Jkoosword / Sinosword Miao Dao
Apr 29, 2022 4:46:04 GMT
Post by dinvaas on Apr 29, 2022 4:46:04 GMT
INTRODUCTION
Trying to find good quality swords that exceed the length of a longsword is difficult, and what is available on the market is very hit or miss. But I like large swords very much, and I'm determined to find some that are worth it. On my search, I came across Jkoo/Sinosword, and while I've done my homework and know that Sinosword is very hit or miss in quality control, I decided that for the price of $215, their Miao Dao definitely fit the bill for a large sword. It's my first sword of Chinese origin so I was very excited to experience it and for the price, it couldn't hurt to give it a try. I've had it for about a year now and got some mileage on the sword so I think it's definitely time to give a bit of an in-depth overview on it.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Admittedly, I know next to nothing about Chinese swords until recently so I did a little bit of research into Miao Daos, and what I found is fascinating. I don't exactly have a lot of information and I could very well be getting some facts wrong but from what I understand, the Miao Dao is a bit of a more modern recreation of the more historical Zhanmadao dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty and the Changdao. Its historical contemporaries were supposedly influenced by Japanese swords seen used by invading pirates from Japan and its long reach was effective in defending and repelling said pirates. And while it seems like a less popular weapon in Chinese martial arts today, it's still a fascinating weapon and what information I've found and what demonstrational videos I've seen displaying its use are some of the most engaging displays of martial skill I've seen in quite a while. So the Miao Dao has quickly become one of my favorite types of swords.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Now, it's been a years since I unboxed this thing, so I don't exactly remember all of my first thoughts when I got my hands on it. But I did have mixed feelings. The blade is massive and impressive to behold, the natural wood aesthetic is gorgeous, and it is incredibly light and maneuverable for its large size. But the patina on the fittings was less than perfect right out of the box and the postal service that shipped the package caused some damage, so the box came with a big hole in it and the sword arrived with the pommel cap crushed in on itself. I debated on contacting Sinosword and informing them of this, but decided against it at the time because at the time, I was happy with it overall. Per conversations I had with customer service, I was told the blade was through-hardened and made from 9260 spring steel so despite the damaged state the sword arrived in, I decided that it upon some dry handling that this didn't affect the sword's overall performance and chose to let it slide. In hindsight, I should probably not have done so, but it's been a year and nothing to do about it now.
Overall, I was initially ecstatic with the sword despite the damaged pommel and couldn't wait to get to cutting.
STATISTICS
Overall Length: 54"
Blade Length: 38"
Hilt Length: 16"
Weight: I need a more accurate scale but for its size, it's surprisingly light and if I had to hazard a guess? 3 lbs
COMPONENTS
The blade is made from 9260 Spring Steel and described as through-hardened. It's a very plain, no-nonsense design that is intended to get right to the point and be a dedicated cutter. It's a smooth grind to the edge and there is a distil taper to the blade's profile which I think is what also makes it very maneuverable and easy to control.
The scabbard is visually appealing, if a little rushed. The metal fittings are held on by friction and there is some glue residue but it doesn't seem like it was enough because I can pull the fittings off easily. The patina on the metal came with some fading. At first, I thought that was an intentional design choice, but now I'm not so sure. The scabbard, like the hilt is made from an attractive and dark wenge wood.
Like everything else about the sword, the guard is simple and utilitarian. And like a lot of other Chinese Dao, the cup guard is present but the patina is nonexistant and messy inside the cup itself. Seeing as how this was my first sword of Chinese origin, I wasn't sure if this was normal or not so I tried not to stress too much about it even if it was unattractive.
As I mentioned earlier, the sword arrived with a pommel cap bent inward and I made a lapse of judgement to have this exchanged and repaired due to my excitement with the blade's overall presence and powerful feeling. More on that later. Like everything else about the fittings, the patina is shoddy and it rubbed off on the hands very easily while handling. Naturally, I decided to cover that up with my trusty go-to to cover up less than attractive qualities in a sword hilt - hockey tape! Some black wrapping on it covered up the ugly and poor patina, but for the purposes of this review, I've removed it. It's not as though I can't re-wrap it later on once I'm done, but I feel that for the purposes of this, I should show the sword in as natural a state I can show.
HANDLING & TESTING
Like I said previously, this is a big sword and despite its size, it's very quick. Despite being a little around 4 and a half feet tall, it's a very easy sword to control and despite my initial remissions with the appearance of the sword, I decided at the time that it could have been a lot worse and that as long as it is a functional sword, its plainness was a type of rugged attractiveness in itself. This was definitely an initial impression and now that the honeymoon phase is over, I can't deny that while the sword moves well, it is an unattractive sword and could have been shown a lot more love and care when being put together.
But as far as usage? I was initially blown away by the sword to a point where I let my concerns fall away for a time. It cuts beautifully and any and all targets I threw at it were going to be cut with a surprising ease despite the sword's size. It was actually this sword that inspired me to take the plunge to move on from water bottles and move up to tameshigiri. And while I admit I'm still a novice at cutting tatami mats, the blade can soar through a soaked mat easily. It also handled quite a bit of abuse and I've cut into 2x4s and other harder targets very easily and at the time, there was no sign of any loose fittings or rattling or cracking components. So overall, I was very pleased with the sword.
And then I left it alone for a bit to show some love to a few of my other swords for a bit.
When I picked it back up a few months later after some time of focusing on work and other responsibilities, I was eager to get back to cutting with this monster. But just drawing the blade and holding it outstretched brought to my attention an odd sound. I was hearing an odd groaning, clicking sound in the hilt and I couldn't tell if it was from the wood of the hilt itself or the tang so I decided to not put the sword to any further use. And while nothing feels loose, the sound is a cause for concern. And another thing I've noted recently is that the sword doesn't flex as well as it used to anymore. Performing a flex test causes the blade to deform and bend very easily. And sure, I abused the sword but I doubt that the damage I did would destroy the temper of the steel. I'm not sure if this is just something I didn't realize initially when unboxing, but I've also subjected other swords to similar hard use and never had issues like this arise.
While initially in love with the sword, it's hard to dismiss its glaring issues and I doubt the sword was as well tempered as I was promised it would be now. It handled some abuse very well, but I gather that soft steel that will bend easy will do that when its too soft to snap in the first place.
Admittedly, I may be being a little too hard on the sword and the damage is my fault after all. But Jkoo/sinosword has a reputation for poor quality control and requiring several do-overs to get it right, so I'm also considering that as a possible factor in the sword's overall current state. I understand that Jkoo's katanas are much more popular and that swords of this size are harder to get right, which is why there are so few of them on the market. And while my initial love for the sword has faded and I can give it a more objective and unbiased overview, I think that it's still a visually impressive piece and makes an excellent display sword still.
CONCLUSION
I definitely acknowledge that in hindsight, I should have contact Jkoo about the poor shipping and damages done, but after a year of relatively moderate to hard use that the sword endured, I don't think I can safely use the sword before it becomes a hazard. It's been a worthwhile learning experience and while I am disappointed that a sword I was initially excited about revealed its failings to me over time, I think this is just one more warrant of caution with a company that has a less than perfect track record. I was aware of this going in and decided to try my luck anyways. And while there are some things to like about the sword, I don't think it deserves a recommendation due to the poor quality control Jkoo has a history of demonstrating. If you get one and have better results than I do, then all I can say is I'm envious of your luck! I believe that if it was shown more care and effort in construction, then it would be an awesome sword that lives up to its storied history. But this is also another indication of "you get what you pay for" and there are much better crafted swords out there. Ryujin also makes a Miao Dao sword that I will be testing soon as well and will give my thoughts on after some time with it, so hopefully it performs well! Wish me luck on that one, guys!
PROS
-Surprisingly lightweight and easy to control for its size
-Excellent Cutting sword that lets even a novice cutter perform well.
-Rich history that encouraged me to expand my interest in swords to a wider range.
CONS
-Quality control of Jkoo/Sinosword still continues to be hit or miss - LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES ON THIS ONE!
Edit: Finally got the images to work! Sorry it took me so long
Trying to find good quality swords that exceed the length of a longsword is difficult, and what is available on the market is very hit or miss. But I like large swords very much, and I'm determined to find some that are worth it. On my search, I came across Jkoo/Sinosword, and while I've done my homework and know that Sinosword is very hit or miss in quality control, I decided that for the price of $215, their Miao Dao definitely fit the bill for a large sword. It's my first sword of Chinese origin so I was very excited to experience it and for the price, it couldn't hurt to give it a try. I've had it for about a year now and got some mileage on the sword so I think it's definitely time to give a bit of an in-depth overview on it.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Admittedly, I know next to nothing about Chinese swords until recently so I did a little bit of research into Miao Daos, and what I found is fascinating. I don't exactly have a lot of information and I could very well be getting some facts wrong but from what I understand, the Miao Dao is a bit of a more modern recreation of the more historical Zhanmadao dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty and the Changdao. Its historical contemporaries were supposedly influenced by Japanese swords seen used by invading pirates from Japan and its long reach was effective in defending and repelling said pirates. And while it seems like a less popular weapon in Chinese martial arts today, it's still a fascinating weapon and what information I've found and what demonstrational videos I've seen displaying its use are some of the most engaging displays of martial skill I've seen in quite a while. So the Miao Dao has quickly become one of my favorite types of swords.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Now, it's been a years since I unboxed this thing, so I don't exactly remember all of my first thoughts when I got my hands on it. But I did have mixed feelings. The blade is massive and impressive to behold, the natural wood aesthetic is gorgeous, and it is incredibly light and maneuverable for its large size. But the patina on the fittings was less than perfect right out of the box and the postal service that shipped the package caused some damage, so the box came with a big hole in it and the sword arrived with the pommel cap crushed in on itself. I debated on contacting Sinosword and informing them of this, but decided against it at the time because at the time, I was happy with it overall. Per conversations I had with customer service, I was told the blade was through-hardened and made from 9260 spring steel so despite the damaged state the sword arrived in, I decided that it upon some dry handling that this didn't affect the sword's overall performance and chose to let it slide. In hindsight, I should probably not have done so, but it's been a year and nothing to do about it now.
Overall, I was initially ecstatic with the sword despite the damaged pommel and couldn't wait to get to cutting.
STATISTICS
Overall Length: 54"
Blade Length: 38"
Hilt Length: 16"
Weight: I need a more accurate scale but for its size, it's surprisingly light and if I had to hazard a guess? 3 lbs
COMPONENTS
The blade is made from 9260 Spring Steel and described as through-hardened. It's a very plain, no-nonsense design that is intended to get right to the point and be a dedicated cutter. It's a smooth grind to the edge and there is a distil taper to the blade's profile which I think is what also makes it very maneuverable and easy to control.
The scabbard is visually appealing, if a little rushed. The metal fittings are held on by friction and there is some glue residue but it doesn't seem like it was enough because I can pull the fittings off easily. The patina on the metal came with some fading. At first, I thought that was an intentional design choice, but now I'm not so sure. The scabbard, like the hilt is made from an attractive and dark wenge wood.
Like everything else about the sword, the guard is simple and utilitarian. And like a lot of other Chinese Dao, the cup guard is present but the patina is nonexistant and messy inside the cup itself. Seeing as how this was my first sword of Chinese origin, I wasn't sure if this was normal or not so I tried not to stress too much about it even if it was unattractive.
As I mentioned earlier, the sword arrived with a pommel cap bent inward and I made a lapse of judgement to have this exchanged and repaired due to my excitement with the blade's overall presence and powerful feeling. More on that later. Like everything else about the fittings, the patina is shoddy and it rubbed off on the hands very easily while handling. Naturally, I decided to cover that up with my trusty go-to to cover up less than attractive qualities in a sword hilt - hockey tape! Some black wrapping on it covered up the ugly and poor patina, but for the purposes of this review, I've removed it. It's not as though I can't re-wrap it later on once I'm done, but I feel that for the purposes of this, I should show the sword in as natural a state I can show.
HANDLING & TESTING
Like I said previously, this is a big sword and despite its size, it's very quick. Despite being a little around 4 and a half feet tall, it's a very easy sword to control and despite my initial remissions with the appearance of the sword, I decided at the time that it could have been a lot worse and that as long as it is a functional sword, its plainness was a type of rugged attractiveness in itself. This was definitely an initial impression and now that the honeymoon phase is over, I can't deny that while the sword moves well, it is an unattractive sword and could have been shown a lot more love and care when being put together.
But as far as usage? I was initially blown away by the sword to a point where I let my concerns fall away for a time. It cuts beautifully and any and all targets I threw at it were going to be cut with a surprising ease despite the sword's size. It was actually this sword that inspired me to take the plunge to move on from water bottles and move up to tameshigiri. And while I admit I'm still a novice at cutting tatami mats, the blade can soar through a soaked mat easily. It also handled quite a bit of abuse and I've cut into 2x4s and other harder targets very easily and at the time, there was no sign of any loose fittings or rattling or cracking components. So overall, I was very pleased with the sword.
And then I left it alone for a bit to show some love to a few of my other swords for a bit.
When I picked it back up a few months later after some time of focusing on work and other responsibilities, I was eager to get back to cutting with this monster. But just drawing the blade and holding it outstretched brought to my attention an odd sound. I was hearing an odd groaning, clicking sound in the hilt and I couldn't tell if it was from the wood of the hilt itself or the tang so I decided to not put the sword to any further use. And while nothing feels loose, the sound is a cause for concern. And another thing I've noted recently is that the sword doesn't flex as well as it used to anymore. Performing a flex test causes the blade to deform and bend very easily. And sure, I abused the sword but I doubt that the damage I did would destroy the temper of the steel. I'm not sure if this is just something I didn't realize initially when unboxing, but I've also subjected other swords to similar hard use and never had issues like this arise.
While initially in love with the sword, it's hard to dismiss its glaring issues and I doubt the sword was as well tempered as I was promised it would be now. It handled some abuse very well, but I gather that soft steel that will bend easy will do that when its too soft to snap in the first place.
Admittedly, I may be being a little too hard on the sword and the damage is my fault after all. But Jkoo/sinosword has a reputation for poor quality control and requiring several do-overs to get it right, so I'm also considering that as a possible factor in the sword's overall current state. I understand that Jkoo's katanas are much more popular and that swords of this size are harder to get right, which is why there are so few of them on the market. And while my initial love for the sword has faded and I can give it a more objective and unbiased overview, I think that it's still a visually impressive piece and makes an excellent display sword still.
CONCLUSION
I definitely acknowledge that in hindsight, I should have contact Jkoo about the poor shipping and damages done, but after a year of relatively moderate to hard use that the sword endured, I don't think I can safely use the sword before it becomes a hazard. It's been a worthwhile learning experience and while I am disappointed that a sword I was initially excited about revealed its failings to me over time, I think this is just one more warrant of caution with a company that has a less than perfect track record. I was aware of this going in and decided to try my luck anyways. And while there are some things to like about the sword, I don't think it deserves a recommendation due to the poor quality control Jkoo has a history of demonstrating. If you get one and have better results than I do, then all I can say is I'm envious of your luck! I believe that if it was shown more care and effort in construction, then it would be an awesome sword that lives up to its storied history. But this is also another indication of "you get what you pay for" and there are much better crafted swords out there. Ryujin also makes a Miao Dao sword that I will be testing soon as well and will give my thoughts on after some time with it, so hopefully it performs well! Wish me luck on that one, guys!
PROS
-Surprisingly lightweight and easy to control for its size
-Excellent Cutting sword that lets even a novice cutter perform well.
-Rich history that encouraged me to expand my interest in swords to a wider range.
CONS
-Quality control of Jkoo/Sinosword still continues to be hit or miss - LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES ON THIS ONE!
Edit: Finally got the images to work! Sorry it took me so long