LK Chen Gale Wind Ming Jian (vs Scott Rodell Cutting Jian)
Jun 4, 2023 19:29:29 GMT
Post by mrstabby on Jun 4, 2023 19:29:29 GMT
My LK Chen Gale Wind is finally here, so I thought I'd tell you about it.
It took 54 days for it to be finished , 15 additional days for it to arrive, because of customs there was a 4 day delay. I won't go into too much detail, but UPS needed a bill, where they could see the item value and it took me sending it 4 times for it to get to the right place.
So, here we are. It came packaged in a box completely enclosed in yellow tape.
The sword came in a yellow cover bag.
Inside the bag was another plastic bag containing the sword
The Rodell Cutting Jian came in a white cardboard box with some cardboard pieces on top and bottom for added protection and it had foam spacers to keep it centered in the box. It did penetrate the box at one of the narrow sides a bit.
Measurements:
Rodell Cutting Jian 5160 spring steel@52HRC(not 100%sure about this info)
All over length: 100,3cm/39,5"
Weight 964g/2,13#
PoB: 10,16cm/4"
Width@guard: 3,4cm/1,4"
Gale Wind GB 60Si2MnA spring steel@~55HRC
advertised <-> measured
All over length: 97cm/38,2" <-> 97,5cm/38,4" including pommel nut
Weight: 1043g/2,2# <-> 1103g/2,43#
Sheath weight: -- <-> 517g/1,14#
PoB: 9cm/3,5" <-> 9,5cm/3,7" measured from the divet in the guard
CoP: ~27cm/10,6" from tip
Width@guard: 3,5cm/1,4" <-> 3,5cm/1,4"
As you can see, they are pretty close in almost everything.
This blade feels amazing in the hands. The Gale Wind feels easier to control than the Rodell version even though it is heavier.
Finish on the blade is almost a mirror on the Gale Wind, while the Rodell is very rough (gliding a finger over it feels almost like sand paper, see below finish on Rodell Cutting Jian).
From my memory I'd say the Gale wind has a bit stiffer a blade. Tapping the pommel lightly the blade moves 5cm/2" side to side on the Gale Wind, which isn't bad. There is a slight rattle in both, Gale Wind and Rodell Cutting Jian, when you tap the hilt, it is not loose, its the bade hitting the inside of the guard because it is like a tunnel the blade sits in. The blade has a nice ring to it when you flick it.
I have this one small scratch on the blade.
The Gale wind came much sharper than the Rodell. Still not as sharp as I want it, but this is an easy fix, it does cut glossy catalogue paper as is without much effort though (EDIT: the Rodell version only ripped the paper, Gale Wind cuts paper). It isn't a straight diamond shape, but has a bit of a convex geometry.
The sheath of both swords are very similar. The Gale Wind's sheath has a tighter grip on the blade and it seems to be tighter depending wich orientation the sword is put in. On mine the fitting for hanging it has become loose, probably from shipping, I will have to do something there.
In my personal opinion the Gale Wind is the better deal when they are around the same price, unless you have big hands and want to use both.
I really wanted a Jian sword for backyard cutting and training (because I am getting old and need to exercise more). I have one, but I would not trust this to not disintegrate from a hard hit, very cheaply made. So I bought a Rodell Cutting Jian a few months ago, unfortunately it came with a warp and I sent it back, but I can tell you my thoughts on the differences.
The dealer had no interest in replacing it so I got a refund. Looking for other sellers, the Rodell cost 150€ more than the Gale Wind would cost me in the end, so I pulled the trigger in the LK Chen shop (after asking if they deliver to my country !!Beware if you live in Italy or Luxembourg, customs there will not let even blunted swords through from LK Chen!!). I bought the mono steel version, since I wanted to cut with it and I probably wouldn't ever use a pattern welded blade for fear of scratching it.It took 54 days for it to be finished , 15 additional days for it to arrive, because of customs there was a 4 day delay. I won't go into too much detail, but UPS needed a bill, where they could see the item value and it took me sending it 4 times for it to get to the right place.
So, here we are. It came packaged in a box completely enclosed in yellow tape.
There was one hole in the box from rough handling.
Inside was the sword and a spear head wrapped in bubble wrap and styrofoam on the narrow sides. The styrofoam could have been thicker in my opinion, but all is well. The spear head was wrapped in bubble wrap and secured to the outside of the bubble wrap covering the sword.
The sword came in a yellow cover bag.
Inside the bag was another plastic bag containing the sword
Pulling the sword, there was plastic over the blade inside the sheath (I am not sure if I got all of it out).
The blade was covered in a thick oil that did not smell. The spear head had the same oil on it.
The Rodell Cutting Jian came in a white cardboard box with some cardboard pieces on top and bottom for added protection and it had foam spacers to keep it centered in the box. It did penetrate the box at one of the narrow sides a bit.
Now to the review and comparasion
Rodell Cutting Jian 5160 spring steel@52HRC(not 100%sure about this info)
All over length: 100,3cm/39,5"
Blade length: 73,66cm/29"
Blade Thickness: 5.9 mm - 3.5 mm
All over grip lentgh: 26,64cm/10,5"Weight 964g/2,13#
PoB: 10,16cm/4"
Width@guard: 3,4cm/1,4"
Gale Wind GB 60Si2MnA spring steel@~55HRC
advertised <-> measured
All over length: 97cm/38,2" <-> 97,5cm/38,4" including pommel nut
Blade length: 77cm/30,3" <-> 76,5cm/30,1" measured from the divet in the guard
Blade thickness: 7-2,5mm <-> 6,8-3,0mm
All over grip lentgh: 20cm/7,9" <-> 22cm/8,7" including pommel nut, Gripping area is 16cm/6,3" cord wrap 11cm/4,3"Weight: 1043g/2,2# <-> 1103g/2,43#
Sheath weight: -- <-> 517g/1,14#
PoB: 9cm/3,5" <-> 9,5cm/3,7" measured from the divet in the guard
CoP: ~27cm/10,6" from tip
Width@guard: 3,5cm/1,4" <-> 3,5cm/1,4"
As you can see, they are pretty close in almost everything.
This blade feels amazing in the hands. The Gale Wind feels easier to control than the Rodell version even though it is heavier.
Finish on the blade is almost a mirror on the Gale Wind, while the Rodell is very rough (gliding a finger over it feels almost like sand paper, see below finish on Rodell Cutting Jian).
From my memory I'd say the Gale wind has a bit stiffer a blade. Tapping the pommel lightly the blade moves 5cm/2" side to side on the Gale Wind, which isn't bad. There is a slight rattle in both, Gale Wind and Rodell Cutting Jian, when you tap the hilt, it is not loose, its the bade hitting the inside of the guard because it is like a tunnel the blade sits in. The blade has a nice ring to it when you flick it.
I have this one small scratch on the blade.
The Gale wind came much sharper than the Rodell. Still not as sharp as I want it, but this is an easy fix, it does cut glossy catalogue paper as is without much effort though (EDIT: the Rodell version only ripped the paper, Gale Wind cuts paper). It isn't a straight diamond shape, but has a bit of a convex geometry.
The Tip is almost perfect, it is about half a millimeter off. Not bad. The tip on the Scott Rodell had less of an angle and was longer, but only by a millimeter or two. More acute.
The Grip on the Gale wind is about 5cm shorter, the blade by that much longer. The wrap is a cord over (I think) white rayskin. Here I liked the Rodells wrap better, it felt like some kind of velour (bonus points for reading it in Zapp Brannigans voice ), like fur. I liked it, was soft but grippy. The Gale wind feels like normal cord wrap, but it feels very secure. There is a lanyard on it with a metal fitting threaded through the brass hole.
One gripe I have here are some sharp-ish corners on the guard and pommel, that can dig into my hand(s) on some movements. I will be breaking these corners with some sand paper.
Even though the Grip is shorter, I can still use it two handed, like a bastard sword, with one hand slightly covering the pommel (my palm size is 9cm/3,54")
I haven't cut any bottles yet (honing first) but the pool noodle is cut by the laziest of cuts you can imagine, I mean look how uneven the cut is, worst edge alignment ever! Scooped it bad.The sheath of both swords are very similar. The Gale Wind's sheath has a tighter grip on the blade and it seems to be tighter depending wich orientation the sword is put in. On mine the fitting for hanging it has become loose, probably from shipping, I will have to do something there.
In my personal opinion the Gale Wind is the better deal when they are around the same price, unless you have big hands and want to use both.
I am extremely thankful to the LK Chen E-Mail support (I think it was KK most of the time) for their help. They answered very, very fast, within two minutes at times! Very helpful, friendly and fast. To be honest, I did not expect this level of customer support
Now I can finally put another sword on my newly built sword rack.
EDIT: Please disregard the cat toy made from an arrow shaft, that does not really belong there.
If you have questions or want to know some measurements I have not taken, ask. Also I'd like some feedback since it is my first review here.