Jian Qiang (劍鎗)

UPDATED 10 OCT, 2023

Drawing of a Jian Qiang with its stock, from 'Shi Lv (《師律》)'.

Jian Qiang (劍鎗, lit. 'Sword gun', or possibly 'Sword spear') is an mid-late Ming period improved handgonne/proto-matchock originated from Shaanxi (陝西) region of Northwest China. One of the fruits of innovation in North China to give the aging handgonne a second lease of life and keep up in performance with matchlock arquebus commonly found in Southern China, Jian Qiang has a four chi eight cun long barrel with both front sight and rear iron sight, and mounts a nine cun and three fen along spearhead at the butt of the barrel. It also comes with a detachable stock with serpentine that doubles as sheath of the spearhead. The weapon is braced and fired normally like a matchlock gun when sheathed, but can be quickly turned into a spear and quarterstaff by simply removing its stock.

Ironically, despite having Jian (劍) in its name, Jian Qiang does not function as a sword.