Vic here, great comparison! I'm always happy and impressed that LK Chen continues to improve their designs. It looks amazing in blue! I'm very tempted to buy one and compare it to Jon's original. And thanks for sharing our review! Cheers homie!
Jon here. I love my version of this sword, but it sounds like LK Chen made exactly the changes I would want. That large square handle was always less than ideal feeling to me, and it sounds like they nailed it this go around. I'm psyched for Vic to get his so we can compare. I also have a vague dream of getting my Yan Ling Dao re hilted into a fantasy falchion, because that just sounds awesome to me. Excellent work on this video sir.
I'm super happy that you've got your favorite sword replaced with an even enhanced version! Probably several centuries later archaeologists will find your first yanlingdao and debate whether people from the XXI century still do battle with swords and caused that edge damage with a well-timed parry. I totally dig the change LK Chen has made to this model. I like the blue cord wrap over the brown one. I like the oxblood vegan leather wrap on the scabbard--nice contrast with the blue cord--almost a Homelander sword, now go laser some tatami mats and bottles. Speaking of which, your cutting of the jug is some chef maneuvers. I remember the first of your videos that I watched was a Matt Easton lockdown cutting challenge. Well, had you owned this sword back then you would have totally won the grand prize. I like what they did to the girth of the grip, too. Kyle had some major problem with the grip on the older one. I assume he would be happier with this. It's interesting that they lowered the thickness on the blade. Was it 8.3mm back then? Crazy thick, I like it! But hey lowering the weight of a one-handed sword might not be a bad idea. The point of balance didn't change from before? Maybe they lowered the tang dimensions as well, or maybe the hushou thickness? One minor complaint I have is why not have a toukou? It really helps with scabbard retention and aesthetically it would speak to me more. Perhaps the original didn't have that, but it has such iconic shape on Chinese swords.
Thanks mate! Yeah I’m super duper happy to have it again and it is just as awesome as I was hoping. So the POB did come back almost 2cm compared to my older model, along with the expected change in moment of inertia. A tunkou would be awesome, but they definitely were not on every example; right now I do not have an answer as to which swords had the collars and which did not. They certainly are not as universal as habaki. At any rate this one looks great and cuts very nicely. Antiques may have tended towards a more blade-heavy POB, but I need to run some more stats with ScholarGeneral before saying anything definitively.
@@dlatrexswords With the lowered PoB, and the lowered weight, it is definitely a nimbler sword. Combined with the improved grip, it's certainly an even easier sword to maneuver--not to say the older model is hard or anything. Sounds like I have to pick one up one of these days.
Looking to get one of these daos even though I'm up in years. How would yinz rate the quality of the sword for edge retention and rust resistance? Thank you for your time.
It has fine edge, so if you hit it on a hard enough target (as I did) it can eventually chip. The ability to maintain its apex has been excellent. I have not needed to maintain the edge compared to other blades that I have used similar amounts. Because it is pattern welded high carbon steel it will need to be will looked after to prevent from rusting. Clean after use, and I apply a light coating of oil. I’ve never had this specific sword rust in me, but other LK Chen swords using similar batch of steel have oxidized when not looked after.
@@OppoA-mi1rr Nuiweidao refers to the shape that the blade takes, looking like the tail of an ox. When we say Nuiweidao (oxtail dao) we usually mean a civilian medium length sword, but the shape is seen on many blades: short duandao, double shuangdao, even long polearm Pudao. However they generally are not for military patterns. Baguadao often have an oxtail shape, but are not designed for combat. They are often larger and heavier than fighting dao and are designed specifically for baguazhang martial arts, to help with strengthening and to improve ones form.
Vegetarian friendly scabbard.. Hilarious. But the veggie burgers will not be happy it is made from petroleum products. Cant win with the wokies. Cool sword. Nice cutting. Thank you.
Vic here, great comparison! I'm always happy and impressed that LK Chen continues to improve their designs. It looks amazing in blue! I'm very tempted to buy one and compare it to Jon's original.
And thanks for sharing our review! Cheers homie!
Jon here. I love my version of this sword, but it sounds like LK Chen made exactly the changes I would want. That large square handle was always less than ideal feeling to me, and it sounds like they nailed it this go around.
I'm psyched for Vic to get his so we can compare. I also have a vague dream of getting my Yan Ling Dao re hilted into a fantasy falchion, because that just sounds awesome to me.
Excellent work on this video sir.
The yellow string is a bit much for me, but I love the blue. I'd probably change it to a metallic bronze or copper color.
I'm super happy that you've got your favorite sword replaced with an even enhanced version! Probably several centuries later archaeologists will find your first yanlingdao and debate whether people from the XXI century still do battle with swords and caused that edge damage with a well-timed parry.
I totally dig the change LK Chen has made to this model. I like the blue cord wrap over the brown one. I like the oxblood vegan leather wrap on the scabbard--nice contrast with the blue cord--almost a Homelander sword, now go laser some tatami mats and bottles. Speaking of which, your cutting of the jug is some chef maneuvers. I remember the first of your videos that I watched was a Matt Easton lockdown cutting challenge. Well, had you owned this sword back then you would have totally won the grand prize. I like what they did to the girth of the grip, too. Kyle had some major problem with the grip on the older one. I assume he would be happier with this. It's interesting that they lowered the thickness on the blade. Was it 8.3mm back then? Crazy thick, I like it! But hey lowering the weight of a one-handed sword might not be a bad idea. The point of balance didn't change from before? Maybe they lowered the tang dimensions as well, or maybe the hushou thickness?
One minor complaint I have is why not have a toukou? It really helps with scabbard retention and aesthetically it would speak to me more. Perhaps the original didn't have that, but it has such iconic shape on Chinese swords.
Thanks mate!
Yeah I’m super duper happy to have it again and it is just as awesome as I was hoping. So the POB did come back almost 2cm compared to my older model, along with the expected change in moment of inertia. A tunkou would be awesome, but they definitely were not on every example; right now I do not have an answer as to which swords had the collars and which did not. They certainly are not as universal as habaki.
At any rate this one looks great and cuts very nicely. Antiques may have tended towards a more blade-heavy POB, but I need to run some more stats with ScholarGeneral before saying anything definitively.
@@dlatrexswords With the lowered PoB, and the lowered weight, it is definitely a nimbler sword. Combined with the improved grip, it's certainly an even easier sword to maneuver--not to say the older model is hard or anything. Sounds like I have to pick one up one of these days.
Looking to get one of these daos even though I'm up in years.
How would yinz rate the quality of the sword for edge retention and rust resistance?
Thank you for your time.
It has fine edge, so if you hit it on a hard enough target (as I did) it can eventually chip. The ability to maintain its apex has been excellent. I have not needed to maintain the edge compared to other blades that I have used similar amounts.
Because it is pattern welded high carbon steel it will need to be will looked after to prevent from rusting. Clean after use, and I apply a light coating of oil. I’ve never had this specific sword rust in me, but other LK Chen swords using similar batch of steel have oxidized when not looked after.
One sexy saber!
What is difference between Baguadao and Nuiweidao ? Their design similar.
@@OppoA-mi1rr Nuiweidao refers to the shape that the blade takes, looking like the tail of an ox. When we say Nuiweidao (oxtail dao) we usually mean a civilian medium length sword, but the shape is seen on many blades: short duandao, double shuangdao, even long polearm Pudao. However they generally are not for military patterns.
Baguadao often have an oxtail shape, but are not designed for combat. They are often larger and heavier than fighting dao and are designed specifically for baguazhang martial arts, to help with strengthening and to improve ones form.
@@dlatrexswords Thank for replied.
Vegetarian friendly scabbard.. Hilarious. But the veggie burgers will not be happy it is made from petroleum products. Cant win with the wokies.
Cool sword. Nice cutting. Thank you.
If you need to be intentionally dense in order to insult vegetarians, then maybe you aren't as clever as you think