Sword Pictures

This cord or "Jul" is a rather lengthy and sophisticated way of carrying the sword. With the loss of the weapon in combat both the cord and the sheath can be used as weapons.

All three of these sabres are "Sang Soo" or "two-handed" sabres.  The sabre or  "To" on the left is a refurbished Japanese sword from World War Two. The sabre on the right is a Korean two-handed sabre. Notice the significant different in the width of the blades when comparing these two swords. The sword in the middle is also called a "Ssang Soo Do", but by comparing its 72 inch length to the other two sabres its easy to see why both the Japanese and Korean swords are also called "YE-DO" but intended to indicate a "short sword".

The Korean "YE-DO" is best known in its two-handed form owing to the influence of the Japanese traditions during the Occupation of Korea (1907 - 1946). Less well-known are the straight swords carried by courtiers and scholars and very much resembling the Chinese JIAN pictured here. Called a "GEOM" this sword is fitted with a smaller guard, shorter and stouter blades and somewhat blunted tips.

The "TO" is the sabre counter part to the straight-bladed "GOM" and was the common carry of military, para-military and security forces.

The WOL DO or "Crescent Moon Sword" is a polearm whose blade measures between 18 and 24 inches and is mounted on a shaft some 60 inches long. Though the Chinese version of this weapon was more massive, the tales of huge weapons weight fifty to over one hundred pounds are more legend than historical. Current combat-worthy items weigh-in at about 8 to 15 pounds.