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Post by LittleJP on Nov 6, 2010 6:05:14 GMT
Going to pay homage to my heritage, and get a quality item.
So, is there any suggestions?
I'd prefer single handed if possible, and hopefully under $500, though I'm willing to break it for an exceptional piece.
Right now, the Hanwei Qing Jian looks relatively attractive to me, any input?
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Post by Cold Napalm on Nov 6, 2010 6:25:23 GMT
Well I have heard nothing but good things about jin shi. Garret was a pretty active member of the old board (not sure if he came over to the new one) . jin-shi.com/spec_orders.htmThat has his list of special orders. The tang dynasty jian is on my list of swords to get still. |
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Post by LittleJP on Nov 6, 2010 6:32:20 GMT
No experience with the Hanwei Qing Jian?
Right now, Kult of Athena has a really good deal going on right now.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Nov 6, 2010 6:48:38 GMT
I saw the ming jian once...didn't think it worth the price. I mean it's not a BAD sword or anything...but for 600+ bucks I can get a whole lot more at zhi swords.
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Post by LittleJP on Nov 6, 2010 6:50:18 GMT
It's being offered for about 380 right now, very tempting, if I had the cash..
Anyway, anything from Zhi swords you'd recommend?
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Post by Cold Napalm on Nov 6, 2010 7:09:54 GMT
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Post by LittleJP on Nov 6, 2010 7:17:42 GMT
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Post by Opferous on Nov 6, 2010 9:31:05 GMT
I've never owned/handled the Hanwei Qi Jian, but Hanwei doesn't recommend cutting with any of their Chinese styled blades besides the Scott Rodell designed Cutting Jian.
As mentioned above, Jin Shi is a possibility. Also, with $500 limit, you could get a Huanuo Royal Peony Jian, available through Scott Rodell's Seven Stars Trading Co. If you drop in a bit more cash, you could also get the Arms & Armor Jian, which had a pretty positive review on GRTC.
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Post by MEversbergII on Nov 6, 2010 13:17:11 GMT
Can't go wrong with A&A.
M.
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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 6, 2010 16:27:20 GMT
you could pick up a great deal from Larlim on his Han Dynasty Jian... or, wait?- Nope, my mistake. Someone already got it...  :lol: Just teasing man  Besides, you're looking for a chinese sword on another level of price/manufacture anyway. |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Nov 6, 2010 16:36:38 GMT
With a 500$ limit, you could get any of the assorted Dynasty Forge Chinese swords; they may not be historically accurate (nut pommels instead of peened), but if you're like me and don't care overmuch about that, they're great looking swords. KoA has all five which include two liuyedao, a niuweidao, and two jian.
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Post by chrisperoni on Nov 7, 2010 3:29:09 GMT
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Post by Pogo4321 on Nov 7, 2010 6:32:12 GMT
Also take a look at Kris Cutlery. It looks like their folded steel jian is sold out right now but looks really nice. I just got one of their Gim II's and it's great--I plan to add at least 2 more KC jians (jian 3 and the folded when it's available again) to my collection.
I too am very interested in Hanwie's Qi jian. I'm also interested in Cold Steel's Jade Lion Gim.
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Post by Sir Tre on Nov 8, 2010 0:49:54 GMT
o recommend jin shi highly, but if you decide otherwide and still want hanwei, be advised the only jian that they recommend as a cutter is the rodell model.
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Post by LittleJP on Nov 8, 2010 1:11:27 GMT
I'm looking into Jin shi right now.
Their base production models look very attractive.
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Post by Sir Tre on Nov 8, 2010 15:19:57 GMT
yeah JP there are good, but he only has the xin jian, in factory seconds only, and then tha may only be one or two left... if he hasnt sold them in the last two months since i last emailed him. and the dadao is a mighty sword that he cut a pork roast with on youtube. the custom work is what he does now jin-shi.com/spec_orders.htm and if you contact him you will be able to get more info specific to what you want. he stands behind the product too. swordsage has a han jin from garrett and swears by it. now if you want a single edge han dao that has a ring pommel he has one listed in picture there. there is no pic of han jian, but he does those too. with a $500 budget you should probably even be able to get a folded or DH model. there is a wait time for him to order everything and get it customized, but the wait is worth it. i personally would like to get a new jian from him in the specs of the hanwei rodell cutting jian. i love garretts work i love the size of the rodell... so i want to get the best of both worlds. my production jian is 27" blade and the rodell is around 29 1/2" blade. as for the seconds jians production models, if i remember right, need new handles... wood work... as he said the ones he has left are cracked. so if you dont mind having to do a little woodwork, the blade is outstanding, light and fast. |
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Post by Anders on Nov 15, 2010 23:55:41 GMT
You know, even though I know A&A's reputation, for what they're asking for their jian I think I'd rather want something, well, prettier.
(Especially considering how good looking some of the other stuff in their sortiment is.)
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Post by Gundoggy on Nov 16, 2010 2:23:58 GMT
Garrett's swords are available with a historical clamshell geometry like the antiques. He and I had tested parrying his prototype sword from years ago (only slight clamshell) with Huanuo Royal Peony and the Hanwei Rodell cutting jian and the result was that the other swords received deep chips due to their flattened diamond geometry. Yes, the Rodell jian should have a clamshell but it's still very flat. The blades on some of Garrett's more recent sword have a very rounded clamshell geometry that will really protect the edge from nicks when parrying. Make sure you ask for it, or you may get just flat diamond shape blade.
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Post by LittleJP on Nov 16, 2010 2:30:49 GMT
Just since I'm not able to use it properly....on the fence on this one.
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Taran
Member
Posts: 2,621
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Post by Taran on Nov 23, 2010 23:34:39 GMT
Edit: The following list of companies is based on their Jian models and not their Daos. I don't know daos.
Coldsteel's Gim, Jade Lion Gim and Gim II are excellent swords. A tad on the beefy side for jians and all with diamond cross-sections, but excellent blades, nonetheless.
Hanwei makes some excellent forms and sparring pieces, but only the Rodell Cutting Jian for cutting. If your purpose is purely forms practice or sparring, go with them. If not, I'd recommend going elsewhere.
Zhi Swords and Dynasty Forge have had some serious issues in the recent past with quality control and customer service and are regularly accused of ripping off other companies' designs. However, they do have some nice stuff.
Jin Shi is hands down the best there is right now. He stopped his production line a while back, but you can still custom order the production models for little more than they cost when being run off in large(-r) numbers. And for the price of any other jian on the market, he can match and/or exceed quality and toss in some nice furniture besides.
Full recommendation for Jin Shi. But be patient. He often has a long wait. If you want a cutter "Right Now!" get a CS Gim or the Rodell Cutter.
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