More Chinese stuff

[KuKulzA28]

Wow, thanks for the information Josh, I didn't know that! The difference between civilian and military paired swords as evidenced by the guards is a very good observation...

Perhaps those specially skilled double-saber troops of the Ming era were hired mercenaries? Or perhaps specially trained troops? I was always under the impression that double blades were more of a skill that civilian martial artists occasionally were taught and trained and that the government's military generally did not have that as part of their training.

I wonder, when did double blades begin getting longer - and why? Shorter blades are easier to draw and better in tighter spaces. Was there a change in metallurgy, military "fashion"/preferences, or contemporary fighting???

[josh stout]

The full size double weapons I have seen tend to be very late and of lower quality steel than the earlier ones that show signs of substantial use.

It looks like the beginning of the 20th c. and the very end of the Qing is the deviding line.

Gavin just let a set of older full size ones go that would be the exception to this rule.

Josh

[KuKulzA28]

Originally Posted by josh stout

The full size double weapons I have seen tend to be very late and of lower quality steel than the earlier ones that show signs of substantial use.

It looks like the beginning of the 20th c. and the very end of the Qing is the deviding line.

Would that be because of them no longer being primary fighting weapons, or because of a decline in swordsmithing skills, or a decline in skilled martial arts practitioners... or all of the above?

Originally Posted by josh stout

Gavin just let a set of older full size ones go that would be the exception to this rule.

The set shown at the top of this thread or another one... ?