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Post by Ninjadave89 on Jun 21, 2011 9:27:30 GMT
I've recently become interested in Renaissance style swords and have been considering the Hanwei sidesword. Its cheap enough and I like the look and overall design of it but the whole hollow plastic grip thing and reports of tang threads that are either welded or bent has somewhat concerned me. I was wondering if Hanwei have improved on any of these problems as all the posts about these problems seem to be from a few years ago. Anybody bought one recently?
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Post by Elheru Aran on Jun 21, 2011 15:00:05 GMT
Here's the deal with the sidesword...
It's a very pretty sword. However, it still does have the plastic grip. The one I got is in fine shape; if you buy it from someone with good customer service (KoA, for example), you can request that they check out the tang/thread junction for you, as I did. Mine was perfectly fine, btw.
With the quite light and thin blade, combined with a very heavy pommel and guard assembly, it's going to feel like the blade weights nothing practically. Kind of unusual and I really wish Hanwei had put a heavier blade on the sword, but what can you do.
So, unless you're up for replacing the grip with a wood core, I'd strictly only use this for light cutting-- water bottles and what not. Definitely not anything heavier than that for fear of giving the blade a set or bending the threaded section via feedback, not to mention possibly cracking the plastic core.
I like mine, but I mostly keep it around right now because of the customization potential it offers... does that help answer your question?
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Post by Ninjadave89 on Jun 21, 2011 15:23:16 GMT
yep, thats exactly what I needed to know, thanks. I might still buy one and just make a new grip out of wood. Im only going to be cutting light targets (bottles) anyway but i'd feel a lot better if there was a solid handle on it.
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Post by Anders on Jun 21, 2011 16:33:40 GMT
This is one of the few swords I could get a hold of within my own country. It's not really my style, but I've been thinking that if I ever find myself with some leftover cash and need a sword relatively fast, I might actually get one.
As for the grip, it seems to me like a simple proccedure to simply make a more solid new one to replace the plastic one. Shouldn't be much different from hilting a knife.
On a related note: I really appreciate having grown up in a country that teaches traditional knife hilting in elementary school.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jun 21, 2011 17:32:51 GMT
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Post by Ninjadave89 on Jun 21, 2011 18:46:18 GMT
That's brilliant thanks. The other bit about wrapping grips will also be helpful for my re gripping my GSOW.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jun 21, 2011 18:59:01 GMT
Ha ha ha ha! Another one pulled over to the dark side.
Aye, generally it starts off with a simple "well, I'll just do a grip re-wrap." Then you'll find yourself thinking, "I just need to make a new grip." (OK, you're there now.) Then the fun really starts.
I'm working on a project now. I thought it would be simple: pull the grip off, heat and reshape the tang a little, put a fresh new homemade grip on. Then the blade needed to be shortened. Shortened, the blade needed to be thinned somewhat. Then of course, since the blade was shorter, the scabbard had to be shortened to match. Then the historical research gets underway, and you decide, "No, that grip treatment wouldn't really be historically accurate . . . "
And then the fun really starts.
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Post by Ninjadave89 on Jun 21, 2011 19:36:33 GMT
Oh so that's why I keep looking at all my swords thinking how good it would be if all the grips and scabbards were redone in different designs. What have I gotten myself into :lol:
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Post by Bogus on Jun 22, 2011 0:38:56 GMT
I got one, I quite like it. Pretty well balanced and like most Hanwei stuff you get a lot of sword for <$150. Honestly the plastic grip worry is overrated, sure it could break but so can a wood core if it hits the wrong way. Bear in mind the "plastic" in question isn't some cheapo SLO material, it's fairly good quality resin and has a wire wrap on top of it. If it bothers you a lot you can just fill the small gaps in with putty or epoxy (mine came this way as it was used).
One thing I would warn you about, can't confirm it on the sidesword as my handle won't come off anymore but their rapiers use a handle and guard design that doesn't lend itself to custom grips. Problem is some of the rapiers' guards have a groove in them and a notch in the handle that nests in it, probably to help keep the guard from shifting. Darkwood found out the hard way that a wooden notch of that size breaks really easily (this is probably why they don't use wood actually), again not sure if it's a problem on the sidesword but definitely something to find out if your purchase hinges on customization.
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