Be ware of those cylindrical hilt

Damn - that is horrible.

Was Jin Shi's Han Jian empty handled like this?

I don't remember Swordsage saying anything about it in his review, and when I looked for his review I could not find any reviews in the review index, what happened to the index?

Anyone with a round handled jian that is not a large void like this?

I always suspected these swords were made like that, sorry to see that it's true, which is a shame because some of the baldes on those types of swords are really nice.

Are you going to contact the makers again about the issue or are you going to find a way to fix it yourself?

my han jian is like this as well. It wasn't a half pint of epoxy Chuck , but yup, I did have to use a lot to fill the grip core up when I put it back together.

They offer no option to redeem their faults.

So I'm just gonna let my local sword-smith friend to fix it up as simple as possible and use the sword as solo drills only. Sigh....

Not only yours. Every Han Jian from China, especially Lung Chuan, is like that. As long as you see the same model, same type, same kind, it's hollow.

I'm certain that Garret at Jinshi has Han Dynasty Jian forged with a wider, more historically correct tang. They are designed to be users, able to cut tatami or bamboo. Or even rolled-up newspapers, like Lancelot does.

The rounded grip is one thing... but the thin tang and round hollow down the wooden grip is ridiculous (and for proper technique and controllable edge-alignment, it really sucks). The ratio from blade width to tang width is insane. It's really only a wall hanger, my friend. I'm amazed that you could cut pork legs with one!

I have a Zhi Swords version. Not intended for cutting anything tougher than plastic water jugs. Jinshi's Han and Tang chang-jian look incredibly good from the pics, especially the steel. The Han Jian is a handsome sword.

Let's face it, since Chris Zhou of Zheng Wu Forge resurrected this ancient design, it was largely unknown outside of scholarly circles and martial historians. In the Western world, it was hardly known of. Now it is available from extremely poorly made-to-average production grade-to excellent degrees of seasoned swordsmithing. It's good to know a reliable one for test cutting is being marketed by a practicing martial artist.

www.jin-shi.com/jian.html

Although, I like the way the Tang Jian handles better, especially for cutting. I have a Sino Sword Tang Jian. It cuts tatami and bamboo very well. The tang is fairly wide, after recent inspection. This assuredly instills a bit more confidence in using them for cutting practice.

www1.sinosword.com/ProductShow/? ... onal-Sword

I much prefer the "ace of spades" design for their aesthetics, their noble beauty. Jinshi makes a few variants of Qing era Chang-jian too, and they are quite good looking. I am partial to the late Qing Dynasty "Ace of spades" Chang-jian. The steel is apparently very good and the grip is shaped as an elongated ovoid. An extension of the classic jian grip.

s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad37 ... =slideshow

I'd guess the grip is made of 2 pieces of wood, tightly housing the tang? I've heard nothing but good things about Garrett's company. Anyone here own one or at least, the single handed jian from Jinshi? Sir Tre has one, so maybe he will chime in?

"Hey Tracy, how do you like yours?"

Sure, go ahead please.

www.lqbj.com

I knew their products are the same with many others, like Zhiswords. I have friends who purchased a Miao Dao from Zhisword and the Miao Dao had the same fragile edge as mine, that rolled after cutting plastic water bottles. Mine was purchased through lqbj.com. My friend, eventually, returned the sword to Zhisword for another model.

So one can expect the same thing occurs all across the board for Lung Chuan forges. I have received information from another forge to confirm me that my guess was true on all cylindrical hilts being hollow.