Description
Black Lotus is a dao, the single-edged sabre that was the ordinary sword of China for most of two thousand years — issued to soldiers, carried by civilians, and still standard in Chinese martial arts. Twenty-nine inches overall, gently curved, with the point swept up at the front.
The finish is a smooth matte satin rather than a polish, so the curve reads as a shape instead of a set of reflections. The grip is polished black buffalo horn. At the front is an ornate round brass disc guard, and at the back a brass pommel cap carrying a red tassel.
| Overall length | 29 inches |
| Blade | Gently curved single edge, swept point |
| Steel | D2 tool steel |
| Finish | Smooth matte satin |
| Grip | Polished black buffalo horn |
| Guard | Ornate round brass disc |
| Pommel | Brass cap with red tassel |
| Included | Fitted leather scabbard |
Suits: martial artists who want the correct shape on the wall, and collectors tired of European swords. Twenty-nine inches is a manageable display length, and the red tassel gives the piece a spot of color that nothing else in this range has.
The disc guard and the tassel
The round plate guard is characteristic of the dao and it does a specific job. On a curved single-edged blade the hand sits close behind the edge, and a full disc shields it from every direction rather than the two a crossguard covers. The tassel is not ornament either: it moves as the sword moves, which trains a user to notice sloppy transitions, and it was historically used to pull an opponent’s eye.
Buffalo horn as a grip
Horn is warm to the touch, takes a deep polish, and gets slightly grippier as your hand warms it. It is natural, so the black is not perfectly even and the grain shows if you angle it into the light. It also moves with humidity — very dry air over years can shrink or check it, so it belongs on a wall rather than above a radiator.
Made one at a time
The guard is a cast and chased brass piece, the horn is fitted and polished by hand, and the blade is satin-finished by hand rather than belt-buffed to a uniform sheen. Small variations between pieces are expected.
Day to day: the satin finish is forgiving of fingerprints but D2 is not stainless, so wipe the blade after handling and keep a light oil film on it. Clean the horn with a dry or barely damp cloth; never soak it and never leave it in direct sun. Keep the tassel dry and comb it straight with your fingers if it tangles. Store the sword out of the scabbard.
FAQs
Is the tassel removable? It is fixed to the pommel cap. Handle it gently rather than pulling on it.
Is the horn dyed black? Buffalo horn is naturally very dark. The polish is what makes it look uniform.
Can I use it for forms practice? Handle it, yes. Not for contact or cutting — D2 at sword length is a display steel.
Why do pieces vary? The guard is chased brass, the horn is fitted by hand and the blade is satin-finished by hand; hand-forged against factory made explains why that is a feature. Profiles across the range are compared in the blade shapes guide.
What is the straight-bladed equivalent? The Sea Wolf Viking sword shows how differently the two traditions solved the same problem.
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Model: BMK-1137
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