Art of Fire and Iron Ming Seven Stars Jian- Sword Review
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Scott M. Rodell Reviews the Art of Fire & Iron’s Reproduction of a Ming Official’s Sword. Rodell takes a close look at fit and finish of the fittings and scabbard, the pattern welded blade, handling, and puts it to the test cutting sturdy bamboo stalks.
This Jian is available at: fire-and-iron....
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Time Codes
0:50 Specifications
1:38 List Price
2:15 Taking a look at the fittings
2:57 Hardwood Scabbard
3:25 the Pattern Welded Blade
3:55 How Sharp is the Blade?
4:15 It is Appropriately Sharp
5:26 As for the Balance...
5:56 Safety Lanyard
6:49 Test Cutting
7:19 Final Word
Thanks everyone for your continued support! If there is a sword you would like to see Rodell Laoshi review, please let us know...
I am hoping Fire and Iron will send in one of their Dao for review…
Can you please do a video on the Pudao that’s normally in the background?
@@oneless5342 Certainly, that one is in the cue...
How about some of the Jian from Swords of Northshire? Perhaps you can show which Jian would be the most practical as most oof their Chinese swords are wall hangers.
@@stanlim9182 Sounds good, would you mind forwarding this review the Northshire and inquiring if they would be interested in a review?
What a beautiful sword & review with tons of good info for straight sword newbies, thank you.
Thanks for the feedback. More coming...
Very very nice sword. Slicing through bamboo like that is really impressive.
Thank you 🙏
A very informative video - even for someone not currently interested in buying another jian. Thank you, Liaoshi
Thanks.
Thank you for the review!
No worries, thanks for watching & your support!
My pleasure. Hanwei sent me a Dadao for review…
thank you for the nice reviews. I've always wondered about the jkoo brand of swords. would Master Roddell be able to review something from there?
I would be happy to. May I ask a favor? Would you mind messaging jkoo and suggesting that to them? Maybe included a couple of these reviews? Companies get hit up for free swords all the time and they might not know of my reviews or cutting work.
thanks great review
Thanks, my pleasure. I hope to review a Fire and Iron Dao in the near future, good quality stuff.
Very nice...
Thanks, I am sure the folks at Fire and Iron will be pleased to hear that.
Nice !
Could you also do a review of Han Sword with concave blade from their site?
Great Review!
What's next?
Next up is historical piece, probably one focusing on Hudiedao...
7:11 good one🤣👍
We had a lot of fun with that bit... but Laoshi is very good with a sword, so for health and safety reasons I can't divulge specifics!😂
I recently began viewing your content and find it very informative, and exhilarating. I was wondering if Chinese swordsman ever engaged in combat with Japanese samurai, and if so were they able to hold their own against them? Did the myth of the Samurai being superior swordsman hold up, or was the Chinese swordsman just as fierce as the Samurai?
If you read up on the Imjin War, when the Japanese invaded Korea, you will find the record shows the Chinese driving the Japanese rapidly all the way back to Korean Peninsula. After which they staying in their fortresses for the mot part. The battle harden samurai invaders also lost battles to Korean peasants and monks turned guerrilla fighters. Draw what conclusions you will from that about samurai invincibility.
Honestly, I don't hold with the idea that there is a superior type of swordsmanship, Chinese, Japanese or other. There is the superior swordsman in the moment. And there are times when the more skilled loses to the swordsmanship of lesser skill for any number of reasons. This including that the lesser skilled swordsman has a trick or technique, or way of fighting that is different from anything his better has seen and he get caught off guard. Over confidence can also get out beat.
But to answer, yes, Japanese samurai and Chinese Jianke did cross blades many times throughout history. We have plans for a video on the topic, set in the Imjin Wars...
Plenty of documentation available, as some will note. It's useful to be bilingual as a lack of popularity, can sometimes render you with little English options.
The Japanese as you might know - are furiously disciplined in often very specific areas. Their arts and topically, swordsmanship, reflect this. Where the Samurai were often outdone - was in broader field tactics to which they were not familiar. As a caste of people raised from birth to be warriors in much of their traditional past; going toe to toe in their fields of expertise was rarely a good idea. Account for the reality that a large part of their force were not 'Samurai' as you visualize them - but foot/militia and associated companies as well.
What I find however is that people when asking this question; are commonly wanting to ask 'Katana vs Jian' . And this is of of course not correct. As the Katana is not a primary weapon. It is a side arm - focused on the speed of release, the draw. Hence in time entire arts focused on this alone. The art of the draw (from the Saya) is an entire discipline itself. Some are so effective at this, that they can cut pellets/projectiles travelling at incredible speed; right out of the air from the sheathed position. In matters of speed then; beware the disciplined Japanese. Who train this, to maximize the advantage. Because of the design, if you are in the proximity and not at the 'ready' yourself - you are unlikely to survive.
Yet as you see from Scott and his own demonstrations; Chinese swordsmanship and arms are not without merit. Especially within the realms of a well versed practitioner. What were the Samurai using on the field more commonly? The Bow and the Yari (Polearm). So you can imagine, as with Scott and some of his commentary on these topics/videos - it's hardly optimum to charge into a Pole with the Jian! Rather you do what you must, as opposed to always what you wanted!
All these variables hint at the idea that its very difficult to generalize. Chinese peasants were commonly forced to engage in skirmishes with Japanese raiders/pirates. The cross development and appreciation of long weapons such as the Nodachi in China during this time, caused both nations to examine each others tactics and adapt. So the Samurai aren't a 'myth'; in fact it serves you well to see them as formidable. As any skilled man or woman is regardless of geography. Better that then underestimate anyone.
The Sabre has distinct advantages. As does a two handed stance. Have you also cast the Katana against the so called 'god of duels' the Western Rapier however? It does not fare well.
In summary; once you account for individual; armor; weapon type; location' formation and a dozen other things - there is way too much to consider. The right tool for the right job and in the ideal terrain is not always on your side. Adaptation and an open mind, is going to signify 'best' long before your race, location or style alone will.
I've heard of a few swords being called a Seven-Star sword, is there any signifigance behind that name?
Dipper constellation
Seven Star here refer to the Northern Pitch Seven Star/ BeiDou (the name the Chinese GPS adopt) refer to north amount the Four Sign/direction , In Taoism, The Deity is call Yuen Wu, Dark Martial and hold a Jian, he is the Chinese war god, and controller of others death. Thus imply the holder also control others death.
I like the solid chunky brass. I was so disappointed to pick up my first lungchuan jian from Beijing imports back in 93 to discover fittings were soldered sheet brass 🤮. Still have the blade though with solid silver cast pommel and guard
There weren't many good jian available back then, we are fortunate that has turned around. No Qing era jian or dao had fittings made like those cheapo Longquan swords from back in the day. If you are looking for a Qing style jian, have a look at the Hanwei Cutting Jian.
@@mugenGRTC I'll make my own from now on with exception of fencing blades.
@@tbishop4961 Excellent.
reincarnation of Han dynasty sword.
so beautiful.
Nice! Where is the forge located?
I honestly don't know, but I'm guessing they are in Longquan. Seems most are.