fearn, the car advice is gold, thanks
I will need to get myself a few waxwood shafts...
Good point about the rigidity vs flexibility thing, I think my ash pole should be flexible enough.
I heard of Muye Dobo Tongji. I haven't read a translation myself however. I have seen the youtube videos, and they seem to be doing a good job researching and reviving the ancient tradition.
Timo, great points. Aside from the the civilization of weapons, I think also the growing reliance of militias during a time of increasing ineptitude in government means also that local martial arts could have had growing influence over the armaments of the locals. Not to mention the diffusion of martial arts styles as well... for example, the Plum Blossom spear form being found in Hung Gar, far south of its origins in Shandong I think...
EDIT: slightly off-topic, but... for those who have read the 長鎗法選 or a translation of it, what are they referring to in terms of inner circle and outer circle? Perhaps I know what they are referring to but not their terminology...