Hanwei Bamboo Mat Review
Oct 2, 2010 11:13:13 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2010 11:13:13 GMT
Hi, I’m a long time reader of the boards (about 4 years on and off), and it’s only now that I have gotten my second sword that I have decided to join so I could write a review of my new blade. I am a university student from Denmark and I have a lifelong interest in swords and history in general, you will have to excuse me if there are any broken English in the text as this is not my first language. I have noticed that there has been a lot of attention concerning the katana in question, but no one has yet written a review. So here it is, I look forward to be a bit more contributive to the boards
Introduction
I have been wanting a katana for a looong time, but something has always seemed to get in the way like money, other more practical important stuff to buy and so on. But now I finally got myself together and ordered a Hanwei Bamboo Mat Katana from a local importer. I live in Denmark where there are strict rules about the import of weapons and therefore it is both a tiresome and expensive process to buy a sword. I always get envious of you guys when I read about how cheap and easy it is for you to order from places like KoA or Wiwingti . The reason for me to get a katana in the first place was an interest in swords as aesthetic objects. I therefore don’t intent to use the sword in a practical way (nor do I have the skill or space for it) but rather I look upon it as an object of art. I own a Hanwei Albrecht II hand and a half, and I have always wanted to have both the western and the eastern sword design represented, so the katana was a natural choice. I have been interested in the Bamboo Mat for some time because of its subtle theme, unique hamon and because it is a class above Hanwei’s practical line. I am more for quality than quantity, yet I don’t have the money for the higher end lines (in my search for the perfect sword for me I considered the Three Monkeys Katana, but decided it was too expensive). Therefore the Bamboo Mat seemed like a perfect compromise (in the words best sense) between quality and price, for my purpose anyways, and that it has sure proved to be.
All of the pictures of the sword can be found here: picasaweb.google.com/11741312924 ... directlink
Initial Impressions
Being shipped from USA to Denmark it took some time for the package to arrive, I think it was about 2 weeks. When it finally arrived, the Danish customs held the package back because my importers import license hadn’t arrived. It was the postal service that was to blame though, and after a couple of days it all got sorted out and my sword arrived. It came tightly wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap (which I love btw). Inside was a wooden box with black string around it. I like the box since it is simple and still quite sophisticated in a way. Inside the box was the sword tightly wrapped in the black sword bag. When I gently took out the sword my initial impression was of the weight of the sword. I have never held a katana and it was a little bit heavier than I expected, but in a good way though. It really felt like a powerful entity. Afterwards I noticed the high gloss lacquer of the saya which looked very nice and deep. Then my eyes moved to the tsuka where I inspected every little detail and was very pleased with what I saw. When I took the sword out of the saya I had to wipe the blade with I soft cloth before I could see the hamon properly, which is a testimony to how subtle and sophisticated it is. When I had been reading about katanas from Hanwei and seen pictures of them I have always been frustrated about the acid-edged hamons but in this particular sword all my fears have been ungrounded. The pictures in this review do not in any way do the blade justice!
Components
Nagasa: As described above the hamon is really impressive at least for me (keep in mind that this is the first real katana I have ever seen and held IRL). The blade is polished to what I would describe as being in between a satin and a mirror polish. The Kissaki is (as far as my untrained eye can tell) geometric, at least it isn’t counter polished, but someone else with more knowledge on the subject may prove me wrong. I really like the sori on this katana it is neither too deep nor too shallow to my liking. I have found myself to be very picky on the subject, so it is quite an achievement for this blade .
Tsuka: The ito is very tightly wrapped and cannot be moved unless you use intense force. The shape of the diamonds (don’t know the correct term) is fairly consistent, and the little variety that can be spotted doesn’t really bother me. The samé is really nice, I don’t have the same big noodles as another member on this board showed some time ago, but I don’t mind. I only have one, which you can see in one of the pictures. I really like the color of the same, it’s not bleached to a blinding white yet it doesn’t look too yellow. The menuki’s seem to be of a good quality, you can’t really see any flaws in them. The only problem I have with the tsuka is the fact that the ito is wrapped partly over the mekugi in two places. It really makes me wonder if it is even possible for me to take the katana apart since the ito is so tightly wrapped… can someone maybe give some advice on the matter?
Tsuba: As mentioned before I like the theme of the sword very much, this also includes the tsuba. It fits very tight, and there is no play at all in it. The same applies for all the other fittings such as fuchi and kashira. The habaki has some small scratches on it, but it doesn’t bother me. It might do some others so keep that in mind.
Saya: I am tempted to say that the sword fits perfectly in the saya! There is no rattle at all and the fit between the habaki and the mouth of the scabbard is the perfect combination of tightness and looseness. As you might be able to guess it was a big concern for me if there would be rattle in the saya or a bad fit. There was on my Albrecht II and it has bothered me a little from time to time, although I think such things are less important in a European sword than in a katana. The saya has horn fittings as it should have.
Conclusions
As you can hear I am VERY pleased with my Bamboo Mat Katana. The theme is perfect for my taste and the execution of the different parts of the sword is of very high quality if you take the price into consideration. All in all I would recommend this katana to anyone who can appreciate the subtle theme and is willing to go for quality instead of quantity. As mentioned before this review is from a collector’s point of view and not of a practitioner’s.
Pros
- Sophisticated theme
- Tight fit all over
- Beautiful nagasa
Cons
- Slightly scratched habaki
- Ito wraps partly over mekugi in two places
Introduction
I have been wanting a katana for a looong time, but something has always seemed to get in the way like money, other more practical important stuff to buy and so on. But now I finally got myself together and ordered a Hanwei Bamboo Mat Katana from a local importer. I live in Denmark where there are strict rules about the import of weapons and therefore it is both a tiresome and expensive process to buy a sword. I always get envious of you guys when I read about how cheap and easy it is for you to order from places like KoA or Wiwingti . The reason for me to get a katana in the first place was an interest in swords as aesthetic objects. I therefore don’t intent to use the sword in a practical way (nor do I have the skill or space for it) but rather I look upon it as an object of art. I own a Hanwei Albrecht II hand and a half, and I have always wanted to have both the western and the eastern sword design represented, so the katana was a natural choice. I have been interested in the Bamboo Mat for some time because of its subtle theme, unique hamon and because it is a class above Hanwei’s practical line. I am more for quality than quantity, yet I don’t have the money for the higher end lines (in my search for the perfect sword for me I considered the Three Monkeys Katana, but decided it was too expensive). Therefore the Bamboo Mat seemed like a perfect compromise (in the words best sense) between quality and price, for my purpose anyways, and that it has sure proved to be.
All of the pictures of the sword can be found here: picasaweb.google.com/11741312924 ... directlink
Initial Impressions
Being shipped from USA to Denmark it took some time for the package to arrive, I think it was about 2 weeks. When it finally arrived, the Danish customs held the package back because my importers import license hadn’t arrived. It was the postal service that was to blame though, and after a couple of days it all got sorted out and my sword arrived. It came tightly wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap (which I love btw). Inside was a wooden box with black string around it. I like the box since it is simple and still quite sophisticated in a way. Inside the box was the sword tightly wrapped in the black sword bag. When I gently took out the sword my initial impression was of the weight of the sword. I have never held a katana and it was a little bit heavier than I expected, but in a good way though. It really felt like a powerful entity. Afterwards I noticed the high gloss lacquer of the saya which looked very nice and deep. Then my eyes moved to the tsuka where I inspected every little detail and was very pleased with what I saw. When I took the sword out of the saya I had to wipe the blade with I soft cloth before I could see the hamon properly, which is a testimony to how subtle and sophisticated it is. When I had been reading about katanas from Hanwei and seen pictures of them I have always been frustrated about the acid-edged hamons but in this particular sword all my fears have been ungrounded. The pictures in this review do not in any way do the blade justice!
Components
Nagasa: As described above the hamon is really impressive at least for me (keep in mind that this is the first real katana I have ever seen and held IRL). The blade is polished to what I would describe as being in between a satin and a mirror polish. The Kissaki is (as far as my untrained eye can tell) geometric, at least it isn’t counter polished, but someone else with more knowledge on the subject may prove me wrong. I really like the sori on this katana it is neither too deep nor too shallow to my liking. I have found myself to be very picky on the subject, so it is quite an achievement for this blade .
Tsuka: The ito is very tightly wrapped and cannot be moved unless you use intense force. The shape of the diamonds (don’t know the correct term) is fairly consistent, and the little variety that can be spotted doesn’t really bother me. The samé is really nice, I don’t have the same big noodles as another member on this board showed some time ago, but I don’t mind. I only have one, which you can see in one of the pictures. I really like the color of the same, it’s not bleached to a blinding white yet it doesn’t look too yellow. The menuki’s seem to be of a good quality, you can’t really see any flaws in them. The only problem I have with the tsuka is the fact that the ito is wrapped partly over the mekugi in two places. It really makes me wonder if it is even possible for me to take the katana apart since the ito is so tightly wrapped… can someone maybe give some advice on the matter?
Tsuba: As mentioned before I like the theme of the sword very much, this also includes the tsuba. It fits very tight, and there is no play at all in it. The same applies for all the other fittings such as fuchi and kashira. The habaki has some small scratches on it, but it doesn’t bother me. It might do some others so keep that in mind.
Saya: I am tempted to say that the sword fits perfectly in the saya! There is no rattle at all and the fit between the habaki and the mouth of the scabbard is the perfect combination of tightness and looseness. As you might be able to guess it was a big concern for me if there would be rattle in the saya or a bad fit. There was on my Albrecht II and it has bothered me a little from time to time, although I think such things are less important in a European sword than in a katana. The saya has horn fittings as it should have.
Conclusions
As you can hear I am VERY pleased with my Bamboo Mat Katana. The theme is perfect for my taste and the execution of the different parts of the sword is of very high quality if you take the price into consideration. All in all I would recommend this katana to anyone who can appreciate the subtle theme and is willing to go for quality instead of quantity. As mentioned before this review is from a collector’s point of view and not of a practitioner’s.
Pros
- Sophisticated theme
- Tight fit all over
- Beautiful nagasa
Cons
- Slightly scratched habaki
- Ito wraps partly over mekugi in two places