[J Anstey]

Sword Review Zubeng Tang Jian

Specifications:

Blade Material: Master Chen’s Tamahagane
Layers: between 1 and 2 million layers
Weight of blade: 1100g
Materials of Furniture: Silver with Gold filigree/inlay


A pic to start with and then the story!








A little of my background - I have been studying and collecting mostly custom swords for over a decade. I teach and train in ZNKR Iaido, Jodo, Muso Shinden Ryu Iai and Shinto Muso Ryu Jo (sounds like a lot but it really is only two martial arts and they really form one.

Anyway I have always been fascinated by the Chinese arts and their association as predecessor to the Japanese arts both martial and craftwise.

After seeing the fantastic thread on these forums by Master Rich Chen on his traditional sword making I decided to contact him about a Jian commission.

http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showt...omsearch=1

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.p...ght=zubeng

We had numerous discussions as I really had a stereotypical Jian in mind and I thought to discuss and negotiate what “I” wanted. Master Chen was very polite and direct, he said “There are many ways, I have my way” or words to that effect and went on to discuss what he does and why.

I tried to get the price down (I am embarrassed to admit) and Master Chen was very friendly, polite and thanked me for my interest in real Chinese swords and said that he hoped that one day I would own one of his swords.

I understand that Master Chen has been approached by the Chinese government to make swords for heads of state, presidents from other countries etc for special presentations. I tossed and turned and spent quite a bit of time considering this large purchase. I realised that here is a man with such passion, knowledge and skills in his craft and here I am haggling over price and details!

Anyway I realised that I was talking with a man with great honour and sent an email to ask a couple more questions to clarify some points and then proceed.

I didn’t hear back from him for a few days I sent another couple of emails – I can’t remember exactly and assumed that he just got tired of this foreigners tiresome questions. ( I later found out that the constant black-outs and loss of power had caused the break in conversation ) During this time I decided to contact another high end smith and commissioned and paid for a very expensive and high end Jian.

The following day, I received an email from Master Chen apologising for the delay in response and explaining what had happened – ahhhhhhhghhhh. Bloody hell I had just spent a great deal of money on what will certainly be a great sword… but, the more I thought about his swords made from iron sand the more I desired one.

I sold quite few things scraped together the 50% deposit and the job was started. If my wife ever finds out I will find out first hand how sharp the sword is!!!

I have always thought that with commissions from people like Patrick Barta, Jake Powning, Vince Evans, John Lundemo and other best of the best of the Western style smiths that the wisest thing is let them have freedom to make what they wanted to make as they are the artists.

I ordered a style from his website but said to him that is there was anything he wanted to do different, then I have complete faith that he will only release a sword that he is 100% happy with.

[J Anstey]

Master Chen performs a bend test on the forged blade




Clay coating



Clay with charcoal powder.

[J Anstey]

Polishing





Fittings – Hand engraved silver with gold inlay. This design is a one off.








Chiseling of Master Chen’s signature on the tang






Certification

[J Anstey]

The sword will arrive later this week and I will post my thoughts

Cheers

Jason

[J Anstey]

One correction I need to make - the fittings are indeed one off and hand engraved but they were sent to a silver smith to make the pieces.

I also believe this Jian to be in between Tang and Ming Dynasties.

Cheers

Jason

[J Anstey]

Overall Length: 119cm (46.9”)
Length of Blade 79cm (31.1”) (measured from habaki)
PoB: 19cm from Guard (7.5”)

When I received with sword and knowing the journey this has taken nearly brought tears to my eyes, I knew the sword would be superb but this really just blew me away! It FAR exceeds my very high expectations. The fittings are beautifully detailed, I would say them the theme is Sakura (Cherry blossoms) but am not sure if this is the same meaning in Chinese? Silver will tarnish quickly so I think that when the silver takes on the darker tones this will add further character to the sword.

I spent a large amount of money I truly believe that I got a bargain and certainly an Heirloom piece. I think my sword spending is over for a while now but as we all know this collecting passion we have here is an addiction – oh well bread and water for me for a while now!

So here are the pics – hats off to you guys that can photograph swords well because it is sooo difficult! BTW the katanakake is one I made a few years ago from West Australian Jarrah – I will continue my search for a vertical stand.







I have better sharper images if anyone is interested?

[Artis Aboltins]

Fantastic looking weapon you have here! Admitedly, I have never had much in-depth interest in chinese weapons - there is just too much to be done with styles I am primarily interessed in, but one have to recognise true art when he sees it. Again, congratulations on fantastic addition to your collection!

[J Anstey]

[M. Eversberg II]

Fantastic work; I'm sure it's worth every dime. The stand's pretty nice, too.

M.

[Etienne Hamel]

Wow a real piece of art i wouldn't dare using it exept if it would save my life.

how much custom project like this cost ? must be really expensive!

[J Anstey]

[Josh MacNeil]

You mentioned the sword contained 1-2 million layers in your initial post. I just did the math, and that translates to about 20-21 folds. That's impressive. I'm still a novice with the specifics of smithing, but from what I understand the general consensus is that the benefits of pattern welding start to diminish after the tenth fold. Yet I hear some Japanese smiths will debate that a sword requires at least 13 folds. When you get up to twenty folds like this, it demonstrates that the smith must know some very special secrets about crafting a blade of that quality. I have to say that piece goes beyond being a weapon and ascends to a godlike level of art. It's beauty is truly humbling. Congratulations on your new treasure!

[J Anstey]

[Bobby H.]

hi all, i think i can answer this question.

master chen folds 13 times for the carbon content he wants. he also wants 1 million layers or a little more. i think this sword has 1.3 million layers. it is folded 13 times.

however for those that do not know all the folds are not only in 2's. some are in 3's that will let master chen get the layers he wants and only fold 13 times. so with this in mind 2, 4, 8, 16, that is in 2's. but sometimes he will fold in 3's being 3, 9, 27, 81........ so it is not always as we think in the folding.

thanks

[J Anstey]

Hi Bobby,

Nice to see you here!

Thanks for posting that pic, - great shot! I'll add that to my Jian scrapbook and thanks for the additional info on the folding/layers thingy

Cheers

Jase

[Tim Lison]

This sort of sword is not my cup of tea. However, I can recognize the beauty of the piece. It is fantastic. Truly a work of art! I'm sure you are more than happy with this gorgeous piece!