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Post by pete on Feb 23, 2017 1:23:04 GMT
Hello,
I recently finished a Years worth of sword training and wanted to buy a Chinese sword to practice forms and keep on display. The forge direct golden dragon feathersteel looks amazing but I can't find any reviews. I'm curious about the center of balance as well. It is a great deal of money but I'm thinking to purchase something that will last a lifetime. I've always wanted to learn straight sword since my teenage years and only now have been able to learn. Is the forge direct really that much better than a sword you can buy for 500$? I'm also kinda looking for someone to talk me out of buying it. I have the affliction. Lol
Any advice is much appreciated.
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,714
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Post by stormmaster on Feb 23, 2017 4:55:01 GMT
you should expect the fittings to be tight and everything to be very well made for that price, if not i would refund
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Post by pellius on Feb 23, 2017 18:43:11 GMT
Just mtc: Those who know tell me a functioning jian should weigh up to around 2.5 pounds.
3.52 pounds is prolly way too heavy for jian work. It would be a beautiful piece, and nice to have, but I wouldn't count on it being your regular weapon.
Of course I could be wrong
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Post by pellius on Feb 23, 2017 19:05:28 GMT
Im kinda partial to this one: sevenstarstrading.com/site/longquan-dragon-chinese-sword/It's not nearly as fancy, but it's still pretty nice. Scott Rodell vouches for it as a functioning live weapon in his traditional CMA style, if that carries any weight with you. The SST site has changed the description a few times, first claiming the sword to be 3 plate (sanmei), then simply "Damascus," and now sanmei/3 plate Damascus. I can't see the plate border welds in the photo, but I would trust SST not to outright lie about such things. If you're interested, maybe contact Mr. Rodell. He is very friendly and generous with information. Again, I'm more of a CMA saber guy, so keep that in mind. As always, I can confidently recommend consulting with your Sifu/Shifu/instructor. Cheers. |
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Post by pete on Feb 23, 2017 23:34:17 GMT
Thought they deleted the thread. Thank you for the information. My instructor mentioned a few specifics. The total length should be roughly the length from the ground to the belly button, point of balance should be approx 2 inches from the guard, flat guard for finger placement (optional) and a few other details I do not recall. I asked about weight and his reply was also 2.5 pounds, but he also stated with proper training up to 5 pounds even though it seems overboard. The proper length for me would be roughly 42". I asked about a shorter sword and he said that was fine as well. He didn't seem to provide any recommendations as far as manufacturers. Again thank you for any and all information.
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Post by pete on Feb 24, 2017 0:43:53 GMT
My initial intent was to buy a European style sword. I looked to Albion and found the Ljubljana. The length was about right as was the point of balance. Placed the order June 20 of last year. Still waiting... lol
The sword was discovered in Slovenia close to the Croatian border which is the area I am ancestrally from.
Thought about it for months until I finally gave in.
I'm hoping this sword will be fitting for practice despite its weight, but either way I'm in love with it. (Even though I've yet to see it in person)
Now I'm going crazy over the golden dragon Jian. Have no wife or kids so money is easier to save if I'm careful, but it's getting ridiculous. Can't justify spending thousands on swords, but the temptation is great. I will be practicing extensively with the swords and have been fascinated by them since I was very young. At some point in the near future I will definitely be buying a Chinese sword as I am a practitioner of Chinese martial arts. Just wanted to make sure the Ljubljana was in my collection.
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Post by pellius on Feb 24, 2017 2:40:11 GMT
Hey, if you like it and can afford it, it's hard to think of a reason not to get it.
The Ljubljana looks pretty awesome. Nice pick.
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Post by pete on Feb 24, 2017 3:02:06 GMT
The longquan dragon sword looks pretty awesome. You have a point with the sword weight and I'm still not sure what the center of balance is on the golden dragon Jian.
Also I'm new to writing on forums and assume cma stands for Chinese martial arts. Lol. Still getting the hang of it.
Thanks again for taking your time and providing insight.
It's much appreciated!
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Post by pete on Mar 11, 2017 17:00:00 GMT
So I'm still thinking about buying the forge direct Chinese sword but noticed they all have nuts on the pommels instead of being peened. Would prefer if they were peened. Any thoughts on the reliability of this feature?
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Post by Jayhawk on Mar 12, 2017 13:38:10 GMT
I have a mix of modern and antique swords, and I have nuts on several of my antique swords. Done well, I don't see it as an issue at all. A little locktite will do wonders if the nuts loosens too often. A good peen is, IMHO, the best, but peens mean you can't adjust and what do you do if that wooden grips shrinks with time, which it will, because no one properly seasons woods in sword making (not like musical instrument makers do, where shrinkage equals a broken woodwind). If you like the sword, there is no reason not to go with a hex nut. My Hanwei cutting Jian, designed by Scott Rodel, has a nut on the end and it's a flawless performer.
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Post by pete on Mar 12, 2017 14:13:16 GMT
This should be a separate thread and should be discussed more thoroughly. Forge direct jians are permanently glued with with nuts which worries me. Need some expert advice.
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Post by pete on Mar 12, 2017 14:17:16 GMT
I apologize for that statement. Your advice is more than I can offer. I'm looking to purchase the golden dragon jian and am being cautious.
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Post by Jayhawk on Mar 12, 2017 14:18:45 GMT
No biggie Pete. Someone who has dealt with them is ideal...I was just offering my general experience.
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Post by pete on Mar 19, 2017 17:09:49 GMT
Thanks Jayhawk. You convinced me to buy two swords from forge direct! The golden dragon and the golden peony jians. That is if they come out with another 20% off sale. They mentioned another sale soon but not sure how much. Would be hard pressed if I had to choose. Love the golden dragon but the other is balanced more towards the application I need it for. However a POB farther forward has its applications as well.
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Post by pete on Mar 29, 2017 18:44:30 GMT
How come there are no reviews for the forge direct Chinese swords?
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Post by Jayhawk on Mar 29, 2017 18:59:01 GMT
Someone has to be first! ;-)
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Post by pete on Mar 31, 2017 20:36:46 GMT
Hoping they don't discontinue the current models w/o advanced notice. Saw the new models that are supposed to be coming out and I really like the current models much more. Sent an email requesting the POBs on black ebony dragon and golden peony jians a couple weeks ago. They must be really busy. Need that info before making a decision. Looking forward to ordering at least one and will hopefully be writing a review soon!
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Post by esuyengh on Apr 7, 2017 1:42:13 GMT
Just my quick 2 cents -
The Forge Direct swords are built very well. The fittings are beautiful. They are built for combat. They are also very heavy (3 lbs.), so most Chinese martial artists will have trouble adjusting to them coming from sub 2 lbs. and even under 1 lbs. for those who do wushu with the floppy "swords".
If you want a heavier blade to build your arm strength with, definitely consider one. Just be aware that they are heavier than historic jian. The dao weight is a lot more in line though, since those are generally more heavy as choppers.
Edit: I owned a Forge Direct jian (four beasts), so my opinion is based on actual handling. It was an excellent blade in terms of quality and geometry. It was just too heavy for my style. I could make it through about 2/3rds of my long form and then get hand cramps. This was despite the fact that I practice my forms a lot and am a former trained classical musician (read: lots of wrist strength). I ended up selling it.
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Post by foxmartialarts on Apr 8, 2017 16:35:35 GMT
Just my quick 2 cents - The Forge Direct swords are built very well. The fittings are beautiful. They are built for combat. They are also very heavy (3 lbs.), so most Chinese martial artists will have trouble adjusting to them coming from sub 2 lbs. and even under 1 lbs. for those who do wushu with the floppy "swords". If you want a heavier blade to build your arm strength with, definitely consider one. Just be aware that they are heavier than historic jian. The dao weight is a lot more in line though, since those are generally more heavy as choppers. Edit: I owned a Forge Direct jian (four beasts), so my opinion is based on actual handling. It was an excellent blade in terms of quality and geometry. It was just too heavy for my style. I could make it through about 2/3rds of my long form and then get hand cramps. This was despite the fact that I practice my forms a lot and am a former trained classical musician (read: lots of wrist strength). I ended up selling it. As the buyer of this sword, I second the opinion. If you want a heavier training and cutting sword that is also a piece of art, these are great blades. If you want a blade just for forms and light cutting, I would advise looking elsewhere. |
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Post by pete on Apr 9, 2017 22:39:41 GMT
Was hoping to hear some testimonials from owners of these swords. Your input is very much appreciated. thanks guys!
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