Hanwei/Tinker-CSS Great Sword of War
Jun 5, 2011 15:23:40 GMT
Post by chuckinohio on Jun 5, 2011 15:23:40 GMT
Hanwei is one of the most prolific sword manufacturers in business today, offering a varied line up of edged weapons for the sword enthusiast.
Their collaboration with Michael "Tinker' Pearce has produced what many consider to be the best, or only, option for a performance oriented European sword on the market in the sub $300 dollar category.
This opinion will of course vary, as many are fans of the Valiant Armory line of European swords, but the big difference is in the price points.
Valiant Armoury is known for offering performance blades designed by Angus Trim that are solid performers in the sub $300 market. Valiants big selling point is the fact that they offer their swords with an attractively done scabbard and suspension on the higher end models, and the fact that they have a Custom Sword Shoppe where the sky is the limit as to what you can have done to a sword.
Owing to their lower initial cost, the Hanwei line is arguably more prevalent amongst the sword buying public. Considering the blowout sales that Hanwei and their many vendors have offered in the past, there are in all likelyhood many more Hanwei pieces in circulation than Valiant Armory pieces.
What I present to you is the melding, meeting, confabulation, and cross breeding of the two, Valiant Armoury and Hanwei.
The Custom Sword Shoppe Great Sword of War, based on, and made from a Hanwei/Tinker Great Sword of War (GSOW from here on out)
For those unfamiliar with the Hanwei/Tinker GSOW, I suggest that you peruse the various reviews on the SBG forum. Here are sveral examples-
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=14067&page=1#235773
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=12204&page=1#200681
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=13256&page=1#220260
Now the good stuff
The differences are readily apparent are they not?
Valiant Armory has taken the GSOW and offered it as a custom version, upgraded and beautified.
The scabbard is the stock Hanwei scabbard redone with an ornate leather treatment. The Hanwei scabbard is a fiberglass core scabbard, and Valiant reused the core on this model, only they made it more better.
The scabbards themselves without those pesky swords in the way.
The Hanwei scabbards have a notorious reputation of the locket scraping the blade when sheathing or drawing the sword, an effect easily remedied with a file and a little time.
Valiant said "to hell with that" and crafted a scabbard with a leather throat and rain flaps. No scrape, no fuss.
Showing the throat of the scabbard, and the neatness of the leather work done by the Custom Sword Shoppe. Inside the throat of the scabbard there are thin wooden shims to take up any play of the blade in the scabbard. The Hanwei fiberglass cores use spacers as well, only they are either rubber or leather. There is no play evidenced in the sheathed sword, and no annoying scraping noise along with subsequent dulling of the cutting edge.
A leather die cut that is glued to the scabbard near the throat signifying that "Yes, I am the King"
The suspension straps are embossed with a repeating pattern matching that on the lower scabbard to tie the two together. The leather work is of high quality as are the buckles, something that the Custom Sword Shoppe is known for.
The suspension straps. There are three straps because, after all, this is not just a sword of war, this is the GREAT sword of war. The suspension of this blade uses hangers that slide on the belt. The rear one is bifurcated at a ring and uses the rear two straps to secure the scabbard while a seperate front strap adjusts the angle of the dangle. A secure and visually pleasing set up, and well executed by Valiant.
The lower part of the scabbard showing the embossed pattern present. The top is a Fleur de Lis design, while the body of the pattern is made up of repeating crosses. This pattern is repeated on the suspension straps and the belt, tying the whole piece together as a whole. Valiant reused the Hanwei scabbard chape, something that I have no issue with, as it is plenty durable, and large enough to protect the tip of this large scabbard.
The steel.
Readily apparent is the tip profile of the Valiant rework.
They took some of the spatulate tip profile away from the Hanwei version, making a sword that it would be possible to thrust a bit easier with.
The rework of the profile taper is done very well, and there are no ill effects apparent from it. The blade was refinished to a satin appearance, and if you did not know any better, you would swear that it was originally manufactured that way.
The handling of the two weapons remained the same, with the exception of the Valiant version being better in the thrust. The weight removed from the blade was negligible and there was no real felt or measured change in the point of balance. The Valiant version is still every bit as powerful in the cut as the original Hanwei version.
While these type of swords are not designed for the thrust, having the option available to you is never a minus.
The end that you hold on to.
Valiant Armory retained the take down feature of the Hanwei/Tinker model, so they are both able to be disassembled with an allen wrench for maintenance.
They also retained the original Hanwei furniture, only giving it a smooth, even satin finish.
The cross and pommel on the Original GSOW in the photos was given a slight golden hue by heating it in an oven until the deired shade was achieved.
This thread-forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2758 gives an idea of what is possible.
The original Hanwei grip was given a cord print to enhance the grippability and add some flair to an otherwise plain grip. This thread shows how-forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2992
The Valiant grip is redone in a leather over cord wrap that is cleanly and neatly done. No seam to worry about, and simply top notch work by Valiant. I am fairly sure that they reused the stock Hanwei grip core for their version, as they match very very closely.
The Valiant Armory model that I received, was plain satin finished steel, that I subsequently blued. The blued furniture went with the scabbard better than the plain steel furniture IMO, but I can't fault Valiant for offering it plain.
The pommel decoration was added by roughing the pommel slightly with sand paper, and then JB welding the round thingy on. The round thingy is a metal button from the fabric store that is sanded flat on the back to match the pommel flat. It has a Fleur de Lis motif also, that matches the scabbard quite well and lends a personalized touch.
Well, there you have it, a plain old Hanwei/Tinker GSOW made more glamorous and distinctive.
Those out there who own a GSOW could also have a distinctive piece by patronizing Sonny Suttles at the Valiant Armoury Custom Sword Shoppe.
This option is a way out for those who have read the many customization threads on how several forum members have crafted some epic pieces from these inexpensive and plentiful offerings from Hanwei. If you find that your craft skills are lacking, do not fret, Sonny can make it better for you.
Their collaboration with Michael "Tinker' Pearce has produced what many consider to be the best, or only, option for a performance oriented European sword on the market in the sub $300 dollar category.
This opinion will of course vary, as many are fans of the Valiant Armory line of European swords, but the big difference is in the price points.
Valiant Armoury is known for offering performance blades designed by Angus Trim that are solid performers in the sub $300 market. Valiants big selling point is the fact that they offer their swords with an attractively done scabbard and suspension on the higher end models, and the fact that they have a Custom Sword Shoppe where the sky is the limit as to what you can have done to a sword.
Owing to their lower initial cost, the Hanwei line is arguably more prevalent amongst the sword buying public. Considering the blowout sales that Hanwei and their many vendors have offered in the past, there are in all likelyhood many more Hanwei pieces in circulation than Valiant Armory pieces.
What I present to you is the melding, meeting, confabulation, and cross breeding of the two, Valiant Armoury and Hanwei.
The Custom Sword Shoppe Great Sword of War, based on, and made from a Hanwei/Tinker Great Sword of War (GSOW from here on out)
For those unfamiliar with the Hanwei/Tinker GSOW, I suggest that you peruse the various reviews on the SBG forum. Here are sveral examples-
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=14067&page=1#235773
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=12204&page=1#200681
sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=13256&page=1#220260
Now the good stuff
The differences are readily apparent are they not?
Valiant Armory has taken the GSOW and offered it as a custom version, upgraded and beautified.
The scabbard is the stock Hanwei scabbard redone with an ornate leather treatment. The Hanwei scabbard is a fiberglass core scabbard, and Valiant reused the core on this model, only they made it more better.
The scabbards themselves without those pesky swords in the way.
The Hanwei scabbards have a notorious reputation of the locket scraping the blade when sheathing or drawing the sword, an effect easily remedied with a file and a little time.
Valiant said "to hell with that" and crafted a scabbard with a leather throat and rain flaps. No scrape, no fuss.
Showing the throat of the scabbard, and the neatness of the leather work done by the Custom Sword Shoppe. Inside the throat of the scabbard there are thin wooden shims to take up any play of the blade in the scabbard. The Hanwei fiberglass cores use spacers as well, only they are either rubber or leather. There is no play evidenced in the sheathed sword, and no annoying scraping noise along with subsequent dulling of the cutting edge.
A leather die cut that is glued to the scabbard near the throat signifying that "Yes, I am the King"
The suspension straps are embossed with a repeating pattern matching that on the lower scabbard to tie the two together. The leather work is of high quality as are the buckles, something that the Custom Sword Shoppe is known for.
The suspension straps. There are three straps because, after all, this is not just a sword of war, this is the GREAT sword of war. The suspension of this blade uses hangers that slide on the belt. The rear one is bifurcated at a ring and uses the rear two straps to secure the scabbard while a seperate front strap adjusts the angle of the dangle. A secure and visually pleasing set up, and well executed by Valiant.
The lower part of the scabbard showing the embossed pattern present. The top is a Fleur de Lis design, while the body of the pattern is made up of repeating crosses. This pattern is repeated on the suspension straps and the belt, tying the whole piece together as a whole. Valiant reused the Hanwei scabbard chape, something that I have no issue with, as it is plenty durable, and large enough to protect the tip of this large scabbard.
The steel.
Readily apparent is the tip profile of the Valiant rework.
They took some of the spatulate tip profile away from the Hanwei version, making a sword that it would be possible to thrust a bit easier with.
The rework of the profile taper is done very well, and there are no ill effects apparent from it. The blade was refinished to a satin appearance, and if you did not know any better, you would swear that it was originally manufactured that way.
The handling of the two weapons remained the same, with the exception of the Valiant version being better in the thrust. The weight removed from the blade was negligible and there was no real felt or measured change in the point of balance. The Valiant version is still every bit as powerful in the cut as the original Hanwei version.
While these type of swords are not designed for the thrust, having the option available to you is never a minus.
The end that you hold on to.
Valiant Armory retained the take down feature of the Hanwei/Tinker model, so they are both able to be disassembled with an allen wrench for maintenance.
They also retained the original Hanwei furniture, only giving it a smooth, even satin finish.
The cross and pommel on the Original GSOW in the photos was given a slight golden hue by heating it in an oven until the deired shade was achieved.
This thread-forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2758 gives an idea of what is possible.
The original Hanwei grip was given a cord print to enhance the grippability and add some flair to an otherwise plain grip. This thread shows how-forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2992
The Valiant grip is redone in a leather over cord wrap that is cleanly and neatly done. No seam to worry about, and simply top notch work by Valiant. I am fairly sure that they reused the stock Hanwei grip core for their version, as they match very very closely.
The Valiant Armory model that I received, was plain satin finished steel, that I subsequently blued. The blued furniture went with the scabbard better than the plain steel furniture IMO, but I can't fault Valiant for offering it plain.
The pommel decoration was added by roughing the pommel slightly with sand paper, and then JB welding the round thingy on. The round thingy is a metal button from the fabric store that is sanded flat on the back to match the pommel flat. It has a Fleur de Lis motif also, that matches the scabbard quite well and lends a personalized touch.
Well, there you have it, a plain old Hanwei/Tinker GSOW made more glamorous and distinctive.
Those out there who own a GSOW could also have a distinctive piece by patronizing Sonny Suttles at the Valiant Armoury Custom Sword Shoppe.
This option is a way out for those who have read the many customization threads on how several forum members have crafted some epic pieces from these inexpensive and plentiful offerings from Hanwei. If you find that your craft skills are lacking, do not fret, Sonny can make it better for you.