LK Chen – Beiyang (German M1889) Dragon Cavalry Saber

A close cousin to the German M1889, the Chinese Beiyang military saber by LK Chen is replicated and reproduced from his studies on an antique original to ensure an accurate 1:1 recreation and the result is a fantastically well balanced and very functional early modern military saber. The blade has an excellent compromise between resilient flex and substantial stiffness for thrusting thanks to its fine tempering and pipe-back blade geometry which aids in stiffening the spine and tip of the blade for the thrust.

The blade is forged from GB 60Si2MnA high carbon steel (a steel with properties similar to 5160 spring steel) and it is tempered to a hardness of 53-55 HRc. The guard and pommel are stainless steel and like the original the tang has a screw and nut cap assembly anchoring the tang into the hilt. The grip on originals was crafted from Bakelite, an early form of tough plastic and true to the original this replica has a grip of hard plastic that approximates the original Bakelite. The scabbard is crafted from stainless steel to match.

The Beiyang Saber takes its form directly from the German M1889 saber. Near the end of the Qing Dynasty its army suffered serial defeats in wars against more modernized opponents. In an effort to modernize the military, the Qing established a new military doctrine based upon western militaries to create the Beiyang New Army. To create this mass modernization, the Qing enlisted the help of German military advisors. The cavalry received the German cavalry doctrine, complete with German style military sabers that were nearly identical to German examples with the only notable difference being the replacement of the German imperial eagle on the hilt with the emblem of the Qing Chinese dragon. Even the blades for these sabers were sourced from the famed German military sword manufacturer Solingen. With the assistance of the German instructors and substantial investment from the Qing Emperor and imperial bureaucracy the Beiyang New Army bloomed into a 70,000 strong army by 1905 with each military regiment having a cavalry unit composed of three battalions; each one of these formations required a whopping 1,046 of these Beiyang Cavalry Sabers to make them ready for action in the order of battle.