Slatehaven Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Straight Backed Dao Sword | 35 Inch Overall with 26 Inch Blade | Martial Arts Collector Gift | RK-1305

Not every dao curves. The straight backed saber, the zhibeidao, keeps the single edge and the knife construction of the Chinese military sword but runs the spine dead straight from the collar to a clipped tip. It is an old form, closer in outline to the Han dynasty huandao than to the willow leaf sabers that came later, and it survived alongside them for centuries because it does something the curved blades cannot. It thrusts in a straight line. A soldier fighting in a rank where there is no room to swing wants exactly that, and the same straight backed profile turns up on Japanese chokuto, Korean hwando and half a dozen other Asian blades for the same reason.

This one is forged and finished by hand in Memphis, Tennessee. The blade is 1095 high carbon steel hardened and tempered to 54 to 58 HRC, straight, single edged and polished bright. The hilt is a black cord wrapped grip with plain fittings, and the sword ships in a black scabbard. Shipping inside the United States is free.

Specifications

Why a straight back changes the way the sword points

On a curved saber the point sits below the line of the grip. That is fine for cutting, because the curve does the work, but it means a thrust has to be aimed by feel and the wrist has to compensate. Straighten the spine and the point comes up onto the same axis as your forearm. You can put the tip where you are looking without thinking about it, which is why straight backed blades keep appearing in armies that fight in close formation.

The second effect is on the cut itself. A straight single edge chops rather than slices, so it delivers its energy over a shorter length of edge. That takes more force but it also means the whole edge is usable rather than just the curved sweet spot, and it makes the sword much less fussy about the angle you present. Combined with the narrow blade and the light weight of this piece, the result is a sword that is unusually easy to use accurately.

Why high carbon steel and not stainless

Only two steels come through this workshop. Plain blades are 1095 high carbon steel. Damascus blades are 1095 and 15N20 forge welded together. Nothing else.

1095 is a plain, deep hardening carbon steel, and on a narrow blade like this one that matters a great deal. There is not much material here, so the steel has to be genuinely tough as well as hard. At 54 to 58 HRC it holds an edge through real cutting and flexes back straight if you get a strike wrong. Stainless steel achieves rust resistance with heavy chromium, and the resulting carbides make the steel coarse at the edge and brittle in a thin section. On a slim blade that is a poor bargain. A carbon steel blade will rust if neglected, and a wipe of oil after each handling is the whole of the maintenance. Our note on Damascus versus stainless gives the detail.

The cord wrapped grip

The grip is a wooden core wrapped in black cord over its full eight and a half inches, with plain fittings at both ends. A cord wrap does two useful things on a single edged sword. The raised diamonds stop the hilt turning in the hand during a cut, which keeps the edge aligned, and the wrap can be replaced by itself if it ever wears, without touching the blade or the fittings.

Keep the wrap dry and let it dry naturally if it does get wet, because direct heat shrinks cord unevenly and slackens the tension. Where wood is exposed at the collar or pommel, and on the scabbard, follow the advice in our wooden handle care guide.

Engraving, runes and your own design

Use the rune converter on this page to turn a name, a date or a short phrase into Elder Futhark and we will cut it into the steel or the handle. If you would rather have a Viking pattern than a rune line, choose your own design in the engraving option above the add to cart button and tell us whether it goes on the blade or the handle. Where a piece already carries an engraved design, your chosen engraving replaces it rather than sitting alongside it. The long straight flat on this blade is one of the easiest surfaces we cut on. See the engraving page.

Care and sharpening

Wipe the blade with an oiled cloth after handling, and store the sword out of its scabbard if it is being put away for months, because a close fitting scabbard holds humidity against steel. Catch spotting early and it lifts with oil and a soft cloth. Storage, oils and rust removal are covered on our steel care page.

A straight single edge is the simplest possible sharpening job. Lay the bevel flat on a medium stone and work the whole length in slow even passes, then repeat on a fine stone and remove the burr with a couple of light strokes on the spine side. Lift the handle slightly through the clip at the tip so the point stays crisp. See sharpening with a whetstone.

Forged in Memphis

The blade is forged, ground, heat treated, straightened, polished and hilted in our shop in Memphis, Tennessee. The cord is wrapped here by hand and the scabbard is shaped and fitted here too. Nothing is drop shipped from an importer catalogue and nothing is bought in finished and relabelled. In stock swords leave in two to three business days. Made to order or engraved pieces take two to three weeks.

A note on handmade variation

This sword is hand forged. It is not machine made and it is not bulk produced, so what arrives will not be a pixel for pixel copy of the photograph. The tension and spacing of the cord wrap, the tone of the fittings, the exact length of the clip at the point and the way the polish reads all vary, because everything is worked by hand from natural materials. The dimensions, the steel and the build stay the same every time. The character does not.

Frequently asked questions

Is it sharp on arrival?

Yes, it comes with a working edge. If you want a blunt sword for forms practice or public display, tell us in the order notes.

Is this a ninja sword?

No. It is a Chinese straight backed dao, an old military saber form. The straight blade in a black scabbard has become associated with ninja props in film, but this is a functional single edged sword built on historical Chinese lines.

Can I use it for cutting?

Yes. It is full tang and hardened through, and the straight edge chops mats and bottles cleanly. Avoid steel to steel contact and heavy timber.

Can I have runes engraved on it?

Yes. Use the rune converter above for Elder Futhark or choose your own Viking pattern in the engraving option, and tell us whether it goes on the blade or the grip.

How does it compare with the curved dao?

This one thrusts more naturally and uses its whole edge in the cut. The curved willow leaf dao slices better and is the classic Ming and Qing military profile. Same steel, same hardness, different geometry.

How long does shipping take?

Shipping is free inside the United States and stock pieces arrive five to seven business days after dispatch. Engraved orders add two to three weeks.

What is in the box

• One hand forged 1095 high carbon steel straight backed Chinese dao, 35 inches overall
• One black scabbard
• Care card covering oiling, cord wrap care and sharpening
• Your Elder Futhark rune line or chosen pattern, if engraving was ordered
• Forged and finished in Memphis, Tennessee

Explore the range

See the other jian and dao Chinese swords, the straight bladed ninja style swords, the full sword range and the Damascus swords, or read the guides.