A new form of the long sword (Jian) appeared about this time. The Ring Pommel or Round Grip Sword, originally a cavalry weapon, came into widespread use during the early Han dynasty. This was a single-edged, straight sword, very similar in overall form to the long sword. There was no hilt to protect the hand or separate the grip from the blade. Archaeological finds of this form of weapon have lengths between 85 and 114 centimeters. The advantage of the single-edged sword was that the back, or dull side, of the sword could be thickened to strengthen the weapon as a whole. It was a much sturdier weapon than the long sword (jian), and much less prone to breaking. The sword retained its point but improved its ability to hack or cut. The heavier back also added weight to hacking swings. This form of sword spread to the rest of east and southeast Asia.
The sword began to displace the long sword (jian) on the battlefield, particularly when paired with a square or rectangular shield. Depictions of battles toward the end of the Han dynasty show bows and arrows, and swords and shields among the combatants. This is true of both the cavalry and infantry. The growing ubiquity of the sword within the military was a tribute to its greater durability - and probably its improved hacking ability as well.