Hanwei Raptor Nanbokucho Katana
Mar 12, 2011 6:44:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 6:44:26 GMT
Hanwei Raptor Nanbokucho Katana
So, here I sit with my New katana and the bottom line is I am glad I bought it.
The price point was one main reason I decided to spring for this sword, along with the fact it is a "usable" sword for my budget.
By usable I am implying it is a good starter sword for me because of the simple materials and durability of the sword rather than a 4 digit price range piece of exquisite craftsmanship that I run the risk of destroying as I learn.
KoA was running a special "$189" a piece at the time I decided to finally purchase and at the time I was undecided between Euro, Japanese, Chinese or a rapier. pretty wide selection I know. :? but the price made up my mind for me.
I selected this and a Hanwei tinker longsword that took about a work week to arrive at my door undamaged and packaged well enough.
As I learn more about both sword styles I can decide which one I want to concentrate on.
This piece is based on a sword used in Japan during the Nanboku-cho period of Japan according to Hanwei which is as far as I know the mid to late 14th century feudal Japan.
wiki linky.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanboku-ch%C5%8D_period
other than that, I have no clue.
As stated earlier, this sword was on sale at the time of purchase and I could not pass it up. I have no connection to Hanwei or KoA as these two are my first real swords purchased after several years of drooling and daydreaming.
I decided to finally loosen the tight wad and buy.
My hound stood up and pointed her ears towards the door and my anticipation picked up after having looked at the UPS tracking site every half hour.
Finally the short wait was gone.
I cut the box open with bated breath to find more tape and boxes, gahh... a snip here and a snip there, some packing paper strewn across the room and a grimacing spousal unit and it was Christmas time again. lol
After handling countless SLOs I was expecting a heavy sharp noodly affair that shined liked chrome.
I was astounded by the lightweight,balance and sharpness of the real McCoy.
The blades have a brushed metal finish with some light surface cloudiness in the polish which I was expecting at this price point class of durability for cutting when I get ready to do so.
Initial Impressions
Nagasa Length: 30" of exposed steel
Handle/Tsuka Length: 13 1/4" from tsuba to tip
Overall Length: 45 1/2" with sheath
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3 1/2"
POB (Point of Balance): 5 1/2" from tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion): huh, newb-no-comprehend
Weight: no accurate way to measure this yet but about 3 1/2 pounds with the scabbard.
Enough blaber, on to the meat and potatoes. click images for larger versions.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is a thing of beauty, while not as pretty as one with a hamon it has an aesthetic of shape and strength that is unmistakable.
Some basic measurements.
The Handle/Tsuka
The handle fits my large hands comfortably but never having handled a live katana before I have nothing to compare it to,
The Guard/Tsuba
The Raptor motif is cool but the paint is flecking on the bottom, for the price I will not moan about paint instead of chemical treatment..
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
I really like these fittings, they are fitted tight to the handle with no gaps on this one and they are tasteful and not cheesy IMHO.
The Scabbard/Saya
The finish is a simple black on black paint fleck and there is no metal at the mouth to rub my new sword on which makes me happy to no end as a newb. A nice tight fit and light with a bit of rattle from the blade inside.
Handling Characteristics
This beasty feels alive and dangerous in my hands"and not just because I don't know what I am doing yet, although partly. I am 6'2" and this sword is surprisingly light in my hands and it feels comfortable to swing carefully. It cries "let me cut something" and I stop myself until I can get some instruction first.
I don't know if I can carry this thing around in public in Nevada and if I tried it would not end well nor would I want to other than a festival or specific gathering of some type, well...maybe if the zombies get restless.
I am saving my cherry cut until I find a bit of reliable advice or instruction, maybe I am being overly cautious but this thing feels like it will fly through my leg or arm all to happily.
Conclusions
The sword is awesome to me in it's own right but I may be looking through rose colored new guy glasses that is simply ecstatic with his first real sword but comparing this thing through reviews and internet buzz I am really happy with this sword and I would buy again given the choices again.
Thank you KoA and Hanwei
Pros
IMHO light for its size and it feels faster than a striped rear ape in handling
the fit and finish is more than I expected by far after reading on line about others experiences.
low price
It is really subjective but I sliced a piece of white copy paper with very little resistance so it is sharp enough for now... like I said, really subjective.
Blade came slathered in a protective layer of schlop like a wax so there was no rust or corrosion at all.
Iron fittings.
Cons
Suede handle wrap was tight and fairly even.I wish though the little insert pieces were underneath the wrap for comfort.
The paint was chipping on the tsuba.
no hamon but the way I will likely handle this sword while learning that may be a positive.
I would recommend this sword to a friend or somebody else starting out as a beautiful beater sword with a neat theme.
IMHO the value is a steal.
To a more advanced swordsman, no because he would have way more experience than I and I would sound silly. :lol:
thanks for reading, we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
UPDATE, The tsuba is not iron or any ferrous metal for that matter as it is not magnetic, aluminum maybe?
So, here I sit with my New katana and the bottom line is I am glad I bought it.
The price point was one main reason I decided to spring for this sword, along with the fact it is a "usable" sword for my budget.
By usable I am implying it is a good starter sword for me because of the simple materials and durability of the sword rather than a 4 digit price range piece of exquisite craftsmanship that I run the risk of destroying as I learn.
KoA was running a special "$189" a piece at the time I decided to finally purchase and at the time I was undecided between Euro, Japanese, Chinese or a rapier. pretty wide selection I know. :? but the price made up my mind for me.
I selected this and a Hanwei tinker longsword that took about a work week to arrive at my door undamaged and packaged well enough.
As I learn more about both sword styles I can decide which one I want to concentrate on.
This piece is based on a sword used in Japan during the Nanboku-cho period of Japan according to Hanwei which is as far as I know the mid to late 14th century feudal Japan.
wiki linky.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanboku-ch%C5%8D_period
other than that, I have no clue.
As stated earlier, this sword was on sale at the time of purchase and I could not pass it up. I have no connection to Hanwei or KoA as these two are my first real swords purchased after several years of drooling and daydreaming.
I decided to finally loosen the tight wad and buy.
My hound stood up and pointed her ears towards the door and my anticipation picked up after having looked at the UPS tracking site every half hour.
Finally the short wait was gone.
I cut the box open with bated breath to find more tape and boxes, gahh... a snip here and a snip there, some packing paper strewn across the room and a grimacing spousal unit and it was Christmas time again. lol
After handling countless SLOs I was expecting a heavy sharp noodly affair that shined liked chrome.
I was astounded by the lightweight,balance and sharpness of the real McCoy.
The blades have a brushed metal finish with some light surface cloudiness in the polish which I was expecting at this price point class of durability for cutting when I get ready to do so.
Initial Impressions
Nagasa Length: 30" of exposed steel
Handle/Tsuka Length: 13 1/4" from tsuba to tip
Overall Length: 45 1/2" with sheath
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3 1/2"
POB (Point of Balance): 5 1/2" from tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion): huh, newb-no-comprehend
Weight: no accurate way to measure this yet but about 3 1/2 pounds with the scabbard.
Enough blaber, on to the meat and potatoes. click images for larger versions.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is a thing of beauty, while not as pretty as one with a hamon it has an aesthetic of shape and strength that is unmistakable.
Some basic measurements.
The Handle/Tsuka
The handle fits my large hands comfortably but never having handled a live katana before I have nothing to compare it to,
The Guard/Tsuba
The Raptor motif is cool but the paint is flecking on the bottom, for the price I will not moan about paint instead of chemical treatment..
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
I really like these fittings, they are fitted tight to the handle with no gaps on this one and they are tasteful and not cheesy IMHO.
The Scabbard/Saya
The finish is a simple black on black paint fleck and there is no metal at the mouth to rub my new sword on which makes me happy to no end as a newb. A nice tight fit and light with a bit of rattle from the blade inside.
Handling Characteristics
This beasty feels alive and dangerous in my hands"and not just because I don't know what I am doing yet, although partly. I am 6'2" and this sword is surprisingly light in my hands and it feels comfortable to swing carefully. It cries "let me cut something" and I stop myself until I can get some instruction first.
I don't know if I can carry this thing around in public in Nevada and if I tried it would not end well nor would I want to other than a festival or specific gathering of some type, well...maybe if the zombies get restless.
I am saving my cherry cut until I find a bit of reliable advice or instruction, maybe I am being overly cautious but this thing feels like it will fly through my leg or arm all to happily.
Conclusions
The sword is awesome to me in it's own right but I may be looking through rose colored new guy glasses that is simply ecstatic with his first real sword but comparing this thing through reviews and internet buzz I am really happy with this sword and I would buy again given the choices again.
Thank you KoA and Hanwei
Pros
IMHO light for its size and it feels faster than a striped rear ape in handling
the fit and finish is more than I expected by far after reading on line about others experiences.
low price
It is really subjective but I sliced a piece of white copy paper with very little resistance so it is sharp enough for now... like I said, really subjective.
Blade came slathered in a protective layer of schlop like a wax so there was no rust or corrosion at all.
Iron fittings.
Cons
Suede handle wrap was tight and fairly even.I wish though the little insert pieces were underneath the wrap for comfort.
The paint was chipping on the tsuba.
no hamon but the way I will likely handle this sword while learning that may be a positive.
I would recommend this sword to a friend or somebody else starting out as a beautiful beater sword with a neat theme.
IMHO the value is a steal.
To a more advanced swordsman, no because he would have way more experience than I and I would sound silly. :lol:
thanks for reading, we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
UPDATE, The tsuba is not iron or any ferrous metal for that matter as it is not magnetic, aluminum maybe?