Military expert Qi Jiguang (1528-1587) complained that artisans could not be bothered to grind their swords well, so that "a blow will not cut deep, and the blade is soon blunted. Then they are only fit for scrap."
戚繼光在《練兵實紀．雜集》中指出，當時的工匠不肯好好磨刀，結果「砍入不深、刀芒一禿，即為頑鐵矣。」