03-24-2011, 04:15 AM
Hello Ron and Marcus,
The Chinese-influenced crossbar or grip check is one of the big bones of contention on the Orlat battle plaque, aka the other RAT thread. I studied the artwork closely and identified it as popular between the Chinese Warring States period and the end of the Han Dynasty. It would match the Alanic/Chinese checks found in the Crimea and Kuban, so that's why I used it.
The limits of illustrating a post prohibited me to show the blade. It's a form close to the original "clamshell" battle blades popular on Han swords. I used an "eight-sided" blade as found on the museum sword of Emperor Wu Di:
[attachment=407]WSsword.6.JPG[/attachment]
The photo clearly shows how thick this blade is. It's massive. And here is a view of the tip, where you can see the layers of folded steel.
[attachment=408]wusuncavalrysword017.JPG[/attachment]
The Chinese-influenced crossbar or grip check is one of the big bones of contention on the Orlat battle plaque, aka the other RAT thread. I studied the artwork closely and identified it as popular between the Chinese Warring States period and the end of the Han Dynasty. It would match the Alanic/Chinese checks found in the Crimea and Kuban, so that's why I used it.
The limits of illustrating a post prohibited me to show the blade. It's a form close to the original "clamshell" battle blades popular on Han swords. I used an "eight-sided" blade as found on the museum sword of Emperor Wu Di:
[attachment=407]WSsword.6.JPG[/attachment]
The photo clearly shows how thick this blade is. It's massive. And here is a view of the tip, where you can see the layers of folded steel.
[attachment=408]wusuncavalrysword017.JPG[/attachment]
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
