Northern Dynasty Hidden-Hilt Dao 'Dragon Sparrow' by LK Chen - Sword Review 

Sometimes people in history come up with a solution...it doesn't mean that it's necessarily the best or most practical solution.

i wrote it in one of your previous video, that ring pommel is not just to secure your hand from slipping, but also helps edge alignment. If you hold your pinky and ring finger on the pommel you can manipulate blade alignment much better

Commonly knives were made with wet formed leather sheaths that cover most of the handle to protect them from weather and aid with retention, given that the other weapons with hidden hilts are large knives or short swords I suspect the origin of this feature is an adaptation in wood of knife sheaths. Possibly in Central Asia, as well as other areas where wood is less common and hence more valuable, leather was the preferred material for sword scabbards.

Abou the ring pommel there’s a very interesting scene in the anime Princess Mononoke in which the hero, who’s a member of a real ancient native people from Japan, has a machete like knife with a ring pommel. The most interesting scene to me is when the hero faces some mounted samurai and he simply hangs the knife on his pinky finger (on the hand that draws the bow string) by passing it through the ring pommel so that he can shoot an arrow without having to let go of the knife or waste time sheathing it.

Skallagrim almost cut his hand thrusting with a dao, but luckly didn't. I think he is the one you are thinking about.

One other thing to consider for protection from the elements is that in very cold weather, the blade might expand or contract like any piece of metal. If a tighter scabbard is needed to keep it in, that scabbard might have to be “adjusted” depending on the weather if it’s gripping the blade. The grip, however, can be made of materials that don’t expand or contract substantially, so even if the sword is cold it won’t go sliding around.

Another information dense video! Love it

You Get it Matt. I Love you’re videos man

Re: Gripping it down by the pommel, it also appears that the 'riser' on the pommel sits nicely between your ring finger and pinky, sort of like the risers in the middle of some kukri grips, which might also suggest that it's there to help lock the grip into your hand a little more securely. Of course, I haven't handled one, so I can't really comment other than on appearances, but it does also seem to give some more credence to a lower grip. Cheers.

Hey Matt, I don't know if you remember, but on a previous video on the Frontier Tang Dao that had a cord loop on the handle, some other commenter suggested catching the cord loop with your thumb and looping it around the back of your had like a police baton. I don't know if you've tested this yet, but I took the initiative to test this on my Han Infantry Dao, and it works wonderfully. I used a short loop that forces my hand to choke down on the pommel and hold it in my pinky; this gives me some pretty good edge control and also keeps my hand attached to the sword when I thrust with it, making a large guard unnecessary. I'm now thinking that most Chinese swords with ring pommels that were meant to be wielded in one hand were meant to be held this way, and the reason that we don't see the loops on Chinese examples is due to disintegration over time, whereas Japanese examples are often kept clean and pristine inside temples for _very_ long periods of time.

For such an old style it is extremely elegant and ornate. Beautiful piece overall. Reminds me of cane swords.

It's hard to review this sword, you can't always find it.

Beautiful modern recreations. Wish I grabbed a couple when they were $250 instead of $380

I'm glad these older battle sword designs are coming to fore these days and highlighted by yourself. So much of Chinese weapon assumptions otherwise in previous years were based inaccurately on later date martial arts swords. Great job.

Good looking sword, love knowing the history behind a piece especially if thinking of purchasing it. Not crazy about fantasy pieces, just not my cup of tea nothing personal.just like historical pieces better. Great review as always sir. Stay safe and God bless 🇺🇸☠️🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧🤺💂!!

I'll just note that friction doesn't depend on area, it's just pressure and surface type. Considering that the grip is also more exposed to wear, it doesn't seem likely they did this to stop the sword from falling out, there would be easier ways to do that.

Excellent video, Matt! I agree with your assessment of how the sword would have been gripped and I enjoyed hearing more about the history of these types of swords in this region and others. And thank you for the kind words! I'll echo what some others have already said in the comments... please don't leave out your cutting videos. We are all interested to hear your thoughts on how the sword handles and feels when cutting. Keep up the great work! :-)

Hey Matt, I think you are correct on the influence. The Chinese known and had contact with Sassanian in those days. Peroz 3rd served as a Tang general.

I'm aware that Philip Martin from the Aikidoka channel held the sword near the ring pommel, and was able to cut with it, but art sources along with traditional Chinese usage suggests it was held by exactly where you'd expect, the hidden handle. It's true that the lack of a guard makes European swordsman nervous, but as long as you hit with it properly/traditionally you won't end up cutting your hand. And note that there are plenty of sources that show us the information, and some of it is speculation, BUT it's speculation based on evidence. The Chinese had a different philosophy when it came to swords, and it was that if the sword didn't perform the way you wanted it to, then the swordsman needs to improve his technique, rather than change the design of the sword. And while it didn't happen a full 100% of the time, it happened enough that it was kind of the general consensus to the era and beyond. I don't expect anyone to take the word of an internet rando like myself (especially with no proof of credentials) seriously, but I still feel compelled to correct any accidental misinformation. Though I wish I had more time and a proper platform instead of a RU-vid comment section xD

Matt, humility has its place, and kudos to linking to the Aikidoka Channel, but most of us have become accustomed to *your* cutting videos and can compare what we're doing with what you're doing, looking for tips or examples of what not to do etc. Just because *you* think someone's better than you (and even if they are, by whatever metric) is no excuse to blow off doing your duty and showing how well (or badly) a sword cuts in *your* hand. Ultimately it is your channel and your choice- I just wanted you to know there's at least one vote for you to continue showing us that perfection is to be striven for, but that we can all improve, even you.

Aikidoka ? Just put me in mind of the famous Pratchett martial art of okidoki

On the subject of the risk of one's hand sliding up the grip and accidentally getting cut, do we know that the blade was definitely sharpened along its entire length?

very cool sword.

Cool!

Han dynasty pommel looks like it is made for cracking open beers

The northern dynasties were descended from the proto-mongolic former vassals of the defunct Han empire, most notably the Xianbei who were cavalry specialists. They set up what were the analogue of the the barbarian successor kingdoms, the difference being that they were so thoroughly sinicized that they ultimately paved the way for a relatively easy reunification at the end of the 6th century CE.

That very long grip and how one holds it makes me think of the P1899 cavalry trooper sword.

I want one of these in a sword cane style.

Hello Matt, looking at that ridge in the grip. Is that a pronounced as much as it would be on a kukri? It looks like by its positioning it could serve the same function on this sword as it would on the kukri.

Also, if you didn't have that extra bit of grip, even if you don't actually hold it there, but it was just blade all the way, then holding it down at the pommel wouldn't necessarily make it much safer. Having that extra length of leather or wood or whatever makes it so that even if you did thrust and your hand did slide up, it would maybe only slide to the upper part of the grip instead of up to the blade.

Can you do a review on sassanid cavalry swords?

Sounds correct on the pommel which became likely ore ornamental. I doubt the pinky was used. Sounds painful waiting to happen.😄

I'd guess the longer grip is related to thrusting and it being safer even if you hand slips up a bit

Hmm. Is there any possibility it was meant so you could shorted your grip and get a more nimble sword if you got in close quarters if you wanted the option? Still seems fiddly. My other thought was it giving you the option to two hand it even as a shorter sword (I'm reminded of the depictions/writings of people two handing viking swords when their shields broke and needing to clasp a one handed grip in two hands)

Sexy blade. Thank you.

These swords and their like were also imported and copied extensively in japan during the following period, Chokuto swords.

I think when talk about Chinese swords, it’s always important to think about who use it. This particular type of 环首刀, usually was used not for fight. More like a threatening from the owner, symbol of power. That is why this sword has no guard, thin blade, fancy handle that obviously, hard to hold. You can imagine this sense: a Tang Dynasty police is on duty to catch a corrupted officer, with more 50 polices who armed to teeth standing behind him. He don’t need a big knife to threat, his sword only need to be pulled out and been seen. 环首刀started as a battle weapon, longer and thicker blade, hand guard, reliable handle. But when Tang Dynasty, this weapon started to shift.

you reminded me of a prison shank when your hand rode up it so easily. Given that they will hardly ever have hilts the user have lanyards to keep a solid grip. that's the only way i'd stab with that sword. Would also make drawing slightly easier.

Unraleted question about ca 1700 warfare: the depiction of line infantry marching towards eachother than halting and basically taking turns fiering. How accuret is it really?

The ring pommel could for tying a string then tying the rope to rods for mass storage. Lash the swords after slathering them in grease, gravity mades sure they get a good coating and when a soldier wants one out of the armoury, he unties it.

and if your hand slips, you can use the braid or handkerchief to pull the sword out

how was the ring pommel attached to the rest of the hilt?

Is it possible to do video on home defense weapons- axes, machetes etc...swords are expensive :D

having the hidden pommel plus having the belt attachment so close to the the edge of the scabbard, do you think this design was to prevent the pommel from interfering with horsemanship or mounted archery? You definitely wouldn't want to have a long pommel swinging around while you ride or shoot.

Northern Dynasty (North Wei) in fact founded by a non-ethnic Chinese nomadic race 鮮卑, closely related to the Turks and Afghan/Uzbek/Central Asian, and their closest relatives now are the asians living in Siberia. Therefore, the Hidden hilt design.

"Even though it doesn't feel as nimble" You wouldn't expect a dao to feel nimble to a saberist. Because of the difference in weighting and in styles, it won't be nimble with the motions that are habitual to you, they're designed to be used in ways that are much more intensive to the core and with a focus on circular movements which relatively different from how western people think about the motions involved. Although later, I reckon the difference in edge bevel could be compared to the transition from 8-faced jian to 4-faced jian.

What about it being a compact design to keep it more out of the way when riding?

how dangerous is it to use it to thrust, as soon as there is nothing stopping your hand from sliding upwards on to the blade?

It's unrelated to the video, but do you know what (if anything) has happened to Martin Austwick? There are a lot of people wondering over on his channel.

Maybe it is a navy sword and to be use to fight on ships and beaches

I'd imagine if you thrust hard and run into any resistance, you'd almost certainly slide your hand up and cut yourself - does this mean this sword is NOT meant for thrusting?

But doesn't wood swell in tropical and high humidity climes? Wouldn't that possibly cause scabbard binding?

Looking at the design and style, and **knowing nothing about its history** my first thought was that looks like a symbol of status, designed to be worn and seen, but seldom if ever used. Somewhere between a swordstick and a small sword: the sort of thing a gentleman would carry but hope never to have to draw in anger. It's elegant and beautiful, but not necessarily optimised as a weapon because of that grip and the lack of even the simplest guard or ridge to stop your hand sliding. I feel a warrior who expected to use his sword would prioritise ease of drawing and holding, and a little bit more length, over the hidden hilt feature. There are other ways to stop a sword falling out of its scabbard and to stop rain getting in.

我都没见过这种剑

What? Pommels to stop your hand sliding? What about ending them rightly?

how long was the longest Chinese sword?

It's a ceremonial hidden hilt.

Needs bronze with vertigre

North dynasty (that period is called south north dynasty) are formed by nomad tribes from mongolia. South dynasty are han Chinese. At the end one of the dynasty in north dynasty conquered the whole of china. Not surprise it has a lot of central Asia influences.

What sucks most about LK Chen blades is that copper alloys and Iron alloys shouldn't ever be combined! The blade will rust of the hilt if any sweat, blood or other conductive moisture gets in the hilt.

why were early Chinese swords so narrow?

**looks at that bill** Well, someone knocked that together in a hurry.... I guess that's probably pretty authentic. I'd have gone for a pocket or cleft weld for the rear spike, but admittedly it's easier to do a lap weld in wrought iron than mild...

Finland mentioned! TORILLE!

Khyber swords were not originally guardless so that theory is not exactly correct. I would not exactly rely on 19th century khybers to think all of them had hidden hilts considering most were unfinished products during the time of war. We have to go before the Victorian era to examine what khybers looked like hilt wise.

Tang dynasty 700 to 900 ad dis

Why not put incised texture in the wooden portion of the grip? Even cut rings would do. I can't see a real cavalryman using this as a weapon. It is as dangerous to the user as it is to his opponent.

This is a spadroon

the hidden hilt also makes it easier to wear.

I am early again. Lol.

Sassanid konekdet vit tang dynasty en turki nomads vos alis vit tang dynasty

Just because it's ancient doesn't mean it's right. In other words, it could have been seen as a poor design even then.

Btw to those Americans,thats something mu lan would actually use if she ever existed

Obviously hidden hilt blade isnt a chinese weapons. Haha. It belongs to Xianbei or Donghu tribe in the north and north east of modern day china. These are the sinicized ancient turko mongol speaking tribe with powerful army.

Byzantines? They called themselves Romans and the called the capitol Constantinopel.

You becoming a sales rep for LK Chen? They are getting a lot of free exposure from your "review" vids. I wonder how much their sales have increased from the free advertising you're giving them?

Man you are talking way to much. It took you more than 5 minutes just to show us a blade of this sword. So irritating. Stop listening to your vica, please, ald cut thos videos in a half.

Chinese swords really do lack of sex appeal. But I understand the hunt for content