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Steel. Craft. History. Every object has a history.

WITHIN THE COLLECTION

East Asian Single-Edged Blades

Covers the development of the dao, tachi, uchigatana, and hwandudaedo across China, Japan, and Korea.

THE READING ROOM

Stories in this category Articles 1

East Asian Single-Edged Blades 21
Hwandudaedo (Ring-Pommel Sword) / Archive essay

Ring Pommels of the Three Kingdoms: Continental Lamination and Gold Foil Inlay in Korean Hwandudaedo

Across the royal tumuli of Baekje, Silla, and Gaya, straight single-edged swords crowned with sculpted ring pommels reveal how fifth- and sixth-century Korean metalsmiths transformed continental ironworking into masterworks of laminated steel, mercury gilding, and fine gold foil inlay.

Armory Archive 15 min read

You’re all caught up. The old stories aren’t going anywhere.

A NOTE FROM THE ARCHIVE

Legendary objects deserve
a closer reading.

We study materials, makers and surviving evidence. Legends open the question; history guides the answer.

Our approach