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Post by Jayhawk on May 11, 2011 3:12:14 GMT
First off, I'm new to the board (but not to swords), so hi everyone! I'm contemplating my first "functional" modern sword purchase. I have quite a few antique swords (French Napoleonic era shortsword, pre-Spanish civil war cavalry cutlass, Katana like sword from Sulawesi age unknown, etc.), but nothing I can pick up and cut stuff with...so my life is lacking.  I've always loved Chinese broadswords, so that's what I'm thinking of getting...but I really don't need a $200 or even $300 sword. I'm leaning towards the Hanwei practical kung fu broadsword. However, I saw this online in several sites, but can't find any reviews: www.amazon.com/Sword-Sharpened-S ... B0000C88BV . Has anyone tried one of these? It definitely has a nicer sheath, but I'm not convinced the sword itself is nicer. All the sale sites mention "non bendable blade", but shouldn't the blade have some flex? The only antique sword I have with no flex is the French short sword which was designed that way for thrusting. Also, although not a Dao, I like the Hanwei Yang Saber quite a bit, too. Has anyone tried one of these? Or to get really wacky...I kind of like the Hanwei military Dadao...that looks like more of a chopper than a cutter! :lol: If anyone has tried two or three of the above - any opinions on which is the better cutter/functional sword? Also, any other cheap, but nicely functional Daos out there? Thanks, Eric |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 11, 2011 3:26:22 GMT
Review on the Hanwei Practical, review on the hanwei Military Dadao, and member Chuckinohio owns the Yang Saber; he mentioned it's light and responsive, but a light cutter: bottles, pool noodles, and maybe a small tatami roll. As for the Tiger Claw product, I'd personally say it's meant more for martial arts rather than cutting, but I believe it could possibly serve as such; also, what they mean by "non-bendable" is that it's not wushu steel, i.e., you can wiggle the sword in your hand and the blade whips like a piece of paper. Basically, it's sturdier, like a sword should be.
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Post by Turok on May 11, 2011 4:41:10 GMT
hmm...I guess I'm on the same boat as you are! I know that Hanwei has a solid reputation but I don't know about Tiger Claw! The sword may be sharp but you have to remember to check if it has a strong, safe tang! Otherwise it will end up flying like a helicopter! I've already seen a lot of "martial arts, battle-ready" swords with really sad, puny tangs...  |
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Post by Elheru Aran on May 11, 2011 20:52:14 GMT
If you like Chinese swords, the Hanwei Military Dadao is a great deal. Their Practical Kung Fu Broadsword isn't quite supposed to be used sharp, but several have done it and it's performed fine. All told I'd go with either Hanwei or Kris Cutlery.
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Post by Jayhawk on May 11, 2011 23:04:19 GMT
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm still hoping someone might have played with the Tiger Claw Dao, but I'm leaning towards either the practical Dao or the Dadao.
The Hanwei Military Dadao is a phenomenal deal, and that break down in the review shows really solid construction...looks like you could chop firewood if you wanted! Plus...it's sheath looks normal compared to the practical Dao!
I'm not in a super rush. I like the looks of the Kris Kutlery lower priced Dao, but it's made for stage/practice banging and not to hold an edge (I double checked with them...nice folks and they respond quickly). Their Dadao looks solid, too, but I do not like the look nearly as much as the Hanwei Dadao.
What I really want is the no longer manufactured Hanwei Dao with the brass fittings and wood sheath...too bad I didn't realize that about 5 years ago.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 11, 2011 23:23:32 GMT
Jayhawk, you just happen to be in luck, because I want that same one and just happened to receive this in my e-mail. Edgefair.com is apparently a new vendor of Hanwei products, although they sell them at MSRP. Their only redeeming quality, to me, is that they offer exclusives consisting of discontinued items. They have the oxtail for sale, though it does breech your 200$ limit. |
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Post by Jayhawk on May 12, 2011 1:24:26 GMT
That's pretty cool. It'll take a little more convincing with "she who controls the checkbook", and I'm also become more attracted to the military dadao. That said, I'd hate to miss the opportunity to pick up that dao. Hmmm....
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Post by Pogo4321 on May 12, 2011 2:50:22 GMT
The practical kung fu that I have came sharp and rings beautifully when cutting hanging bottles just like in Paul's video--I love it. I also have the ox-tail dao and again it is a great sword--get it before it vanishes forever.
I love chinese swords, in my case it's jians that are favored, and have done quite a bit of looking at these other brands on various martial arts websites. What I have decided is that the descriptions are way to vague to take a chance on them (what the heck is "combat steel"?). If I can get one used from someone trust worthy I'd probably pick up the Tiger Claw. But until that happens I'll stick with makers (and retailers) I can trust (Hanwei, Huanuo, Kris, Cold Steel, Jin-shi). My opinion for what it's worth.
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Post by Turok on May 12, 2011 3:08:53 GMT
Holy crap! don't mean to change the subject but this Edgefair.com looks pretty good! You can get a Chiang Kai-Shek dirk! hahaha :lol:
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Post by chuckinohio on May 14, 2011 2:55:41 GMT
On the Yang Saber-
Vincent was right, it is very light and handles very very quickly, but I would not want to try it anything heavier than bottles. A small roll maybe, but that would be with trepidation.
The Millitary Dao-
Set up the 4X4s and chop away. You would literally have to take a hammer to it to hurt it, and even then it would take some work. Mine needed a little work on the edge, but after that, you can't stop the thing.
An excellent heavy duty chopper for the price.
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Post by Jayhawk on May 14, 2011 4:34:47 GMT
I'm leaning towards the Military Dadao I think. For the price and toughness, it seems hard to beat.
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Post by Pogo4321 on May 14, 2011 17:37:14 GMT
Hi, Chuck. Could you expand on that a little. I've been seriously thinking about picking up the Yang saber. Is it that the blade is really thin? Or is the tang suspect?
Thanks.
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Post by chuckinohio on May 15, 2011 5:29:04 GMT
The blade. It is pretty thin.
The edge on it is nice, and it slices very nicely, but you could damage the edge on it easily owing to its thinness. There is very little blade mass behind the edge, and could very well lead to an easily rolled edge, or possibly chipping on a hard target. I dont think that it would take a set easily, as the spine of the blade is substantial enough to support the blade structurally, but the thin thin edge geometry makes it a light slicer.
The grip is epoxied on the Yang, so I have not been able to examine the tang to offer any comments on it.
Have you ever handled the old Hanwei Corn Leaf Saber? There is less mass behind the edge on the Yang, than on the Corn Leaf.
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Post by Taiwandeutscher on May 15, 2011 5:50:58 GMT
Could anybody say something on the guard of that so-called yang sabre?
My Chinese teachers here in Taiwan find it highly suspicious and think it is a modern thing, learned from western influences, traditionally no such thing before 1900?!
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 15, 2011 7:08:55 GMT
There's nothing wrong with not being traditional.
Anyways, from what I remember, the Yang dao was designed sometime in the last century specifically for Yang style Taijiquan; I could be wrong, though. As for it being from Western influences, I'd question how relative is Western? The only s-shaped guards I'm aware of in the West are the bow-tie guards and those are horizontal, not vertical. If anything, it looks Middle Eastern to me, though I do remember seeing some very old Chinese swords with this style of guard (although, more exaggerated).
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Post by Taiwandeutscher on May 15, 2011 8:58:06 GMT
Well, that would be a personal preference, wouldn't it?
What bothers me personally more is the narrow blade, as we use willow leaf sabres, song sabres or ghost head sabres (with upwards cutting edge at the point) here, which all have much wider blades.
Any thoughts on that?
And thanks for your reply!
Gtrets from hot Taiwan
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 15, 2011 13:30:43 GMT
I think the lack of a rear cutting edge, as on traditional daos, could have to do with the fact that this sword came about as a martial artist's tool after the time of swords was over and people cared less if there was a cutting edge. But that's just my own speculation, though it would make sense if the part about it being made specifically for Yang Taijiquan is true.
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Post by Jayhawk on May 15, 2011 16:42:54 GMT
I wonder if it's that a single edged sword was easier for the masses to use. If you can swing an ax to cut firewood, you can swing a single edged sword. In some ways, single edged swords like the dao, falchion and dadao are like fighting machetes...something the commoner could use when drafted into service with little/no training.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 15, 2011 17:11:52 GMT
That's an interesting theory, truth be told. It makes a certain degree of sense, too. I remember a few comments about the niuweidao that could back it up; it was a popular weapon among civilians (it was never issued to troops) because one could become proficient in it in a remarkably short amount of time and, as the saying I heard goes: "If you're hacking off pounds of flesh with every swing, it really doesn't matter where you hit", whereas with the cut-n-thrusting jian (or even the somewhat slenderer liuyedao to a degree), it does.
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Post by Taiwandeutscher on May 16, 2011 5:28:28 GMT
Thanks, Vincent, would love to give some karma, but can't find any botton for you!
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