Tinker Bastard Sword
Apr 6, 2009 13:49:30 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2009 13:49:30 GMT
Hanwei Tinker Bastard Sword Review
By: Dave Symons
Ontario, Canada
By: Dave Symons
Ontario, Canada
Introduction:
From a young age I have always had a fascination with medieval swords. To be honest though, what boy doesn’t? The thought of an epic adventure with great peril, risking life and limb for nothing more than honour and justice can still inflame my child hood excitement, so it stood to reason that when I started collecting battle ready swords that eventually I would be seeking a medieval style weapon. With a limited amount to spend (on one or possibly two swords (My wife, if you’re reading this, did I tell you today how much I love you?)) I began my quest for a weapon that would suit me.
When I had narrowed down my choices to what I thought would suit my needs I did the only logical thing that a novice like myself can do. I e-mailed our host, Paul. Paul being an honest man did not try to sell me something that he had at his store (he can’t ship these models to Canada) but simply informed me that these were some of the best and if I could find one I should snatch it up quickly.
I quickly contacted a Canadian store (Reliks) that sells Hanwei products and their reply was that even though they did not carry this particular model that they could acquire it for me for $339.99 Canadian (approx. $270 US). Two and a half weeks later the package arrived.
Historical Overview:
I will not lie to you, I am no historian nor do I pretend to be. I am much more concerned with the question: will the sword will help me to eradicate the weed-like shrubs that have rapidly taken over my backyard?
Initial Impression:
Like a child on their birthday I tore through that shipping box to find out that it was only a teaser. Underneath was another shipping box which, ironically, stated that the contents were sharp and to handle with care. I learned at this point that sharp is a relative term.
Inside the second box was what I had been waiting for. Carefully supported by three strips of foam was the sword. Packed in its scabbard, it had a light coat of oil on the blade and was carefully wrapped in plastic to protect the leather.
Statistics:
Blade Length: 33 1/8"
Blade Width: 1 ½" at the base
Handle Length: 9 1/4"
Overall Length: 42 3/8"
Guard Width: 8"
P.O.B.: 4 1/4" from the guard
C.O.P: 21 ½" from the guard
Weight: 2lbs 12oz
The Blade:
The blade was 1 ½" at the guard, tapering to a fine point at the end. There is no fuller on this model. The polish of the blade was quite good without having a complete mirror effect. Personally I like this look as it makes me less apprehensive to actually use the weapon. I have to say though that the first thing that I noticed was the width or lack thereof. My initial thought was that it was too narrow and probably would not be able to withstand much abuse. As I mentioned before, despite the fact that this was the “sharp” version the blade was not very sharp at all. Initial cutting caused water bottles to bounce like a baseball from a tee. When I started to sharpen the blade I rapidly gained a new respect for it. The steel is HARD. It took about 3 ½ hours to sharpen it and dare I say that the file I used will never be the same again. As a note, the temper of the blade is outstanding, allowing it to have significant flex, returning to true, without causing any whippy feeling.
The Handle, Guard and Pommel:
All of these components suit me to at tee. Simple, yet attractive. The guard is of a simple cross pattern such as is depicted on several models of “crusade”swords. The pommel is just round but the beauty of both of these components is that they are beautifully polished to a mirror like finish. The handle is wood that is leather wrapped and it fits VERY tightly on the tang. The components are held together by a very effective system of a threaded rod and insert. The insert is threaded yet on one end is fitted for an alan key. This allows for easy take down of the assembly and even easier tightening if during use it ever becomes loose (I haven’t had this problem yet).
The Scabbard:
The scabbard, quite honestly, caught me completely by surprise. Like most it appears to be wood with leather wrap and matching throat and end caps. While both the end and throat caps are once again a mirrorlike polish, the best part of the scabbard is it’s fit. There is no sloppiness in it, in fact it is so tight that the scabbard and sword can be turned upside down without fear of the sword falling free.
Handling Characteristics:
This is where the sword really shines. The combined light weight and close P.O.B. allow the user to really wield this sword. One-handed, the blade is quick and agile, allowing easy thrusting and slashing in turn. Even in the hand of a novice like myself, the weapon quickly became an extension of my arm(s), dancing to and fro, tracking, changing direction and stopping mid-swing with little more than a thought or whim. With two hands it feels powerful, adding to its grace, the sensation that it has the ability to cleave anything that gets in its way.
Cutting Tests (the fun part!!):
Once the blade had a proper edge it sailed through light targets, such as water bottles with no real resistance.
My next target was some firewood. I was able to split several pieces without so much as a scratch to show for it. The picture shown is of a one-handed stroke to show how easily the blade buries itself with minimal effort.
My last target was one of the shrubs I had previously mentioned. In two solid swings I was able to cleave one of the branches. The branch measured 3 ½”. After inspecting the blade for any sign of damage the results were, no rolling, no chipping, no scratches, only sap and residue left from the branch. All my previously mentioned concerns about the narrow design were put to rest: this is one tough sword.
Conclusions:
I cannot adequately convey how impressed I am with the Tinker bastard sword. It is tough, resilient, and durable. Not only this but combined with its handling, it is near perfect in my books. The only thing that really holds it back is its lack of a sharp edge. If you’re willing to spend a few hours to put an edge on it, this can be one VERY fun sword (please note this is the first time that I have sharpened ANY type of blade, so it might not take someone with more experience nearly as long). As a note, I found out that Hanwei makes a full line of replacement blades of the Tinker line. I cannot stress how much this is appreciated by someone like myself as I am bound to keep pitting this sword against different objects until it has met its match.
Before I wrote this review I e-mailed Valiant Armoury about their Atrim Practical line and was told that even though there is no time table, they are working on an Atrim bastard sword. Hopefully when it arrives I will be able to purchase one (My wife, again, I really love you) and have a “cut off” if you will.
Pros:
Amazing temper
Handles like a dream
Durable
Replacement Blades
Cons:
“Sharpness” out of the box
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for something simple yet functional, that can take a large amount of abuse, I would recommend this sword to you.