Xu Yan

Xu Yan. (Click on any photo on this page to view a larger image.)

Introduction

Shelley Xu sent an introduction letter regarding her father, Xu Yan (family name given first as is the Chinese tradition). He is a craftsman in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China who makes miniature weapons. Considering China is the birthplace of gunpowder, this is appropriate enough; however, in much of the world there is a mystique and probably much misunderstanding about modern life in China, how a craftsman might go about pursuing his passion and the question of owning a gun—even a small one—in a country that does not allow private gun ownership. We felt his story might be instructive and found it interesting ourselves that far from the collector gun world of Europe and America, a craftsman should choose to make beautiful miniature weapons. Like the other miniature arms makers featured on this site, Mr. Xu started making these models because he found the history and beauty of these weapons intriguing. Also, not having the budget to purchase these wonderful works of art, it became obvious that the only way he was going to possess fine models like this was to make them himself. Following are Shelly’s answers to several questions we posed regarding her father’s work and some of the background information from his resume.

Xu Yan—an early interest in arms leads to a 40-year hobby

By Shelley Xu

Born on January 18, 1954, in Tianjin, Xu Yan developed an early interest in arms at around six years old. He often spent the whole afternoon watching posseman training not far from home, dreaming of firing a real gun one day. With an enthusiasm in craftsmanship and a little knowledge of mechanism taught by his father, an engineer, Xu Yan started to make the first model gun of his own –a Mauser 98K Rifle in1/6scale. The material for the gun’s body was his mother’s wood ruler for cloth making, and the tools are an awl and a knife. Later he replaced the aluminum parts with tin and strengthened the structure to withstand shooting action. The next year, in 1964, he produced a more mature model –a Type 38 Carbine in 1/6scale, which can perfectly complete the shooting action. This success encouraged him to keep on miniature gun making, which has unexpectedly lasted for more than 40 years.

Like most young people in the 70s’ in China, Xu Yan became a factory worker after graduation from middle school. His familiarity with arms enabled him to repair guns for the military office of his chemistry plant. Not long after that, he invented a small installation to enhance the shooting accuracy of Type 56 Submachine Gun. This invention brought him an exciting chance to visit the weapon storehouse of Tianjin Guard Area, where he saw most of the real guns he had dreamed of and studied their internal structures carefully. The experience in the plant not only allowed him to learn more about their mechanism, but also polished his skills in craftsmanship.

When Xu Yan became a mechanic in the vehicle department, Tianjin Administration of Governmental Affairs, he found a knowledge of electronics was needed, so he managed to take advanced courses on Electronics in junior college of Nankai University, focusing on wireless skills. During the four years (1986-1989), he had to go to classes after work, and sometimes brought along his little daughter who was born in 1982. It was definitely a difficult time for a husband and father, not to mention that he missed the training from high school. That period of time also developed his aspiration for learning. He has never stopped reading since then, and recently he published three articles in a major magazine in China—Small Arms. In his articles, he not only introduces guns to the amateurs, but also presents his understanding of miniature arms after decades’ commitment in the field.

Admittedly, Xu Yan’s craftsmanship also comes from beyond the books and self training. He visited watchmakers, jewelers, locksmiths and lathe machinists who have excellent techniques for making miniature things. He is also assisted by his handy tools, which have to be redone many times for special uses. To Xu Yan, miniature gun making is more than a hobby. It is an art that can put together man’s skills and inspirations. You cannot reach the peak within one day, but every thought and minute you poured in will be rewarded in your work.

Xu Yan also spends some time enjoying classical music and making broadcast equipment. He has been adjusting the self-produced amplifier and sound boxes so as to achieve better acoustics. Right now, more miniature making plans are on his schedule. He believes that there is always room for improvement, and to make things better is absolutely an inviting challenge for him.

Goals of Xu Yan’s Miniature Guns Making

One of Xu Yan's fine working  miniature guns, a 16th centuryBritish wheel lock pistol.

(1) To visualize the historical and cultural connotation.

He prefers to choose milestones in the history of mechanical guns as my models. They reflect the level of scientific and technological development, as well as the taste in arts and decoration of the time. Special attention should be paid to the fact that recorded history of the development of wheel lock/matchlock firearms is lacking in China. Collection in this area is also rare. Thus his works can help people remember and understand this period of history.

(2) To exhibit characteristics of different guns.

The graceful figures and the mystical charms of classical guns are often so delighting that one’s eyes can scarcely be taken off it. Moreover, almost every gun has its own history of design and application. Some famous guns even posses their own legends. Before putting one miniature into being, he will study the references to learn why the original gun has become what it is, compare it with others of the same catalogue, and then try to grasp the characteristics of this one.

(3) To share the joy of creativity.

According to the laws in China, private possession of a gun in scale of 1/2-1/1 copied from the real one is strictly prohibited. Relevant laws also stipulate that the power energy of bullets shot by toys/models should not exceed an average of 0.5 J. Hence the scale of hisy miniature guns ranges from 1/6 to 1/14. He also uses rubber bullets and make sure the shooting energy is smaller than 0.007 J. As a result, the internal structure must be re-designed, because the limit of internal space and the fierce force the miniature has to stand when it shoots. That is really a complicated project to do the re-design.

There also exist challenges in the external operation mechanism. For example, after the trigger and the roll protector become a miniature, nobody’s finger can click from inside the trigger. So he combined the trigger and the roll protector to make a synchronous movement. By pulling back on the roll protector, one can fire the miniature. This creative combination balances the exactness in appearance and the smoothness in action.

He hopes that his miniature guns can always surprise people with their creative qualities, and help them share the joy of creativity.

Xu Yan’s “Workshop”

Xu Yan's shop is small like the guns he makes.

Given our income and limited space, it is impossible for my father to have a separate workshop. His “workshop” is a reading desk in the corner of his bedroom, and sometimes, the balcony of our apartment. He stores his various tools in the cabinets on both sides of his desk. Generally speaking, his tools are simple. However, he also posses a large number of miniature tools for accurate operations. He also has several microscopes and other magnification devices for making it easier to view small parts while working on them.

A little of my father's philosophy regarding craftsmanship

If his attitude towards his creation can be called philosophy, then it should be “to be persistent, but not to be too concentrated.”

Mr. Xu dressed for a formal occasion.

Indeed, you can never be too concentrated when you are working on a miniature. However, as a miniature arms maker, one needs much more than technology and time to realize his/her idea. My father doesn’t make miniatures every day. Actually, he enjoys pondering and reading which broadens his vision and brings aspirations to him. He never rushes to finish his work given that he would spend few months reading related materials, polishing his design, and usually spends a lot of time experimenting. Since there is little data on making a certain miniatures, he has to design the experiment himself so as to get the needed data. To realize the drawing, it also takes quite a lot time to find and test materials. Even after his work has come into being, he hardly considers them completed. Adjustments are made everyday, and sometimes polishing and re-making of the accessories. Tests of intensity and longevity of the works are also necessary. He leads discussions with friends who are experts in different fields. He believes that solutions come into mind when the brain is prepared. One cannot reach the peak within one day, but every thought and minute one pours into it will be rewarded in his works.

After many years of making miniatures, my farther spends more time on details and has become more critical of his work, especially in the artsy quality showed by his works. He believes that the aesthetic dynamic movements and the accuracy of the works as well as the effective factual shooting feelings in hand are the top two elements that define an outstanding gun miniature.

Those wishing to contact Xu Yan personally by e-mail may do so at xuyan540118 at 163 dot com. (Substitute the @ symbol for the word "at" and a period the word "dot" in the preceeding e-mail address. In order to defeat spam spiders that search the Internet for e-mail addresses, we have not published his address in a complete, clickable form.)

The Climate regarding craftsmanship and individual effort in modern China

China is a nation that owns a spectacular history of culture, so there are a large number of folk artists or craftsmen who devote themselves to traditional forms of craftsmanship, such as kite making, carving, traditional tools, toy making, etc. Some of the technologies have been passed down for several generations. There are societies for hobbyists of these “regular” creative activities either supported by the government or by the public. As for hobbyists whose hobbies are rare, they stay at the hobby level and make a living at their own occupations.

Speaking of my father’s persistence in his miniature arms making, it is fortunate that every time when he was about to finish one miniature, he had found out the next archetype he is going to make. Though he receives no assistance from the government or other professional organizations, he grasped a few chances to receive expertise. Most of the time, he has had to work on his own. Since the 1^st Zhong Hua (China) Folk Art Treasures Exposition, his work began to be known by the public. More and more folk artists and craftsmen are introduced to the public by mass media, but still, there is no permanent place to showcase their works.

Details about Xu Yan’s works

Xu Yan’s miniature guns are a kind of dynamic model that possesses mechanical power. The exterior of his works exactly imitate existing guns that are famous in history. Therefore, the interior parts have to be carefully designed as to make it possible for the miniatures to complete the shooting action smoothly. He draws scripts himself, and makes every accessory of the miniatures by hand, being assisted by special tools that are hard to find or even made by himself. All the materials he uses are brass, mahogany and galvanized iron.

The goal of his creative activity is to exhibit the development of gun mechanics and the excellence of craftsmanship throughout history through his products.

So far, his works could be divided into 8 periods by their distinct interior structures:

1st Period, 1962, static miniatures.

2nd Period, 1963, Mauser 98K Rifle, 1/6scale.

3rd Period, 1964, Type 38 Carbine, 1/6scale, 151mm in length.

4th Period, 1965, M1 Carbine, 1/6scale, 152mm in length. Material: iron, wood, etc. Within a range of 1m, it can hit a target of 10.1 mm. The whole gun consists of 46 separate parts, and can be disassembled/assembled, being able to fulfill 5 actions. Awarded in the 1st Zhong Hua (TianJin) Folk Art Treasures Exposition, 2001.

5th Period, 1966, M2 Carbine, 1/6scale, 154mm in length.

6th Period, 1992~2003, British Wheel Lock Pistol of 16th Century, 1/6scale, 88 mm in length. Within a range of 2 m, it can hit a target of 20.2 mm. The whole gun consists of 56 separate parts, and can be disassembled/assembled, being able to fulfill 8 actions. Material: brass, iron, redwood, etc.

Specialty: The first time using previous fire discharge devices and form with it the body’s structure. Wheel Lock employs mechanics to set up fire, which initiated the age of mechanical fire mechanisms after the age of rope fire devices.

Awarded in the 3rd China International Folk Art Treasures Exposition,and the 2nd Zhong Hua (TianJin) Folk Art Treasures Exposition, 2004.

7th Period, 1996~2003, Italia Imperial Guards’ Match Lock, 1/7scale, 129mm in length. Material: brass, iron, redwood, etc. Within a range of  3 m, it can hit a target of 20.2 mm. The whole gun consists of 31 separate parts, and can be assembled/disassembled, being able to fulfill 3 actions.

Specialty: The first time using a straight tube for the structure of the gun’s body, which is made up with an assembly of 4 layers and 10 sections. When the lever of the gun’s fire rope serve as gun’s fire launching gate, one hand can hold the gun when the other hand fires it, this enables the shooter to complete the most difficult duties at the same time, thus improving the degree of accuracy of the shot.

8th Period, 1998~2003, Japanese Match Lock of Jianghu Period, 1/14scale, 72mm in length. Within a range of 2 m, it can hit a target of 10.1 mm.

The whole gun consists of 55 separate parts, and can be decomposed/re-combined, being able to fulfill 6 actions:

1. Using the barrel to push the bullet into the gun thorax

2. Withholding the trigger can launch fire

3. The match lock collet can hold the fire rope

4. The cover of the gunpowder pond can rotate and separate the combination

5. Pressing the head of fire rope can lift and hang up the trigger

6. The cleaning rod can be inserted and drawn out

Specialty: The first time using hammer beat structure. It also has fire discharge devices. The action needs to be perfectly coordinated. Given that the work’s scales should reach 1:14, the design and making require extremely delicate technique. This fire rope gun adopted the pressure fire lighting method. The cover of the gunpowder pond, the winding assurance device and the aim tools makes it outstanding among Match Locks of the latest period.

In summary, Mr. Xu’s works model famous guns that are milestones in the history of mechanical guns. The scale ranges from 1/6 to 1/14. He uses rubber bullets and spring power to make sure the shooting energy is smaller than 0.007 J., and his creative re-design of the internal structures balances the exactness in appearance and the smoothness in shooting action.

Xu Yan in his small but productive desk/workshop.

Education:

1986-1989 Electronics, Junior College of Nankai University, Tianjin, China

Working Experience:

1971-1982 Equipment maintainer in compound chemical plant

1982- Present—Mechanic and dispatcher, vehicle department, Tianjin Administration of Governmental Affairs

Membership: Tianjin Folk Artists Society

Publications:

Exhibitions Entered:

Mass Media Focus: