The Miao Dao, the “grain leaf” sabre, receives its name from the early 20th century despite its ancient origin. Its history is a subject of debate among some scholars and sword enthusiasts but all agree about its reemergence in the mid-16th century by General Qi Jiguang who resurrected the sword to combat pirates raiding coastal cities. After the victory over the pirates the Miao Dao remained useful battling enemies of the Ming Empire which led to this famous general’s men to be known as the “invincible Qi army”. Highly coveted by the soldiers the swords didn’t pass along this weapon easily.
This beautiful Hanwei Maio Dao is the pinnacle of Chinese sword craftsmanship. This version features a sharp and well-tempered L6 steel blade with a groove on on both sides of the blade to lighten the balance. The ribbed handle is a beautiful black which is made from wood with a wrap of rattan which was gloss lacquered for a finish and this is echoed by the deep black lacquered scabbard. The gorgeously ornate guard and pommel are stainless steel as well as all the other accoutrements. An elegant weapon from a more honorable and duty bound age.
Please Note: It is common for the glossy lacquer scabbard of the sword to have some cosmetic blemishing present in the form of light scratches or scuff marks.
About L6 Bainite Steel:
Regarded as one of the more durable and resilient sword steels available when heat treated. L6 is a nickel-rich steel with great impact resistance that was originally developed for saw blades – when carefully heat treated into its Bainite phase this steel becomes exceptionally tough and resistant to damage. Properly heat treating L6 is difficult and it requires a skilled and diligent swordsmith – thus L6 sword blades are typically the reserve of high-end performance swords.
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