Tang Heng Dao – Anti Katana Sword – Hand Crafted & Sharpened + Brocade Box

Developed During Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.), Tang Heng (Horizontal) Dao (Sword) is a straight Dao featuring a scabbard with two-point suspension system developed during the most powerful Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.). The two-point suspension system enables the Dao to be worn in a more or less horizontal (Heng) position. Tang Heng Dao was used for combat on foot as well as on horseback. Heng Dao is compact, light weight, and was the standard regulation side arm for conscripts, elite troops, commanding officers and The Tang Imperial guards.

Heng Dao is expensive to make and each piece worth about six month’s salary of a junior level government official. As an expensive military resource, Heng Dao was forbidden to be used as burial goods. As a result, there were very few unearthed specimens found today. Fortunately, Heng Dao was pursued by the Japanese delegates and sent back to Japan as treasures for the royal court and those few rare Heng Dao samples are preserved in Nara today. The technique and design of the Japanese Katana sword is heavily influenced by the Chinese Tang Heng Dao.

Specifications (approx.)

Blade Length: 71 cm
Handle Length: 26 cm
Total Length: 97 cm

POB from hand guard 11 cm

Gradual tapering
Width at hand guard: 3 cm (1.1″)
Width at 10.2 cm from tip: 2.33 cm (0.92″)
Width at 4 cm from tip: 2.14 cm (0.84″)
Thickness at hand guard: 7.41 mm
Thickness at 10.2 cm from tip: 4.68 mm
Thickness at 4 cm the tip: 4 mm

Blade cross section profile: triangular wedge shape
Blade length wide profile: straight blade, pointed tip with upper edge

Labor intensive classic forging.
Folded pattern steel (1065 & T9) wraps resilient A3 steel core.
Clay clade differential tempering for hard edge.
Straight Hamon. Cut mature bamboo with ease. Pierce wooden boards.
Polish to a sharp and hard cutting edge.
Ironwood scabbard (Handroanthus serratifolius) .

Tungsten-Vanadium High Speed Tool Steel.

Element %

Carbon 0.95-1.04
Silicon <=0.35
Manganese <=0.40
Phosphorus <=0.035
Sulfur <=0.030
Tungsten <= 0.30
Vanadium <= 0.02
Chromium <=0.25
Nickel <=0.20
Copper <=0.25
Molybdenum <= 0.20
Clay tempered differential heat treatment in clay furnace.

The traditional clay clad differential heat treatment will bring out a beautiful straight Hamon and hard cutting edge around HRC 56 with a resilient spine with HRC around 40-45.
Ironwood scabbard (Handroanthus serratifolius) .

What’s in the box
1 x Brocade Box
1 x Tang Heng Dao
1 x Display Stand