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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2010 21:41:53 GMT
Hi all I'm needing some help ,basically I am wanting to get my first chinese sword and iv narrowed it down to the hanwei qi jian or th cold steel gim. Normally I am strictly a katana guy but iv decided to broaden my horisons ,ha ha . So I'm looking for some views on The cold steel gim , are the blades very thin ? Are they whippy ?How sharp are they out of the box ? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2010 22:19:20 GMT
Hi all I'm needing some help ,basically I am wanting to get my first chinese sword and iv narrowed it down to the hanwei qi jian or th cold steel gim. Normally I am strictly a katana guy but iv decided to broaden my horisons ,ha ha . So I'm looking for some views on The cold steel gim , are the blades very thin ? Are they whippy ?How sharp are they out of the box ? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks Now, I have no personal experience, but from what I hear the Cold Steel is overbuilt. IN my opinion, the fittings are a little corny as well. Get the Hanwei cutting Jian, it's available at wiwingti for around $220 which is the same as a CS Gim- and from what I hear, the right size, geometry, well-made and with nice fittings.
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Post by shadowhowler on Jan 21, 2010 22:20:18 GMT
Hi all I'm needing some help ,basically I am wanting to get my first chinese sword and iv narrowed it down to the hanwei qi jian or th cold steel gim. Normally I am strictly a katana guy but iv decided to broaden my horisons ,ha ha . So I'm looking for some views on The cold steel gim , are the blades very thin ? Are they whippy ?How sharp are they out of the box ? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks The Cold Steel Gim is decent... I have one. Its not whippy at all and is a great cutter. The Hanwei Gi Jian I LOVE and want... but have not yet handled and don't know anyone who has one. Its pretty tho. Also a bit more expensive then the Cold Steel. Then there is the new Hanwei Cutting Jian.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2010 7:55:47 GMT
In terms of sharpness ,how sharp would you say it is when compared to say a paul chen practical katana ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2010 8:48:56 GMT
I have a cold steel gim. I like it a lot.
It's not that heavy to me. Then again I have no background in Chinese martial arts so it could be heavier than it should be.
It's definitely one of my sharpest swords. I don't have a practical kat but I do have a Hanwei ninjato, it's sharper than my ninjato. It has a really nice polish as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2010 10:05:50 GMT
Thank you ,that does help me guage the edge a little better as I also have a hanwei ninja sword . What have you all cut with your gim ,I watched Pauls vid in his review and it seems like a really tough blade.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2010 22:49:21 GMT
My Hanwei Practical Katana came out of the box shaving hair, my Cold Steel Gim slightly less sharp, but sharper than my hanwei practical ninja-to. It do cut It is heftier than the hanwei Tai Chi Jian I use to own, and the Gim blade isn't going to be doing much noticeable flexing. The Gim is a very solid build, but since the Qi Jian is a single piece of steel hilt to tip it has to be just as solid. The Qi is listed at a hefty 2lb 9oz, but unless your doing forms that probably won't matter much to you. I pick the Qi Jian, just because I don't have it (was too pricey when it came out for me to pick one up) , but I want one still
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2010 2:28:50 GMT
According to the Hanwei rep I spoke to. The QI Jian is NOT tempered for cutting. He recommended nothing stronger than half mats from what I understand of their definition of "light cutting."
If you want a cutter, I would go for the new cutting Jian they have to offer.
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Post by shadowhowler on Jan 24, 2010 6:32:59 GMT
According to the Hanwei rep I spoke to. The QI Jian is NOT tempered for cutting. He recommended nothing stronger than half mats from what I understand of their definition of "light cutting." If you want a cutter, I would go for the new cutting Jian they have to offer. That sucks. The Qi Jian is pretty damn expensive for a sword that won't cut well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2010 19:43:14 GMT
Yeah it does. I'm sure a few folks have tried to cut with it, but I wouldn't risk it. The single billet construction, if I'm not mistaken, simply represents a very old form of weapon making. If my memory serves (one of the smiths correct me if I am wrong) one of the reasons for using multiple billets in making a blade was for the extra strength such construction provided.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2010 23:23:00 GMT
On the cold steel website there is a test cutting video featuring the jim by the way Shadowhowler thats a cool suit of armou 8-)r
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2010 19:49:03 GMT
Yeah thanks ,I actually watched the video on youtube. It seems like a really tough blade ,Im looking forward to receiving it and doing som cutting with it ,now to just be patient and await its arrival ,ha ha
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2010 1:21:59 GMT
Long story short: Prior to the Hanwei Cutting Jian (specified as such because it's their ONLY cutting Jian), only the CS Gim and the CS Jade Lion Gim were proper cutters out of the entire selection of Jians on the market (not counting the short-lived production Jin Shi jians and custom pieces).
That's it.
The rest fall into one of 3 categories, with Hanwei being about the best for the money: Forms Sparring Wall-hangers.
So, for a cutting Jian, you have 3 choices other than custom work or trying to hunt down someone willing to part with a Jin Shi production piece: CS Gim CS Jade Lion Gim Hanwei Cutting Jian (is this actually out, finally? Did I miss that announcement?)
I have and like the CS Gim. The Jade Lion is prettier and more to historical weight, but costs a good bit more. I have not seen the actual Hanwei Cutter yet.
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Post by shadowhowler on Jan 26, 2010 1:34:56 GMT
I LOVE the look of the CS Jade Lion Gim... would pick that up if it were not so pricy... However, there is one other option for cutting Gim/Jian swords... Kris Cutlery. I have had two of their Gim swords, still have one, and they were both good cutters.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2010 1:39:56 GMT
Hmmm. That's news to me. Thanks, shadowhowler.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2010 3:00:48 GMT
How's the Jade Lion Gim? I'm thinking about purchasing one.
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Post by sicheah on Jan 26, 2010 4:04:22 GMT
Review of the Jade Lion Gim right here:
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=11715&page=1#190256
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 0:12:43 GMT
Hi guys ,I am awaiting the arrival of my Cold Steel Gim ,Can anyone tell me what kind of a finish the blade has ?Is it well polished or a more work like finish to it?The other thing I have been wondering ,does the handle have any grooves on it or is it just a plain smooth rosewood finish to it .Lastly inside the handguard ,from the pics iv seen,seems to be blackened has anyone tried to polish or remove this?Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 5:29:31 GMT
The blacking in the designs is on purpose. The idea is to make the designs stand out more. You can remove it, but there's no real reason to.
My Gim has ridges in the grip, parallel with the length. I think I'd have preferred a smooth grip, but that's ok.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 5:39:12 GMT
Thanks Taran, The blacking I was refering to is found inside the handguard (the side facing the blade ) ,Is this a norm in all jians/Gim's ?
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