Hamidashi/ko katana (and 28" katana) from Huawei
May 3, 2009 14:38:34 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 14:38:34 GMT
Hamidashi/ko katana (and 28" katana) from Huawei
Hi
I´m KjellL
this is a review of the hamidashi/ko katana from "Huawei". There are also a couple of pictures of the 28" katana from the same place. That katana have been reviewed earlier so I only make some general reflections on it for comparison.
First for the majority(?) of you who finds the ito color on this little sword horrible I can say that there are a choice of eight different colors to choose from (so I had to take this one then:/) No, I´ve come to like it in a way, more or less. This type of hamidashi swords are said to have been used at the court, the emperors court or the shoguns court. Perhaps they where a bit decadent or could take their liberty to be somewhat extravagant (or tasteless) in their preferences, What do I know.
Ok, enough of this rambling around:
This AUS $70 sword has a 1060 blade. It is not clay tempered but quenched alternate in water and oil to get a similar effect/function resulting in a differential hardened blade. That is anyway what I am told. But I can´t personally say how effective it is or what hardness is the result of it. One of the things I like with these swords are that they don´t have any cosmetical hamons. If they have a hamon or quenchline it´s real, otherwise they dont have any kind of hamonlike stuff on them. The seller haven´t so far claimed TH blades to be DH blades as far as I am aware of. Both these swords have similar 1060 blades and quenching, What differs is mainly the proportions of them and the fittings. The quench line is´nt easy to get a good picture of. Here are the hamidashi:
The ito on the little red ko katana is of cotton. the quality of the cotton seems surpisingly good to look at. The time will tell how it holds together in the long run but it is tied very firm and it is not possible to move the kaschira, not even a millimeter, and that is the case also on the 28" katana. Perhaps the kaschira is glued. We should not forget these are swords in the same pricerange as the cheaper Musashi swords. AUS $70, is even less than American dollars I´ve heard. The ito quality seems to be at least the same as on several $300 katanas and a bit up from that in price (see pictures). The same is of OK quality, nothing special of course but again; have seen worse. The tsuka is fairly well shaped imo. The fittigns are of brass.
They seem well made and rather crisp in the pattern which is in a Peony theme on this one. Peonys have in Japan been associated with wealth and prosperity and wisdom of a long life, high regarded things at the court I assume. And of me.
the tsuka has a rather nice shape imo:
Be aware that there have been cases with cracked tsukas on these swords. It´s advisible to check that before use. the tying is not alternating but it is, as everything on this one, very tight.
Nothing is loose, nothing rattles or wiggles. Something I´ve got the impression that many Huawei swords have in common after what I´ve heard; tightly assembled. Unfortunately they seem a bit to tight sometime when it comes to tsuka fit according to some reports. Rather hard to assemble and disassemble. I have´nt tried it on this one.
It is a light and fast blade the 20". Feels a bit more "alive" than the blade on the katana and that could be because of the proportions off course but it is also the feeling that the 28" katana seems a bit "duller" in action than my hanwei shinto blade: And then I don´t mean in sharpness but there are in a way more "feel" in the shinto, and in the 20". I don´t know how to describe it. But the 28" is not bad i any way, it´s just a feeling. The little one has some niku, a bit more than the 28". The polish is better than it looks on these pic´s. The hamon is as said hard to capture on the pictures, it changes in the light and angle from where you see it.
The brass menukis are rather well defined. have seen much worse.
28" katana; kuro sakura. Nice even diamonds. The sageo is thin and of a cheap sort.
As for cutting.
I have cut with the little one today. The tip of my finger. I thought it would never stop bleed. Yes, I´ve shed my blood for SBG:/. I barely touched it... It is very sharp!
I´ve also cut paper with both with good result. I don´t know if I´m going to keep both or sell one or both and buy another so I haven´t cut any bottles or such.
I can say though they are both suitable for light cutting. I don´t think they are suitable for any heavier things. Not because they are bad but I don´t feel they are that kind of swords. Do you want something to cut heavy stuff, choose another sword. But as let´s say an alternative to for example the Musashi swords in about the same pricrange they are a good alternative, not to much said. Especially if you live somewhere in Europe where Musashis are not available. I definitely are going to keep one or several huawei swords.
Here are some measures:
Hamidashi:
Tsuka:
245 millimeter
nagasa:
505 mm
Moto Haba:
31 mm
Moto kasane:
8 mm
POB from tsuba:
105 mm
Overall lengtgh incl. saya:
820 mm.
Steel:
1060 Water/oil quenched
28" Katana:
Tsuka:
268 millimeter
nagasa:
735 mm
Moto Haba:
31 mm
Moto kasane:
8 mm
POB from tsuba:
145 mm
Overall lengtgh incl. saya:
1040 mm.
Steel:
1060 Water/oil quenched
Pro´s
*Generally _very good value for money
*A choice of 8 ito colors in cotton
*A choice of six different tsubas on the 28" katana, at least for of them iron tsubas.
*Tight fit, well assembled. (some reservation see above and below)
*Reasonably high quality in material for the price, and considerably above the price range at öeast partly.
*Real quench line on DH-blades, no fake hamons.
Cons:
*There have been reports of cracked tsukas, look out for that.
*Alloy fuchi/kashira on the 28" katana. (but iron tsuba)
*Black color on katana alloy fuchi/kashira don´t stick so well.
*Sloppy finish on the counterpolish on kissakis (rather well shaped though imho)
*"Silk" on katana is probably synthetic (available in cotton on request)
Hi
I´m KjellL
this is a review of the hamidashi/ko katana from "Huawei". There are also a couple of pictures of the 28" katana from the same place. That katana have been reviewed earlier so I only make some general reflections on it for comparison.
First for the majority(?) of you who finds the ito color on this little sword horrible I can say that there are a choice of eight different colors to choose from (so I had to take this one then:/) No, I´ve come to like it in a way, more or less. This type of hamidashi swords are said to have been used at the court, the emperors court or the shoguns court. Perhaps they where a bit decadent or could take their liberty to be somewhat extravagant (or tasteless) in their preferences, What do I know.
Ok, enough of this rambling around:
This AUS $70 sword has a 1060 blade. It is not clay tempered but quenched alternate in water and oil to get a similar effect/function resulting in a differential hardened blade. That is anyway what I am told. But I can´t personally say how effective it is or what hardness is the result of it. One of the things I like with these swords are that they don´t have any cosmetical hamons. If they have a hamon or quenchline it´s real, otherwise they dont have any kind of hamonlike stuff on them. The seller haven´t so far claimed TH blades to be DH blades as far as I am aware of. Both these swords have similar 1060 blades and quenching, What differs is mainly the proportions of them and the fittings. The quench line is´nt easy to get a good picture of. Here are the hamidashi:
The ito on the little red ko katana is of cotton. the quality of the cotton seems surpisingly good to look at. The time will tell how it holds together in the long run but it is tied very firm and it is not possible to move the kaschira, not even a millimeter, and that is the case also on the 28" katana. Perhaps the kaschira is glued. We should not forget these are swords in the same pricerange as the cheaper Musashi swords. AUS $70, is even less than American dollars I´ve heard. The ito quality seems to be at least the same as on several $300 katanas and a bit up from that in price (see pictures). The same is of OK quality, nothing special of course but again; have seen worse. The tsuka is fairly well shaped imo. The fittigns are of brass.
They seem well made and rather crisp in the pattern which is in a Peony theme on this one. Peonys have in Japan been associated with wealth and prosperity and wisdom of a long life, high regarded things at the court I assume. And of me.
the tsuka has a rather nice shape imo:
Be aware that there have been cases with cracked tsukas on these swords. It´s advisible to check that before use. the tying is not alternating but it is, as everything on this one, very tight.
Nothing is loose, nothing rattles or wiggles. Something I´ve got the impression that many Huawei swords have in common after what I´ve heard; tightly assembled. Unfortunately they seem a bit to tight sometime when it comes to tsuka fit according to some reports. Rather hard to assemble and disassemble. I have´nt tried it on this one.
It is a light and fast blade the 20". Feels a bit more "alive" than the blade on the katana and that could be because of the proportions off course but it is also the feeling that the 28" katana seems a bit "duller" in action than my hanwei shinto blade: And then I don´t mean in sharpness but there are in a way more "feel" in the shinto, and in the 20". I don´t know how to describe it. But the 28" is not bad i any way, it´s just a feeling. The little one has some niku, a bit more than the 28". The polish is better than it looks on these pic´s. The hamon is as said hard to capture on the pictures, it changes in the light and angle from where you see it.
The brass menukis are rather well defined. have seen much worse.
28" katana; kuro sakura. Nice even diamonds. The sageo is thin and of a cheap sort.
As for cutting.
I have cut with the little one today. The tip of my finger. I thought it would never stop bleed. Yes, I´ve shed my blood for SBG:/. I barely touched it... It is very sharp!
I´ve also cut paper with both with good result. I don´t know if I´m going to keep both or sell one or both and buy another so I haven´t cut any bottles or such.
I can say though they are both suitable for light cutting. I don´t think they are suitable for any heavier things. Not because they are bad but I don´t feel they are that kind of swords. Do you want something to cut heavy stuff, choose another sword. But as let´s say an alternative to for example the Musashi swords in about the same pricrange they are a good alternative, not to much said. Especially if you live somewhere in Europe where Musashis are not available. I definitely are going to keep one or several huawei swords.
Here are some measures:
Hamidashi:
Tsuka:
245 millimeter
nagasa:
505 mm
Moto Haba:
31 mm
Moto kasane:
8 mm
POB from tsuba:
105 mm
Overall lengtgh incl. saya:
820 mm.
Steel:
1060 Water/oil quenched
28" Katana:
Tsuka:
268 millimeter
nagasa:
735 mm
Moto Haba:
31 mm
Moto kasane:
8 mm
POB from tsuba:
145 mm
Overall lengtgh incl. saya:
1040 mm.
Steel:
1060 Water/oil quenched
Pro´s
*Generally _very good value for money
*A choice of 8 ito colors in cotton
*A choice of six different tsubas on the 28" katana, at least for of them iron tsubas.
*Tight fit, well assembled. (some reservation see above and below)
*Reasonably high quality in material for the price, and considerably above the price range at öeast partly.
*Real quench line on DH-blades, no fake hamons.
Cons:
*There have been reports of cracked tsukas, look out for that.
*Alloy fuchi/kashira on the 28" katana. (but iron tsuba)
*Black color on katana alloy fuchi/kashira don´t stick so well.
*Sloppy finish on the counterpolish on kissakis (rather well shaped though imho)
*"Silk" on katana is probably synthetic (available in cotton on request)