SALE WITHDRAWN: Hanwei Qi Jian (Rare and Discontinued)
Mar 20, 2023 23:24:47 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2023 23:24:47 GMT
Greetings!
The time has come for me to sell one of the jewels in my collection. In 2012, I bought a previously owned Qi Jian manufactured by Hanwei.
Link to listing on CAS Iberia website: casiberia.com/product/qi-jian/sh2295
This sword has been discontinued for years and has become rare. It last retailed for a whopping $1,400! It's major selling point is that the entire sword, from the pommel to the tip of the blade is made from a single billet of steel. There are no parts to assemble: it's just one piece of steel. As such, the blade makes the most delightful ringing sound when lightly struck, just like a bell.
The other major selling point is that the balance and handling characteristics are exceptional. The POB is ZERO inches from the guard. Matthew Jensen recently refurbished one of these swords and Matthew Cross tested it in the following video:
When I purchased the sword, it had several issues with it. I will disclose these issues for transparency. First, the blade showed repeated signs of the previous owner's failed attempts to sharpen the blade. This caused the blade profile to taper more, especially near the tip. The blade also had many scratches. I repolished the blade to the best of my ability, but it is not perfect. I'm a tinkerer, not a professional. Hanwei put a mirror polish on these during the production run, but mine has a satin finish and it's a little rough in certain places. Also, the scabbard hardware is missing one pin, which I photographed, and one iron ring is slightly loose. Over time, the wood shrank and the connection between the iron fittings and the wood became a little loose. Lastly, while the grip wrap is in solid shape, it has slightly worn away in one area, but this is minor.
While my sword is not in perfect condition, it's still in good condition. It's not sharp, but neither were many of these swords dating back to the first production run. This sword was one of the first made. Subsequent versions were darker in color and different wood was used for the scabbard. Despite its issues, most of which are cosmetic, I believe that the rareness of the sword along with it's artistic value and exceptional handling characteristics, make this a very special sword.
Furthermore, this sword will not be coming back anytime soon, or possibly ever. I cannot sell this sword for its original retail price given it's cosmetic issues and not being sharpened. Therefore, I am asking $450 USD for the sword. I will ship within the CONUS, and the shipping costs are included in the price. I prefer to use PayPal F/F or Venmo.
I won't negotiate on the price either. This is a twice pre-owned sword with some cosmetic issues, which I have fully disclosed and documented. If no one takes me up on this offer, the sword will remain with me. I want it to pass on to someone who will appreciate how exceptional and rare it is. If that someone is not out there, then so be it.
UPDATE: I received some questions about the sword that I would like to address here for transparency. The blade is straight with no warps, bends, or twists. The blade fits securely in the scabbard, but it is a looser fit. It was like this when I purchased it. I believe the wood has shrank so much that it no longer fits snugly. Some shims could be glued inside to make the fit tighter. So apart from the aforementioned defects, there are no other defects to report.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Upon reconsideration, I am withdrawing this sale.