Longquan Yong Lo Sword- it is better than recent Cold Steel
Jul 15, 2020 18:45:47 GMT
Post by Tiers1 on Jul 15, 2020 18:45:47 GMT
I have not purchased a production sword for around 5 years, not out of snobbery, but out of the realization that there are so many reasonably priced custom makers out there these days (if you look) that it seems silly to buy something made to a profit-point in a factory where the individual workers don't give too many BMs what the finished product turns out to be.
but...
I have been very bored, and looking at swords, and decided to pick up a few factory made pieces that caught my eye. Next on the list was a sword I have seen around for a while that seems nice for the money- the SBG/Ryujin/who-really knows/ 'Yong Lo' Sword. This is a less expensive version of a reproduction of a museum sword that went around for a short while from the vendors who have a deep well of offerings from the Longquan forges (as in, the expensive version was on the sites with loads of random LQ swords). I don't know who had this one first...it has been available at KoA and SBG, and recently has popped up elsewhere.
I will say right away, the sword is better put together and seems to have more effort put into it than the $700 Cold Steel Viking Sword I recently reviewed, and is equal or better overall in terms of fit and finish then the $300 Cold Steel Kabutowari (yes, that was a second, but this sword is probably more solidly put together). I mean it.
The blade: The blade is supposedly of 1060...maybe...could be 1045 as that from what I understand is what LQ likes to use most of all and this is an inexpensive sword. The blade is a sort of 8-sided geometry with two deep fullers which terminate about a quarter of an inch before the edge where another bevel starts. The blade is neat and crisp. No uneveness anywhere. There is a moderate sharpness which would need a small amount of work to be sharp sharp.
The scabbard- The scabbard is seriously one of the most solidly put together scabbards I have ever had on any sword I have ever owned. It is a thick core of real wood, covered by either synthetic or real leather (the material is soft, not chintzy) and covered again by detailed metal framing that is probably some sort of alloy. It is rock solid and heavy. The blade slides in nicely and seats with a reassuring knock; it is held well by the scabbard. The detail on the alloy metal bits is good...it doesn't look gaudy or cheap.
The handle- The handle is also rock solid, there are no gaps anywhere, and no rattles. The guard and pommel are of the same detail and alloy as the framing of the scabbard. The guard actually has a plate inside, which is seated and fit perfectly, that the tang goes through, rather than just entering the wood of the handle. The handle itself is dark wood embellished with a sort of punched decorative plate, same alloy as the other fittings. The plate seems affixed solidly.
The sword is not light, but it isn't a brick either, The blade is definitely hardened and tempered, though to what level of expertise I don't know. I do believe the Chinese factories know how to give spring steel a decent heat treat at this point however. The only issue was 'China' stamped at this base of the blade, which wasn't too attractive...easily removed with a light abrasive.
In conclusion, I am really impressed by this sword for the money. Everything is crisp and tight. It is put together more solidly and with tighter tolerances than many other swords I have owned.
but...
I have been very bored, and looking at swords, and decided to pick up a few factory made pieces that caught my eye. Next on the list was a sword I have seen around for a while that seems nice for the money- the SBG/Ryujin/who-really knows/ 'Yong Lo' Sword. This is a less expensive version of a reproduction of a museum sword that went around for a short while from the vendors who have a deep well of offerings from the Longquan forges (as in, the expensive version was on the sites with loads of random LQ swords). I don't know who had this one first...it has been available at KoA and SBG, and recently has popped up elsewhere.
I will say right away, the sword is better put together and seems to have more effort put into it than the $700 Cold Steel Viking Sword I recently reviewed, and is equal or better overall in terms of fit and finish then the $300 Cold Steel Kabutowari (yes, that was a second, but this sword is probably more solidly put together). I mean it.
The blade: The blade is supposedly of 1060...maybe...could be 1045 as that from what I understand is what LQ likes to use most of all and this is an inexpensive sword. The blade is a sort of 8-sided geometry with two deep fullers which terminate about a quarter of an inch before the edge where another bevel starts. The blade is neat and crisp. No uneveness anywhere. There is a moderate sharpness which would need a small amount of work to be sharp sharp.
The scabbard- The scabbard is seriously one of the most solidly put together scabbards I have ever had on any sword I have ever owned. It is a thick core of real wood, covered by either synthetic or real leather (the material is soft, not chintzy) and covered again by detailed metal framing that is probably some sort of alloy. It is rock solid and heavy. The blade slides in nicely and seats with a reassuring knock; it is held well by the scabbard. The detail on the alloy metal bits is good...it doesn't look gaudy or cheap.
The handle- The handle is also rock solid, there are no gaps anywhere, and no rattles. The guard and pommel are of the same detail and alloy as the framing of the scabbard. The guard actually has a plate inside, which is seated and fit perfectly, that the tang goes through, rather than just entering the wood of the handle. The handle itself is dark wood embellished with a sort of punched decorative plate, same alloy as the other fittings. The plate seems affixed solidly.
The sword is not light, but it isn't a brick either, The blade is definitely hardened and tempered, though to what level of expertise I don't know. I do believe the Chinese factories know how to give spring steel a decent heat treat at this point however. The only issue was 'China' stamped at this base of the blade, which wasn't too attractive...easily removed with a light abrasive.
In conclusion, I am really impressed by this sword for the money. Everything is crisp and tight. It is put together more solidly and with tighter tolerances than many other swords I have owned.