Hanwei SH2429 Chinese Cutting Sword
Jan 16, 2010 4:25:19 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2010 4:25:19 GMT
Review of Hanwei SH2429 Chinese Cutting Sword
By James Fang
While I’m primarily an empty-hands practitioner, taijiquan’s jian form has always been an interest. Also, being Chinese, I figured that I might as well own a representation of my martial culture. However, when I first got into sword collecting, there were few examples of well-made jian within my price range. When I heard that Scot Rodell of GRTC was working with Hanwei to make such a jian, I knew that I’d have to own one. As soon as I heard that it was on the market, I snapped one up.
Historical overview
The jian is a Chinese double-edged blade. Unfortunately, much of its history has become confused by the myths spread by the proliferation of wushu. The jian evolved through countless decades of use from dynasty to dynasty. Rather than conforming to a single typology throughout its history, many variations existed, mainly based on different fittings, with different shaped guards, different blade lengths, varying weights, and single-handed and two-handed hilts. Most are familiar with the late-Qing style jian with the characteristic down-swept guard.
Initial Impressions
I was surprised by how fast UPS got it to me. Richard at Sword Nation estimated 3 to 5 days to arrival, but I got it in two! No pictures of the boxes since I didn’t have my camera at the time. However, it was a cardboard box within a cardboard box surrounded by packing paper. Within the smaller box sat the jian, held in place by two foam rectangles. No damage at all from shipping.
Taking it out, all I could think was “Dang, that’s a nice scabbard.” I’d honestly expected something flimsier with maybe a too tight or too loose fit. Instead, I found a well-made rosewood scabbard with tight-fitting locket and chape. There was also an interesting setup for suspension.
Statistics
Blade/Jianti Length: 31 inches
Handle/Jianba Length: 8.5 inches
Overall Length: 39.5 inches
Guard/Hushou Width:
POB (Point of Balance): about 4.5 inches (33% of sword from pommel)
COP (Center of Percussion): about 4-5 inches from tip
Weight: 2lb 2oz (given specs)
The Blade/Jianti
Very well done. It does have the traditional “clamshell” or “appleseed” geometry. The steel does seem different from typical Hanwei offerings, although I’m no metallurgist. I’ve heard that Hanwei is now using their own smelted steel for the jian as per Paul Chen’s decision, so maybe it’s that.
Fear not, Hanwei non-katana owners, it does come sharp. Sure saved me some trouble.
There’s a fair amount of flex judging from when I was wiping off the packing oil. (I’m not going to attempt a flex test. Sorry.) It’s not whippy at all though, unlike wushu blades.
Just a note that this is pretty much on the far end of the jian length spectrum. At 31 inches, it’s pretty long and despite a good weight and taper, you still feel that length when wielded. That or I’m really out of shape.
The Handle/Jianba
Honestly, when I first saw pictures online, the leather looked rather gaudy. Luckily, it looked better in person, at least to me. The wrap is very tight. I couldn’t find any movement at all. It also provides a very good grip, whereas bare wood as found on some jian gets a tad slippery during use. According to Scott Rodell, the handle is not traditional hardwood; instead, it is a resin in order to resist cracking. For those looking for something historically accurate, this may be a downside. However, for practicality’s sake, it’s fine for me.
It is notable, though, that it’s very long. As I learned it, a jian handle (ba) should be able to accommodate a hand and a half. On this jian, I can fit both hands comfortably and still have room. Then again, I have fairly small hands. Maybe someone with meathooks will find it the perfect size.
The Guard/Hushou
Not much to say. It follows the traditional later-period downward swept guards. Seems to be some sort of steel. Stainless, perhaps?
The Pommel/Jiantan
Steel, just like the guard. Recessed into the end is a hex nut for easy disassembly and maintenance.
The Scabbard/Jianqiao
The scabbard is still possibly my favorite part of this sword. It fits perfectly, is made of beautiful rosewood while not being completely polished down for a rugged look, and has tight fittings. It’s a piece of art and a weapon in its own right, especially for the price.
Construction/Disassembly
It’s well known that Hanwei discourages cutting with its Chinese weapons line, and for good reason. The Rodell-designed jian, however, fixes the construction problems that existed in the main line. Let’s look at a comparison between the Damascus Tai Chi Jian and the Chinese Cutting Sword:
Before disassembly, it’s already noticeable how much thinner the Damascus Tai Chi Jian’s blade is.
Pommel off and we already begin to see the problem with the old line. Believe it or not, that second nut on there is actually too large for the threading.
The grip isn’t horrible. It’s not hollowed out. However…
…the tang is just too thin to fit the grip. When the nuts aren’t secure, that grip can almost fully rotate.
Now here’s a look at the new construction:
Still can be completely disassembled.
Seems to be one piece construction and is not hollowed out. It fits on the tang very snuggly. Despite being resin, I can’t tell. It imitates wood grain quite well.
For those who hate the leather look, the rayskin completely encircles the grip, so removing the leather is an option.
Nice shoulders…
Great thickness throughout…
…and a non-welded threaded rod that’s just long enough for the hex nut.
A quick look shows that the guard is hollow, which is true of many period pieces.
A huge improvement? Absolutely.
Handling Characteristics
With the way the POB and the nodes of balance are set up, the jian is very maneuverable. Trying the “jiao jian” movement (that rotation around the POB that you see in wushu movies) and just some dry handling, it’s easy to get the sword to move as you desire.
However, with that length/weight, the feel is very different from lighter jian. Forearm strength/strong grip does help when wielding. Also, the POB does seem a bit close for its length. At 31”, it probably should be closer to 5-6 inches.
Test Cutting
When Scott Rodell did test cutting with the A&A Jian, he mentioned that more force was required to cut with the traditional clamshell geometry in comparison to modern repro jian made with diamond cross sections. I didn’t particularly think so, although I found that edge alignment had to be absolutely perfect for a clean cut. I’ll have to spend more time with it when I’m not on lunch break and wearing a suit.
I admit that my form here stinks quite a bit. I was focused more on getting nice looking results. Probably could've cut through that last container too, except I kept trying to compensate for the extra inches on the blade. This resulted in shallow cuts a couple times.
Conclusions
Is it my dream jian? No. I’d prefer a shorter handle and an inch or two off the blade. Is it good though? Oh yes. The blade geometry is accurate, the fittings are still tight after use (and some abuse, I admit), and the scabbard and blade make it worth more than the 300-ish price level. When the Rodell-designed dao comes out, I may have to pick one up as well.
Pros
- Traditional clamshell blade geometry
- Comes sharp
- Beautiful rosewood scabbard for the price
- Designed by Scott Rodell
Cons
- Long jian(both blade and handle) may not be what some CMA enthusiasts prefer
- Hex nut/resin handle are not traditional
- Leather wrap on rayskin is a hit or miss look.
The Bottom Line
For the CMA practitioner or jian enthusiast, there aren’t that many options for a jian when you’re on a budget. Now that Garrett is moving onto customs, the $300-level production jian market is pretty much left to Kris Cutlery, Cold Steel, and Hanwei. Would I recommend this over the others? Absolutely. It’s a jian designed for practitioners by a noted practitioner/teacher/collector, and it definitely delivers.
By James Fang
While I’m primarily an empty-hands practitioner, taijiquan’s jian form has always been an interest. Also, being Chinese, I figured that I might as well own a representation of my martial culture. However, when I first got into sword collecting, there were few examples of well-made jian within my price range. When I heard that Scot Rodell of GRTC was working with Hanwei to make such a jian, I knew that I’d have to own one. As soon as I heard that it was on the market, I snapped one up.
Historical overview
The jian is a Chinese double-edged blade. Unfortunately, much of its history has become confused by the myths spread by the proliferation of wushu. The jian evolved through countless decades of use from dynasty to dynasty. Rather than conforming to a single typology throughout its history, many variations existed, mainly based on different fittings, with different shaped guards, different blade lengths, varying weights, and single-handed and two-handed hilts. Most are familiar with the late-Qing style jian with the characteristic down-swept guard.
Initial Impressions
I was surprised by how fast UPS got it to me. Richard at Sword Nation estimated 3 to 5 days to arrival, but I got it in two! No pictures of the boxes since I didn’t have my camera at the time. However, it was a cardboard box within a cardboard box surrounded by packing paper. Within the smaller box sat the jian, held in place by two foam rectangles. No damage at all from shipping.
Taking it out, all I could think was “Dang, that’s a nice scabbard.” I’d honestly expected something flimsier with maybe a too tight or too loose fit. Instead, I found a well-made rosewood scabbard with tight-fitting locket and chape. There was also an interesting setup for suspension.
Statistics
Blade/Jianti Length: 31 inches
Handle/Jianba Length: 8.5 inches
Overall Length: 39.5 inches
Guard/Hushou Width:
POB (Point of Balance): about 4.5 inches (33% of sword from pommel)
COP (Center of Percussion): about 4-5 inches from tip
Weight: 2lb 2oz (given specs)
The Blade/Jianti
Very well done. It does have the traditional “clamshell” or “appleseed” geometry. The steel does seem different from typical Hanwei offerings, although I’m no metallurgist. I’ve heard that Hanwei is now using their own smelted steel for the jian as per Paul Chen’s decision, so maybe it’s that.
Fear not, Hanwei non-katana owners, it does come sharp. Sure saved me some trouble.
There’s a fair amount of flex judging from when I was wiping off the packing oil. (I’m not going to attempt a flex test. Sorry.) It’s not whippy at all though, unlike wushu blades.
Just a note that this is pretty much on the far end of the jian length spectrum. At 31 inches, it’s pretty long and despite a good weight and taper, you still feel that length when wielded. That or I’m really out of shape.
The Handle/Jianba
Honestly, when I first saw pictures online, the leather looked rather gaudy. Luckily, it looked better in person, at least to me. The wrap is very tight. I couldn’t find any movement at all. It also provides a very good grip, whereas bare wood as found on some jian gets a tad slippery during use. According to Scott Rodell, the handle is not traditional hardwood; instead, it is a resin in order to resist cracking. For those looking for something historically accurate, this may be a downside. However, for practicality’s sake, it’s fine for me.
It is notable, though, that it’s very long. As I learned it, a jian handle (ba) should be able to accommodate a hand and a half. On this jian, I can fit both hands comfortably and still have room. Then again, I have fairly small hands. Maybe someone with meathooks will find it the perfect size.
The Guard/Hushou
Not much to say. It follows the traditional later-period downward swept guards. Seems to be some sort of steel. Stainless, perhaps?
The Pommel/Jiantan
Steel, just like the guard. Recessed into the end is a hex nut for easy disassembly and maintenance.
The Scabbard/Jianqiao
The scabbard is still possibly my favorite part of this sword. It fits perfectly, is made of beautiful rosewood while not being completely polished down for a rugged look, and has tight fittings. It’s a piece of art and a weapon in its own right, especially for the price.
Construction/Disassembly
It’s well known that Hanwei discourages cutting with its Chinese weapons line, and for good reason. The Rodell-designed jian, however, fixes the construction problems that existed in the main line. Let’s look at a comparison between the Damascus Tai Chi Jian and the Chinese Cutting Sword:
Before disassembly, it’s already noticeable how much thinner the Damascus Tai Chi Jian’s blade is.
Pommel off and we already begin to see the problem with the old line. Believe it or not, that second nut on there is actually too large for the threading.
The grip isn’t horrible. It’s not hollowed out. However…
…the tang is just too thin to fit the grip. When the nuts aren’t secure, that grip can almost fully rotate.
Now here’s a look at the new construction:
Still can be completely disassembled.
Seems to be one piece construction and is not hollowed out. It fits on the tang very snuggly. Despite being resin, I can’t tell. It imitates wood grain quite well.
For those who hate the leather look, the rayskin completely encircles the grip, so removing the leather is an option.
Nice shoulders…
Great thickness throughout…
…and a non-welded threaded rod that’s just long enough for the hex nut.
A quick look shows that the guard is hollow, which is true of many period pieces.
A huge improvement? Absolutely.
Handling Characteristics
With the way the POB and the nodes of balance are set up, the jian is very maneuverable. Trying the “jiao jian” movement (that rotation around the POB that you see in wushu movies) and just some dry handling, it’s easy to get the sword to move as you desire.
However, with that length/weight, the feel is very different from lighter jian. Forearm strength/strong grip does help when wielding. Also, the POB does seem a bit close for its length. At 31”, it probably should be closer to 5-6 inches.
Test Cutting
When Scott Rodell did test cutting with the A&A Jian, he mentioned that more force was required to cut with the traditional clamshell geometry in comparison to modern repro jian made with diamond cross sections. I didn’t particularly think so, although I found that edge alignment had to be absolutely perfect for a clean cut. I’ll have to spend more time with it when I’m not on lunch break and wearing a suit.
I admit that my form here stinks quite a bit. I was focused more on getting nice looking results. Probably could've cut through that last container too, except I kept trying to compensate for the extra inches on the blade. This resulted in shallow cuts a couple times.
Conclusions
Is it my dream jian? No. I’d prefer a shorter handle and an inch or two off the blade. Is it good though? Oh yes. The blade geometry is accurate, the fittings are still tight after use (and some abuse, I admit), and the scabbard and blade make it worth more than the 300-ish price level. When the Rodell-designed dao comes out, I may have to pick one up as well.
Pros
- Traditional clamshell blade geometry
- Comes sharp
- Beautiful rosewood scabbard for the price
- Designed by Scott Rodell
Cons
- Long jian(both blade and handle) may not be what some CMA enthusiasts prefer
- Hex nut/resin handle are not traditional
- Leather wrap on rayskin is a hit or miss look.
The Bottom Line
For the CMA practitioner or jian enthusiast, there aren’t that many options for a jian when you’re on a budget. Now that Garrett is moving onto customs, the $300-level production jian market is pretty much left to Kris Cutlery, Cold Steel, and Hanwei. Would I recommend this over the others? Absolutely. It’s a jian designed for practitioners by a noted practitioner/teacher/collector, and it definitely delivers.