temper line, and it felt so good in the hand, lively, with literally a "good vibration" that I thought it was worth keeping around. Usually it is the look that attracts me to a sword, but in this case it was as much the feel of it. So I put it in the corner as a practice weapon, and brought it to Timonium as an afterthought. It looked lonely in the corner, and I thought the unusually slim blade might be of interest because of its similarities to Vietnamese things. I can’t wait to see it in person with a full polish. Josh

4th June 2009, 05:50 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Josh, Neat blade. My teacher had a 100-year old jian that had a similar "good feel," and he used it as a practice blade. I hope that when you get this one back, you will continue to practice with it. It's a beauty. Best, F