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dadao
Nov 8, 2013 19:54:36 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 8, 2013 19:54:36 GMT
i began gaining an interest for dadaon just recently and while i was searching for information i stumbled accross this site which explains the history of the dadao and also show examples with specs of antique dadao. chinesemartialstudies.com/2012/11/26/693/what i found is very nice and surprising since i thought those big chopper would be heavy and cumbersome while also being magnificent cutter because of their blade heavy presence, there were light dadao that actually tapered and heavy ones that did not. i think it's very interesting and now it made me want one... but since i can't buy anything yet i'll just discuss it with yu guys and broaden my knowledge about swords (need more knowledge! japanese swords and medieval swords are not enough to satisfy that hunger!!! :lol: ) anyway, i read a dadao review on the main SBG website and wanted to know more about the different companies that makes them, of course if i were to buy one it would be for martial art practice and cutting so it must not be a whippy blade but still fairly lightweight with a good balance... is there anything like this on sale somewhere? hanwei doesn't seem to be bad but i want to know what is on sale around (i found enlightenment swords are making them so i asked about specs and price). |
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dadao
Nov 8, 2013 20:37:16 GMT
Post by Timo Nieminen on Nov 8, 2013 20:37:16 GMT
Specs of 3 dadao from "Iron and Steel Swords of China": Weight Length Blade 1500g 97cm 65cm 1250g 72cm 46cm 1250g 86cm 59cm The enlightenment swords ones look good (but not lightweight), the Hanwei ones look good. ZhiSword does some, but they're heavy (over 2kg if the specs are correct). Kris Cutlery does one, but it's really ugly. The Cold Steel one looks good, but not lightweight (about 3lbs). The Hanwei Warlord Dadao looks like it meets your needs, and is available and cheap: kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=PC1012 |
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dadao
Nov 8, 2013 20:46:37 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 8, 2013 20:46:37 GMT
i saw it, it's really nice the only think i don't like is the cording (would prefer a leather handle but i think it won't happen ^_^'
plus i'd like a shorter handle and longer blade, the specs of the closer blade is about:
Total Length:31''
Blade Length:22''
Handle:6.3''
Blade Depth:2.36 ''
Width at Spine:7 mm
Weight:2.06 lbs
Point of Balance:5.5'' ahead of the base of the blade.
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dadao
Nov 8, 2013 21:47:34 GMT
Post by justin520 on Nov 8, 2013 21:47:34 GMT
Hanweis is pretty standard paramilitary style, something farmers who just went out fighting would use. The red chord is accurate historically as well but I don't know if that's your aim.
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dadao
Nov 9, 2013 4:53:52 GMT
Post by Lord Cobol on Nov 9, 2013 4:53:52 GMT
If you don't find a stock one you like, sinosword could wip you up a custom. There are at least 3 examples of their past dadaos on their old web sites.
(Their current site has a link to an old site which has a link to an even older one)
As custom orders go, I imagine it would be pretty easy to say "do like that one you did before, with just this little change".
If you want short leather handle I guess you wouldn't like the Condor dadao/machete, but at least it is affordable.
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dadao
Nov 14, 2013 17:30:37 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 14, 2013 17:30:37 GMT
something is bugging me about advertised weight of two dadao... the condor one is advertised as being about 3 lb (a little over) and the hanwei military dao to be 2 lb 15 oz, i wouldhavethought the military dao to be heavier because of the guard, wrapping and lenght of blade but it is still lighter (even for 1-2 oz) than the condor despite the blade thickness... i don't really understand :lol:
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dadao
Nov 14, 2013 19:11:07 GMT
Post by Timo Nieminen on Nov 14, 2013 19:11:07 GMT
The Condor doesn't have enough taper in thickness. That is, it's tapered less than historical dadao usually are. The Hanwei ones have closer-to-historical taper in thickeness.
That taper takes of a lot of weight. The Condor probably also has a heavier tang.
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dadao
Nov 14, 2013 20:47:11 GMT
Post by Lord Cobol on Nov 14, 2013 20:47:11 GMT
Yes, I think taper has a lot to do with it. And the Condor tang isn't light. I also *guess* there is enough difference between samples of the same model so it isn't worth getting excited over differences of 4 or 5 oz in the official specs.
For those who haven't tracked down the Condor dadao specs.....
KOA says "Weight: 3 lb 0.9 oz", but I think they mean 3 lb 9 oz, because who measures swords to the 10th of an ounce?
Condor says "3.40 Lbs", but I think they mean 4/10, not 4 oz, so call it 3 lb 6.4 oz, so about 2.6 oz lighter than KoA.
Thickness: Condor says 6mm; KoA says "5.7 mm - 4 mm"
I haven't weighed my Condor (no decent scales at home) but my blade measures thinner & slightly more tapered than KoA's, so I guess mine might come in lighter too.
Then KoA shows their Hanwei Warlord even thinner than my Condor "5 mm - 2.2 mm"; it it makes sense that it would be lighter.
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dadao
Nov 14, 2013 23:06:13 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 14, 2013 23:06:13 GMT
what i mean't wasn't the warlord dadao but the military one (it has a 1cm thick spine at base and tapers drasticly to 3.5mm) like in greg's review.( viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2048 ) normally it would have been heavier than the condor one with all the thickness and guard on it. unless the weight o the military dao wasn't true i don't see why the condor is heavier... the only thing i could see is that the blade would be wider than the HMD. like you said it isn't worth getting excited on the small difference but i'm just curious about it... maybe i'm just too into needless questions :lol: |
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dadao
Nov 15, 2013 4:50:19 GMT
Post by Lord Cobol on Nov 15, 2013 4:50:19 GMT
It looks to me (from the pics in the review you linked) like the Warlord Dadao is a "flat grind", V-shape getting steadily thinner from back to edge. My Condor has a convex edge and doesn't get much thinner until closer to the edge. So now I guess at least as much extra weight is lurking along the relatively thick centerline of the blade as can be explained by lack of taper, with tang/handle even less important.
And the Hanwei Military might not be the weight you expect. I just checked 5 sites and found one site saying 2lb 15oz, one at 2lb 12oz, and three at 2lb 7oz. I *guess* 2.7 is the official spec and those sites didn't weigh anything themselves (?). That puts it within spitting distance of the Warlord dadao.
FWIW, one old Sinosword custom dadao is listed at 1370g, 30cm handle & 70cm blade. Call it about 3lb, 11.8" handle & 27.5" blade. They say "axe edge", which I think means convex, but I think it may be hybrid - mostly v-shape and convex only near the edge. If it had the same profile as the condor that long blade should be heavier.
Anyway, they can certainly make a longer blade than the Hanwei or Condor, if that is what you want.
Before I ordered my Condor I was a little worried that it might be too heavy, but now I think it is fine. If I ever buy a 2nd dadao, I'd be just as likely to go heavy like Sinosword or Cold Steel, instead of light like Hanwei.
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dadao
Nov 15, 2013 15:29:01 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 15, 2013 15:29:01 GMT
thanks, it makes sense (forgot about those details ^^' )
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dadao
Nov 17, 2013 5:25:13 GMT
Post by etiennehamel on Nov 17, 2013 5:25:13 GMT
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dadao
Mar 26, 2014 6:29:32 GMT
Post by thana357 on Mar 26, 2014 6:29:32 GMT
I have both of them and put them through their paces at Nor Cal Sword meet at Razor's house .The DK605 has thick heavy blade that went through Rolled up mats, Plastic Bottles , and pumpkins with not even a scratch .The DK511 did not make it pass half dozen bottles before the edge rolled and chipped. Zhi swords already warned me when I order both with extra sharpening service ($40 extra hand sharp ) that this two are medium hard steel not meaning for cutting like their katana . The DK605 still going strong and it is my favorite .
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dadao
Mar 29, 2014 9:08:07 GMT
Post by Turok on Mar 29, 2014 9:08:07 GMT
whoa! Haven't heard from you in a long time thana357! Get any new dadaos lately :lol:
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dadao
Apr 10, 2014 4:38:47 GMT
Post by thana357 on Apr 10, 2014 4:38:47 GMT
Yes , it had been a while .The only new Da dao I get was Condor Dynasty Da Dao .It is awsome blade but it sure take them long to ship it to me (eight months after I placed the order ) . I want to get the Zombie tool version but the four pounds and $400 price tag worry me
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