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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 17:24:37 GMT
Hey everyone, I'm looking at possibly getting a Hanwei Practical Light Katana, and just have a couple questions: 1. Is this a good buy? Will it be good for cutting? 2. Does anyone know if it has a companion Practical Light Wakizashi and Practical Light Tanto for sale? Ideally I'd like to get a set. 3. If you have other suggestions for a good cutter / good cutter set, those comments are more than welcome (with links). I'm mostly looking for a nice, affordable entry-level cutter blade, in a set if possible (but I might just get the katana). www.kultofathena.com/product~item~SH2376~name~hanwei+Practical+Light+Katana.htmThanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 18:44:00 GMT
I have not been able to find this particular blade on the Cas Iberia/Hanwei site. Are you sure this is actually a Hanwei blade? I would be careful if I were you. Maybe you should eMail this link to Hanwei to see if the model is actually theirs even if it's obsolete or something. As for the sword itself, I've seen many friends of mine end up VERY dissapointed because when they saw swords from known smiths they automatically assumed things. NEVER take ANYTHING for granted. I don't see the words "Full Tang" anywhere on the page, and judging by where the mekugi (the bamboo/wooden pegs that hold the blade in the handle) are placed, the last third of the handle could very well be tang-less. Also, another thing I don't like about this product's description is that it never states the type of steel used, it only claims that it's "carbon steel", which could very well be a crap grade one. If I were you, i'd ask Hanwei themselves about this product and stay away from it until I received further information. This is the Hanwei website just in case you need it: casiberia.comGood luck with your purchase!
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Post by wiwingti on Jun 15, 2009 18:51:50 GMT
it have been replaced by the practical special katana. that is why you didn't find it lol.
marc
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 18:57:12 GMT
It has a product code though
SH2376
The sword looks legit, I bet one of the "older" posters can confirm it. For a first time cutter, I personally advice a 9260 from cheness. Yea, they don't look that great and there are guys 'n gals out there who have something against cheness, but they make rock solid blades.
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=10702
A review I did on it. More can be found in the reviews index
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:03:14 GMT
Hi there , Right it is a hanwei or paul chen sword so the blade would be made from high carbon Steel the same as their other practical lines . It is a good no frills katana , but if you have no cutting experience then maybe a through hardened katana would be the way to go as this is less likely to take a set on a bad cut compared to the practical light which is differentially hardened . They dont make a practical light wak or tanto but they do make the regular practical versions which are almost identical to the practical light with an exception being the slight change in tsuba. If i may make a suggestion , maybe yet going for a Paul Chen Raptor katana , very good for cutting and a forgiving sword , very tough from what iv seen . Lastly you cant go wrong ordering from kultofathena , they are great very helpful , great pricing and fast shipping . Good luck with your choice
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:08:30 GMT
According to the info here in Scandinavia the practical light SH2376 is the same blade as the Practical katana but with another hamon and the sword has updated tsuba and the same menuki as the models just above had earlier. A facelifted practical katana with the same user characteristics as pk in other words.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:20:48 GMT
What about this one: www.kultofathena.com/product~item~SH6000KPC~name~Hanwei+Practical+Elite+Katana.htmIt's the Practical Elite Katana (practical katana with some slightly better stats). I'm looking for one in the sub $200 range, but is still functional and a pretty good all-around katana. I plan on getting a $330 custom blade later this year from Paul, but I wanted something to scratch my itch in the mean time.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:24:24 GMT
The blade is the same one used in the PPK, a bit different from the PK blade. The tsuka is cheaper, though. It's something like a crossover of the PK with the PPK.
rukumouru- I suggest reading a bit more in the forums here, and the articles in the site itself. Hanwei's practical line does NOT contain wallhangers, a full tang doesn't mean "goes to the very bottom of the tsuka" (after all, if you decide to get a longer/shorter tsuka it changes everything.) and there's no real reason for it to go more than 2/3 or 3/4 deep. If we go by that definition, more than half the nihonto out there are not "full tang".
As for the steel, while a mystery why hanwei are choosing not to state it, the practical line uses 1566 steel. Something like 0.6-.065% carbon content, with a bit of added chromium. A good chice for a DF sword, it's something like half way between 1060/1065 to the more expensive 5160. And while you can't give it a spring temper like the more "classic" 10XX type, it has good tensile strength and is a bit less succeptible to rust. OP- I have a practical special katana and a practical wakizashi coming my way, should arrive here before the weekend, if you're willing to wait 'till then, i'll give you a detailed opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:31:12 GMT
dont get an elite if you plan to cut bottles, they are really for mats, they do chip.
the PKLite, now renamed PKSpecial, is a much better all rounder.
i reviewed it a bit back
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=7391&page=1#115140
its a solid first sword, sure its not a tank like a musha or a tenchi, but it is plenty tough enough for bottles & mats.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:34:53 GMT
I agree with swordnut about Cheness. Their 9260 steel blades are seemingly unbreakable (although they're obviously not) and hold their edge for very long. Go with one of those and you'll never regret it. Plus, I don't think they look bad at all, they seem pretty attractive to me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:38:49 GMT
The blade is the same one used in the PPK, a bit different from the PK blade. . Really? If it is the same as practical plus it could be a very good purchase here then since the price is almost the same (about $20 difference to the pk) while the plus costs about $150 more...and the vendor says/believes(?) the plk blades are identical to pk besides shape of hamon. And that the plus is another blade.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:47:07 GMT
It took me a LOT of research to reach a solid enough conclusion, but this seems to be the case. The shape of the hamon is identical to the PPK's hamon, the geometry is the same, and it's the same steel, so i think it's pretty safe to say it's the same blade. (btw, the PK's blade isn't that different from the PPK as well, the major difference is the tsuka and fittings, which really drop the price)
Can't wait to get them already.....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 20:53:15 GMT
Thank you very much for the review, Kenpachi. I think I will go with the PKLite afterall. I would've liked a matching Wakizachi, but I can't afford to buy that right now anyway. I'll probably go with that. Like I said, I'm going to get an SBG Custom Katana when I can, but I want to get a cheaper katana first so that I can learn how to properly clean / take care of it, and to start learning how to cut (that way if I mess up / break anything, it won't happen to my nicer katana later). BTW, Plus 1 to you, Kenpachi.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 22:01:25 GMT
Thank you very much for the review, Kenpachi. I think I will go with the PKLite afterall. I would've liked a matching Wakizachi, but I can't afford to buy that right now anyway. I'll probably go with that. Like I said, I'm going to get an SBG Custom Katana when I can, but I want to get a cheaper katana first so that I can learn how to properly clean / take care of it, and to start learning how to cut (that way if I mess up / break anything, it won't happen to my nicer katana later). BTW, Plus 1 to you, Kenpachi. thanks mate, you have a good mindset plus one to you too. as another thing to add, tom recently took his PKLite to the bamboo, it out performed the kaze, and held up really really well, especially being the smaller blade. i'll have a look for the video, its kinda like a destruction test... honestly id be surprised if you managed to break it. its a great first sword. i wish it coulda been my first.... cursed masahiro ! *waves fist* the blade is actually worth some mounting modifications mwuhahaha lol if you are shopping around for a good price be sure to check wiwingtis edit; here is that video he needs some ratings if anyones interested some douche rated him low second edit; heres another
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 10:18:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 11:34:57 GMT
I don't like the tsuba on that one Kenny-chan. It feels too...retail...why would I want a companies logo (sorta) as my tsuba?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 14:11:12 GMT
Hmm.... That's good, but it's still $169 at Kult of Athena, and there I can get a sword-cleaning kit and a cheap stand for it as well (save on shipping).
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jun 16, 2009 15:04:47 GMT
hey guys, I'm in port right now and have a really slow connection but I. HAVE. A. CONNECTION! I'm really impressed with the PK Light (or special now) it is the sword that turned me from a detractor of Hanwei into a HUGE supporter. on targets of single mat or smaller, including small to medium bamboo it certainly out performed my Cheness Kaze in out-of-the-box state of sharpness. where the PK Light falls to the Kaze is in really heavy targets like double and triple tatami and tatami wrapped bamboo. anything less than these rediculously heavy targets though the PK Light is just amazing for. it IS very light though, mine is just slightly over two pounds. I have given it a few sets but it has always returned to true with little effort and honestly on those occasions I had put it up against really stressful targets. I also like the Practical Plus classic. Elite and XL are for serious mat-cutters only from what I hear and honestly I just don't like the shape of the blade as much. I'd say the PKL (or PK Special) is a great first sword for anyone who likes katana.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 15:41:19 GMT
^^^^^^^^^^ what he said yo tom hows it going? hope life at sea is treating you well mate I don't like the tsuba on that one Kenny-chan. It feels too...retail...why would I want a companies logo (sorta) as my tsuba? nut, are you looking at the wws oni shobu? or "at the bottom" the PKLite?
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jun 17, 2009 3:19:39 GMT
Things are pretty good, I'm getting settled into my new ship, meeting people and learning my watch stations. so far so good. I'll be home early-mid next month for a good spell. thanks
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