Skallagrim test Flying Phoenix and Magnificent Chu Jian

The Flying Phoenix is going to make an excellent companion for my Striking Eagle one of these days soon.

For the Chu Jian, there is a small patch of Rayskin  
to cover an area of the handle before the cord wrapping started mainly for decorative purpose
to be inline with the more ornate nature of a noble sword.

This is due to the particular shape of the Chu Jian hand guard that we replicate.

Hello;

The hand guard is actually function as a socket, where the wood handle protrude and interlock with
the hand guard in a tongue and groove manner.  This is to prevent the handle and the hand guard to
rotate against each other. 

Sometimes the socket was made a bit deeper, and the protrusion of the wooden handle a bit longer.

So the ray skin is to decorate the bare wood there the cord wrapping did not cover.

So the handle is not just a tube.  But fashion in a way that lock in handle, and that is why it takes
Master Cheng 1 working day or more to assemble a Han Jian the way that is supposed to be.

As for the owner, most likely no one notice or know these details.  Until one day that the jian hit some target
and you try to twist the blade to disengage then this locking feature start to mean something.