Hanwei PPK Tanto.
Jun 11, 2011 21:23:14 GMT
Post by Adrian Jordan on Jun 11, 2011 21:23:14 GMT
Hello. This is the Hanwei Practical Plus Tanto that I purchased from Jetlithium. It was purchased in "Like new/unused" condition for $90USD, shipping included. I had been in the market for a new Bowie and was pointed towards a few good items by Sebastien. Then Wes put up a review of a Tomahawk and got me all Hot and Bothered for one of those. Finally, Jetlithium put up this Tanto, as well as some sageo, one of which I purchased with the tanto.
The Tanto is a Hira-Zukuri shape. I don't know much about the history of this shape beyond that it was not popular for full-length katanas as the tip was more susceptible to bends and breaks and so was relegated mostly to tanto and other shorter blades.
FULL DISCLOSURE:
I am not affiliated with either Jetlithium nor with CAS Hanwei. This is the first time I've purchased from said seller and the first product I've owned by said manufacturer.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The tanto came packed very well in a slightly over-sized box, wrapped thickly in bubble-wrap and the box filled with packing peanuts(real peanuts would have been unacceptable, I'm more of a honey-roasted nut man.) Taking the tanto out I checked for damages, vigorously shook to check for looseness and rattling, finding none. Removing the blade I was slightly let down before remembering that all blades look cruddy before being wiped off, this one being no exception.
A nice straight blade.
Some pictures of the nakago and hamon termination.
To be completely honest, this is my least favorite blade style. I like having a nice yokote/kissaki and this has neither. The price was too good to let slip by though, so I went for it. However, this tanto is much nicer that I thought and has rapidly grown on me. I'd almost use some polishing paste to get that frosted hamon off so I could see the real one underneath, but the frosted one looks OK, so I'll save that for later.
Here are the statistics of the tanto, as provided by Hanwei:
Overall: 16 1/2“
Blade Length: 11“
Handle Length: 4 1/4“
Weight: 13oz
Point of Balance: 1 1/2"
Width at Guard: 1.10"
Thickness at Guard: .21"
Sori: 1/4"
Here are some pictures of the fittings:
All of the fittings are tight. The ito is soft black synthetic leather, the samegawa is real and of decent quality. The menuki is what appears to be a Lion or Lion Dog and are very nice. I'm sorry, but with my limited equipment(and ability) I cannot get a decent picture of the samegawa or the fuchi/kashira, they just turn out muddy or look overshadowed. They are, however, well done without casting marks or any scrapes/chips.
The mouth of the tsuka and saya:
As you can see, fairly well done.
The tsuka is a nice textured finish and is without any defects or looseness. The sageo is thin, but is smooth and with a nice sheen. Not great, but not bad. The blade is a bit loose in the saya.
One thing I've always disliked about most tanto is the absurdly short tsuka. Having got this and held it in my hands, which are small, I have a new appreciation of them.
Pretty much a perfect fit.
The blade has a typical "Hanwei Hamon," frosted but not unattractive. It is a slightly blade-heavy piece, which I like in a knife. The ito looks OK, but I can see myself possibly changing it in the future. It is fairly sharp, though not as sharp as I expected. I had read a few reviews on other sites that stated that this is the sharpest out of the box Japanese blade they had ever handled. It passed a paper-cutting test, but not with an "A." More like a "B-." My Munetoshi Take was actually a bit sharper.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A very nice piece. It has grown on me significantly since I received it last night. I am happy with the price that I paid for it and would likely get it again, though not for full price(around $130 after s/h.) This makes a fine addition to my small collection and is a great starter tanto. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
-Adrian
P.S. This has what has got to be the ugliest mekugi I've ever seen. Do all tanto's have such ugly, squat little monsters?
The Tanto is a Hira-Zukuri shape. I don't know much about the history of this shape beyond that it was not popular for full-length katanas as the tip was more susceptible to bends and breaks and so was relegated mostly to tanto and other shorter blades.
FULL DISCLOSURE:
I am not affiliated with either Jetlithium nor with CAS Hanwei. This is the first time I've purchased from said seller and the first product I've owned by said manufacturer.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The tanto came packed very well in a slightly over-sized box, wrapped thickly in bubble-wrap and the box filled with packing peanuts(real peanuts would have been unacceptable, I'm more of a honey-roasted nut man.) Taking the tanto out I checked for damages, vigorously shook to check for looseness and rattling, finding none. Removing the blade I was slightly let down before remembering that all blades look cruddy before being wiped off, this one being no exception.
A nice straight blade.
Some pictures of the nakago and hamon termination.
To be completely honest, this is my least favorite blade style. I like having a nice yokote/kissaki and this has neither. The price was too good to let slip by though, so I went for it. However, this tanto is much nicer that I thought and has rapidly grown on me. I'd almost use some polishing paste to get that frosted hamon off so I could see the real one underneath, but the frosted one looks OK, so I'll save that for later.
Here are the statistics of the tanto, as provided by Hanwei:
Overall: 16 1/2“
Blade Length: 11“
Handle Length: 4 1/4“
Weight: 13oz
Point of Balance: 1 1/2"
Width at Guard: 1.10"
Thickness at Guard: .21"
Sori: 1/4"
Here are some pictures of the fittings:
All of the fittings are tight. The ito is soft black synthetic leather, the samegawa is real and of decent quality. The menuki is what appears to be a Lion or Lion Dog and are very nice. I'm sorry, but with my limited equipment(and ability) I cannot get a decent picture of the samegawa or the fuchi/kashira, they just turn out muddy or look overshadowed. They are, however, well done without casting marks or any scrapes/chips.
The mouth of the tsuka and saya:
As you can see, fairly well done.
The tsuka is a nice textured finish and is without any defects or looseness. The sageo is thin, but is smooth and with a nice sheen. Not great, but not bad. The blade is a bit loose in the saya.
One thing I've always disliked about most tanto is the absurdly short tsuka. Having got this and held it in my hands, which are small, I have a new appreciation of them.
Pretty much a perfect fit.
The blade has a typical "Hanwei Hamon," frosted but not unattractive. It is a slightly blade-heavy piece, which I like in a knife. The ito looks OK, but I can see myself possibly changing it in the future. It is fairly sharp, though not as sharp as I expected. I had read a few reviews on other sites that stated that this is the sharpest out of the box Japanese blade they had ever handled. It passed a paper-cutting test, but not with an "A." More like a "B-." My Munetoshi Take was actually a bit sharper.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A very nice piece. It has grown on me significantly since I received it last night. I am happy with the price that I paid for it and would likely get it again, though not for full price(around $130 after s/h.) This makes a fine addition to my small collection and is a great starter tanto. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
-Adrian
P.S. This has what has got to be the ugliest mekugi I've ever seen. Do all tanto's have such ugly, squat little monsters?