400 Year-Old Dandao Sword - MAN AT ARMS: REFORGED 

Dude, Ilya is so cool.

There's something satisfying about watching raw metal being gradually worked into something so exquisite.

Iliya's a goddam max level dwarf blacksmith and no one will be able to convince me otherwise.

These traditional forging episodes are far and away my favourites. I know you guys are skilled, but this is showcasing your abilities on an entirely different level.

For those who are not familar to Chinese culture: Straight blade sword and Curved blade sword are actually two different weapon class in China. Curved swords are most commonly been regarded as "Knife"(刀, Dao), while the Straight sword is what people commonly regarded as "Sword"(剑，Jian) I believe there is nothing to do with Qingshihuangdi(秦始皇, the empiror of Qin dynasty over 2200 years ago) cause the most of Chinese uses straight swords back into 220 B.C. Swords (I mean straight swords) has irreplaceable status in ancient Chinese culture. They was believed had lives and spirits at that time. And more importantly, they are regarded as a symbol that represented social status. The multitudes are not allow to arm with a sword. A man should at least be a lowest class royalty---Shi(士）to be armed with a sword. Dandao is actually Miaodao(苗刀), a kind of weapon that Chinese army used in the southeast area to fight against Japanese pirates back in the Song Dynasty(1200 A.D.). The Japanese learned to make Tangdao(唐刀) swords from Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.) Tangdao was like a straight blade Katana. And after hundreds of years, ancient Japanese innovated it to create a Katana liked sword, called Tachi(太刀/たち). When the japanese pirates invaded southeast of China in Song Dynasty, the Chinese soldiers found the Tachi really worked out well during the fight. So they imitated the Tachi and innovated it again. This is what we called Dandao Sword today. This is the reason why Dandao looks so similar to Japanese Katana.

Is it just me, or are the most impressive builds made mainly by Illya? The Stagmers aren't very impressive, but Illya, that man deserves more credit then he gets.

Great job guys. I'm impressed! More historical build anytime!

Idk if someone else re-watches these old ,but the best, episodes. But if you are here, know this: you are not alone 🙏🏻 P.S. somehow it feels like this old guy did not do this sword justice in showing it off

Ilya Alekseyev not only "Master Armourer and Engraver".... Master of f**king everything!

That's a gorgeous blade. I really love it when you guys do the more manual labor intensive builds with more traditional techniques. Swords are an anachronism. They have no place on the modern battlefield, they only exist today as an extension mankind's will to shape the world around us. The labor intensive techniques and the care and attention put into the construction of these blades gives them a better soul, for lack of a better word.

I may have drooled a bit at the end... What a beautiful sword.

These historical builds always turn out so incredible! Great job guys.

You should make Genji's dragonblad from overwatch

I would like to see an episode dedicated to some general aspects of forging weapons. After watching this channel for a long time, I have learned a lot about it, but still it would be great to see some explanations about the decision making process

You are true artists

That look you give a girl when she says "I'm only into nerdy looking blacksmiths." 16:12

If you guys made an overwatch build like Genji's blade that would be dope!

Well Genji's Dragonblade just took over the comments, we have no regrets

Ok ok guys I will go and buy your cider...

17:38 this man really knows his field, so much art...

you know what you should do? Make a collab with the SlowMoGuys and let them film some of your forging (and then maybe some ofthe demos too) in 1000s of fps.

I would love to see Genji's sword from Overwatch Ryūjin no ken o kurae!

I would LOVE to see you make Reinhardts hammer, from the game Overwatch!

I love how he says 100% historical, as a paracord wrap is being attached. Lol

This is my first vid I've watched from you guys. I'm so glad your not like the tv shows with all the drama. Thank you guys for giving great info and just that!

Would love to see you forge a Roman Gladius and Pilum!

Kenshin Reverse Blade Sword!

"Build me an army worthy of Mordor." Iliya: We have work to do...

Make Genji´s Dragonblade from Overwatch pls.

Ilia is fricken wizard.

Who else thought in the thumbnail it was David Carradine?

So wait, the Dandao manual is famous for being the first manual that was actually written like a god dang manual? I mean fair enough

amazing blade but the most important its your great job guys congratulations you are the better!

Do corvo's knife sword thingy. And make it functional.

Genji sword!!!

First, I love the weapon in the video, it's beautiful and it's really kool. Second, I would like to clarify some historical background. It's Tang-dao and tang-dao is a straight-single-bladed knife. It originated from the Han dynasty, the 'shou huan dao' (ring-pommel knife), which the martial artist was right about combating riders. However, when it came to the Tang dynasty, it evolved into a blade for foot-soldiers or a secondary weapon for riders. The blade is originally designed to pierce armour as well as cutting flesh, therefore, it is straight with a narrower edge (The katana's edge goes about half-width, whereas the Tang-dao only a third). The Japanese adapted the Tang-dao and created a curved blade with a thinner shaper edge to cut through flesh, but very fragile against armour, since armours weren't common in Japan, but was way more common amongst militants on the Eurasian continent. The next dynasty Song abandoned the production of Tang daos for a thicker blade, since Song was so rich (half the planet's gdp at the time) that they can afford production with more materials whilst simplifying the manufacturing process. The art of Tang-dao was lost since that point, both the manufacturing process and the way to wield it. A similar blade is reinvented called the "chik-ka-dao" (invented by General Chik, 'ka' basically means 'in the heritage from' or 'in the family of') which derived from katanas of the Japanese pirates. Its wielding was very different from katana, it has a longer blade and was used at times as semi-spears, as it was invented to fend off pirates in coastal and naval combat, where range can be crucial. Its usage was very distanced from the Tang-dao already. The manual that the martial art guy in the video was actually referring to this Chik-ka-dao. In previous comments, someone also mentioned a miao-dao (translated as the straw-blade, for its thin profile) it is more used like sabres on horseback, slicing through enemy at high-speeds, which actually came later in history. These these weapons I mentioned have very similar profiles and they get mixed up a lot, even by Chinese people, so I don't blame the video makers. As for the video, it is a magnificent blade they made, I love the final product very much. However, I do have to say that they made a katana.

the swordsman in blue looks like David Carradine

Make a 100% traditional build, handmade inlays, handsmelted, forged and with old traditional equipment ... *then give it a paracord wrap* ! It's extremely impressive though, no doubt, but couldn't you guys have used something, i don't know ... more traditional for the handle ?!

Genji's Sword from Overwatch

2:12 The Forbidden Creampie

Roronoa Zoro's Shuusui from One Piece!!!

that cut of the 8 beer cans was awesome haha

want to know what this video made me really thirsty for some reason, guess ill go out and have some orange juice.

its really satisfying how you all did this amazing 400 year old sword, it's really cool

oh yeah, i grew some chest hair and now I feel like I have to go save china now.

Craftmanship...is a rare trade that will never be outdated. beautifully done guys... Respect!

I wouldn't call using a power hammer cheating, it's just smart. It's like taking water with you for a jog

Do a completely authentic Ulfberht the way the Vikings used to!

Build a godsword from runescape

4:51 "Since we don't have a lot of time on this build..." *Decides to makes their own steel from scratch*

corvos sword from dishonored.... I feel like a broken record since ive been asking for over a year now :(

I hate that you guys rarely ever show assembly anymore.

Genji's Dragonblade from Overwatch!

As a Chinese I am very glad to see you guys recreate this traditional knife,awesome!

I would love to see the Sekki from Noragami.

forge the Monkey kings bar also called Sun WuKongs 孙悟空 Jing gu Bang 金箍棒

Soul Edge... you guys can pull it off, I know you can!

I love historical builds. Some suggestions: The Egyptian Khopesh (out of bronze perhaps), The Zweihander The Halberd The Roman Gladius A Khukri Cavalry Sable A scimitar Apologies if some of these have already been made before, I didn't double check.

you guys sould make genjis ultimate sword it sould be pretty cool

ILYA IS BACK YEAAA

This is one of the best reforged video ive ever seen in youtube.

Genjis sword from overwatch

Where is Iliya from? The man is very skilled

dunno it it's possible but what I'd really LOVE to see are the blades of mercy from Bloodborne. That'd be a REAL masterpiece.

This Sword had the best demo performance of all your builds, the way you sliced through all those cans in a row at the end...

Did you guys just fire everyone and let Matt and ileya do everything

This is awesome. Making a sword that is 400 years old using techniques from the time period. Wow. I want them to make a Schiavona sword. The one that is seen in Assassin's Creed 2.

This has gotta be one of my Faves!

Dark Souls Fume Knight Ultra Great Sword

This is in my opinion the best episode of yours yet! Id like to see more historical builds :)

ok... so i have been following Man At Arms for some time now... and naturally i am impressed! :) but you seem to always recreate weapons from games, movies, TV series, anime etc. and you are all clearly skilled in your field... but what would come out of your shop if you all sat down and started planning and drawing your very own piece..? screw recreation... i want to see what you guys can come up with... and everyone have to contribute to the build... no limits... only one rule... it MUST be your very own design! You game? ;)

Awesome! I'm from China I really like this video, amazing work!

Dear god. Cutting that dragon out must have been so tedious.

Ilya is the mvp

This one might be really hard to make but, can you make the Crescent Rose from RWBY.

You know what guys, you are awesome... This channel always full of history, thats why i like it...

Guys, build a Guan dao worthy of general Guan Yu

Something from warframe! Loads of cool ass melee weapons in that game c:

Knife from price of Persia? Would be a tricky one scince there is glass involved.

5:13 Dam that was shiny, love this stuff so much

Ilya , i want to be your apprentice !!!!

They should forge Griffith's douchbag sword from Berserk.

YASUO SWORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great team ,great work,I love it!

"All the smiths...." Oh yeah you mean Ilya, Ilya, Ilya, Ilya, and Ilya. 😂😂

Remember the old chinese sword handles with paracord?

5:13 wow this was the manliest things ever lol

do Rinehart's hammer from overwatch lol go big or go home

I could spend all day watching Ilia engrave. Damn hes got skill

glamdring from lord of the rings!

Awesome job guys! It's good to see that ancient Chinese blades are getting some attention as well.

I'm always so upset by the waste of delicious cider

100 percent my historical my ass paracord is a modern invention

Archer's Kanshou and Bakuya (F/SN)

Finally, a channel that knows what it is talking about

Rapier. just one rapier.

This looks sharper than most of their other swords, given how it cuts through things.

Make Sword of Goujian please! That 2500 year old sword is still sharp to this day!

Everytime I watch this kind of videos makes me feel satisfied

love those historical weapons being brought back to life