8. A Chinese Sword Was Entombed Under Water for Over 2000 Years, Yet Resisted Corrosion and Kept its Sharp Edge
The Chinese jian sword has been in use for at least 2600 years, with the earliest recorded mention of it dating back to the Spring and Autum Period (771 – 476 BC). It is a double edged, straight sword, that usually features a guard in the shape of a stingray. Grips are typically made of fluted wood or covered in rayskin, and the handle features a pommel for balance, for trapping or striking an opponent, and to prevent slipping through the user’s hand.
By the 6th century BC, Chinese bronze sword production techniques had reached an advanced stage, and laminated bronze jians with copper sulphide and chromium oxide coatings to resist correction were common. The effectiveness of such anti corrosive techniques can be seen in the Goujian Sword, roughly 2600 years old, which was recovered from a tomb in 1965. Although the tomb had been soaked in underground water for over 2000 years, the Goujian Sword had resisted tarnish, and kept its sharp edge after all that time.
