Review - Hanwei Tinker Early Medieval Single Hand Sword
Dec 29, 2011 17:52:35 GMT
Post by Vincent Dolan on Dec 29, 2011 17:52:35 GMT
Introduction
I bet y'all didn't think I'd be getting another sword soon, did y'all? Once again, if you send me your hospital bills, I'm gonna brain the lot of ya. :lol:
Full Disclosure
As I just said, I did not pay for this sword, nor was it given to me with the condition that it be reviewed. And had it been, Will would have picked the wrong guy for the job, since I've got so little experience with actual swords that these are just my musings on it, more or less.
Historical Overview
The EMSH is easily classified as an Oakeshott Type XII, otherwise known as the quintessential knightly sword. Oakeshott puts its era of widespread usage at the late-12th to mid-14th century, meaning it would have been during that time that seeing one of these on the hips of knights across Europe during those times would have been as common as a Batman t-shirt or a girl in a Slave Leia costume at Comic Con. The XII is an all-rounder type sword: it's good alone or with a shield, mounted or on foot, excels in the cut and not too shabby in the thrust thanks to its narrow tip (at least, when compared to earlier Types). The pommel is a broad, unadorned Type H that is also quite slim while the guard can best be said to be a Style 4 with a central rib; it can be distinguished from a Style 6 by way of its thicker body, which stays much the same throughout, as opposed to the 6, which has slim arms and a wide body where it surrounds the blade.
Initial Impressions
I got a pm from Aaron telling me I should get to the post office, the first I'd actually heard that the sword was on its way (these guys are like monks, I tell you!); unfortunately, being something like a quarter after 9pm, it was a little late to do so, so I rescheduled the delivery for the next day. In my apartment complex, packages delivered by mail are delivered directly to the office for whatever reason, so as soon as I saw the notice in my mailbox that there was a package in the office, I went to get it... Only to find the mailman hadn't physically dropped it off yet. So I went home, waited a few minutes, and went back, where the package and a very amused complex manager were waiting. I got it back home and unpacked it and, as with the saber from Dave, nothing was happening to this thing unless my mail carrier was robbed by a horde of rogue ninjas searching to defeat their mortal enemy, the Immortal Dragon Lord of Doom. One thing I was surprised to note, pleasantly so, is that this particular EMSH has been upgraded: the grip features cord markings and the guard and pommel have been cold blued and then rubbed to a lighter patina.
Statistics
Overall Length: 38 3/8"
Blade Length: 31 1/2"
Blade Width: 2 1/8" @ base; 1" @ 2" from tip
Grip Length: 4 1/4"
Guard Width: 6 3/4"
Weight: 2lbs 7.4oz (according to Kult of Athena)
Components
I have to say that this sword is sturdy with no blade play whatsoever. If a ninja really had needed it to slay a dragon lord, I'm confident this could have cleaved through the fiend's skull. Oddest thing is that there's this occasional feeling of shifting with the guard in dry handling, but no matter how much I push, I can't get the thing to budge, so I'm partly convinced that Tinker cast a +12 Spell of Indesctrutibility to the sword's design and it was blessed by Crom in the fresh snow of a cold winter morning among his pantheon before being sent to Aaron and, eventually, to me.
Regarding the grip that many find small: I have noticed that it is a bit small, but not negatively so, though this may just be because I have smaller hands than most of our members sporting meat hooks. :lol: The leather is comfortable, if a little abrasive; the pommel is also fairly large, which I expected, but it just seems bigger in person. Oddly, I've never had a problem with it bumping my wrist, something I probably owe to my habit of using a bokken one handed, which requires the use of a "slip" grip, as I think it's called. Also, in a true moment of revelation, I've always had this weird thought that wide cross guards would be awkward to use because of how the wrist moves in swordplay, but I've yet to experience any awkwardness with it that wasn't related to my inexperience and lack of training.
I didn't mention this originally, but the scabbard is a very tight fit and well done for what it is. While I really don't like the mirror polish of the chape and locket, the seam on the back is very well done and unless you shake the sword, it's not coming out even if you hold it upside down.
Handling Characteristics
Now we get to the good stuff. This sword is, for lack of a better word, a joy to handle. Even with my aforementioned inexperience and lack of training, this sword wants to move. I am by no means a strong guy and I could feel the weight of this sword during handling, but if you had asked me after handling both it and the saber which was lighter, I'd have said this. It simply does not feel 2oz heavier. This has to do with the infinitely better distal & profile taper, as well as the starting thickness, when compared to the 1840.
This sword stopped exactly where I wanted it to every time and the point control wasn't too shabby, either. I have no training, but I ran it through a simple I33 drill I found on Youtube demonstrated by Roland Warzecha (who, by the way, is an excellent teacher; he explained things clearly enough that even someone with no experience or real interest in sword & buckler techniques could grasp the concept pretty quickly), also known as the man behind the Agilitas.tv instructional videos. Even going extremely slow and without a buckler, I could tell this sword would thrive if used in conjunction with a buckler. I can see why such a combination was so popular; it would have been quite devastating and efficient in the hands of a trained swordsman.
Test Cutting
So, we meet again test cutting section. Huh? Do I expect you to do anything other than sit here and mock me because I can't attempt you for so many reasons, chief among them because I don't want to be evicted from my apartment? Yes. I expect you to die. Now, where's my cat? I need something to pet, so I can laugh evilly while watching this section slowly lowered into a tank filled with sharks that have laser beams attached to their heads.
Conclusion
At 159.95$ over on Kult of Athena, this has to be the cheapest functional single hand Euro on the market, hands down. It's a solid, sturdy blade that comes sharp, though it's pretty well known that the edges on Hanwei's Euros are somewhat sketchy at times and I didn't actually think to ask if this one had been touched up. :oops: But I'm not reckless enough to cut my finger to find out, so we'll leave it at that. Through handling this sword, I've come to learn that, for the time being, I'll stick to two-handed swords on account of the extra mechanics that would go into cutting with a blade like this; even just swinging it takes a little extra thought so you don't lop something off.
Pros
- Lively sword, even in the hands of the inexperienced
- Scabbard fit is excellent
- Inexpensive price makes it a great entry level blade
- Excellently designed by a renowned swordsmith
- So customizable it's crazy
Cons
- Hex nut construction is a turn off for some
- Grip is a little on the thin side, though those with normal or small sized hands may not notice
- Edge has been well noted as being somewhat hit or miss
Bottom Line
Would I recommend this sword? In the words of my mom: ya damn skippy. If you have an interest in one-handed swords, Euro swords, or a combination, this is a sword you have to own at some time or another, if only because its low price point and resilient design would make for a great backyard cutter that would likely forgive all but the worst botched cuts; by that same token, it would make an excellent first sword (though I'd personally stick to a two-hander for that). Also, because you can customize the hell out of these swords, they would make a great DIY project. Hanwei also sells this sword in a bare blade form if you wanted to build a sword from the ground up.
Jaa, mata.
I bet y'all didn't think I'd be getting another sword soon, did y'all? Once again, if you send me your hospital bills, I'm gonna brain the lot of ya. :lol:
Full Disclosure
As I just said, I did not pay for this sword, nor was it given to me with the condition that it be reviewed. And had it been, Will would have picked the wrong guy for the job, since I've got so little experience with actual swords that these are just my musings on it, more or less.
Historical Overview
The EMSH is easily classified as an Oakeshott Type XII, otherwise known as the quintessential knightly sword. Oakeshott puts its era of widespread usage at the late-12th to mid-14th century, meaning it would have been during that time that seeing one of these on the hips of knights across Europe during those times would have been as common as a Batman t-shirt or a girl in a Slave Leia costume at Comic Con. The XII is an all-rounder type sword: it's good alone or with a shield, mounted or on foot, excels in the cut and not too shabby in the thrust thanks to its narrow tip (at least, when compared to earlier Types). The pommel is a broad, unadorned Type H that is also quite slim while the guard can best be said to be a Style 4 with a central rib; it can be distinguished from a Style 6 by way of its thicker body, which stays much the same throughout, as opposed to the 6, which has slim arms and a wide body where it surrounds the blade.
Initial Impressions
I got a pm from Aaron telling me I should get to the post office, the first I'd actually heard that the sword was on its way (these guys are like monks, I tell you!); unfortunately, being something like a quarter after 9pm, it was a little late to do so, so I rescheduled the delivery for the next day. In my apartment complex, packages delivered by mail are delivered directly to the office for whatever reason, so as soon as I saw the notice in my mailbox that there was a package in the office, I went to get it... Only to find the mailman hadn't physically dropped it off yet. So I went home, waited a few minutes, and went back, where the package and a very amused complex manager were waiting. I got it back home and unpacked it and, as with the saber from Dave, nothing was happening to this thing unless my mail carrier was robbed by a horde of rogue ninjas searching to defeat their mortal enemy, the Immortal Dragon Lord of Doom. One thing I was surprised to note, pleasantly so, is that this particular EMSH has been upgraded: the grip features cord markings and the guard and pommel have been cold blued and then rubbed to a lighter patina.
Statistics
Overall Length: 38 3/8"
Blade Length: 31 1/2"
Blade Width: 2 1/8" @ base; 1" @ 2" from tip
Grip Length: 4 1/4"
Guard Width: 6 3/4"
Weight: 2lbs 7.4oz (according to Kult of Athena)
Components
I have to say that this sword is sturdy with no blade play whatsoever. If a ninja really had needed it to slay a dragon lord, I'm confident this could have cleaved through the fiend's skull. Oddest thing is that there's this occasional feeling of shifting with the guard in dry handling, but no matter how much I push, I can't get the thing to budge, so I'm partly convinced that Tinker cast a +12 Spell of Indesctrutibility to the sword's design and it was blessed by Crom in the fresh snow of a cold winter morning among his pantheon before being sent to Aaron and, eventually, to me.
Regarding the grip that many find small: I have noticed that it is a bit small, but not negatively so, though this may just be because I have smaller hands than most of our members sporting meat hooks. :lol: The leather is comfortable, if a little abrasive; the pommel is also fairly large, which I expected, but it just seems bigger in person. Oddly, I've never had a problem with it bumping my wrist, something I probably owe to my habit of using a bokken one handed, which requires the use of a "slip" grip, as I think it's called. Also, in a true moment of revelation, I've always had this weird thought that wide cross guards would be awkward to use because of how the wrist moves in swordplay, but I've yet to experience any awkwardness with it that wasn't related to my inexperience and lack of training.
I didn't mention this originally, but the scabbard is a very tight fit and well done for what it is. While I really don't like the mirror polish of the chape and locket, the seam on the back is very well done and unless you shake the sword, it's not coming out even if you hold it upside down.
Handling Characteristics
Now we get to the good stuff. This sword is, for lack of a better word, a joy to handle. Even with my aforementioned inexperience and lack of training, this sword wants to move. I am by no means a strong guy and I could feel the weight of this sword during handling, but if you had asked me after handling both it and the saber which was lighter, I'd have said this. It simply does not feel 2oz heavier. This has to do with the infinitely better distal & profile taper, as well as the starting thickness, when compared to the 1840.
This sword stopped exactly where I wanted it to every time and the point control wasn't too shabby, either. I have no training, but I ran it through a simple I33 drill I found on Youtube demonstrated by Roland Warzecha (who, by the way, is an excellent teacher; he explained things clearly enough that even someone with no experience or real interest in sword & buckler techniques could grasp the concept pretty quickly), also known as the man behind the Agilitas.tv instructional videos. Even going extremely slow and without a buckler, I could tell this sword would thrive if used in conjunction with a buckler. I can see why such a combination was so popular; it would have been quite devastating and efficient in the hands of a trained swordsman.
Test Cutting
So, we meet again test cutting section. Huh? Do I expect you to do anything other than sit here and mock me because I can't attempt you for so many reasons, chief among them because I don't want to be evicted from my apartment? Yes. I expect you to die. Now, where's my cat? I need something to pet, so I can laugh evilly while watching this section slowly lowered into a tank filled with sharks that have laser beams attached to their heads.
Conclusion
At 159.95$ over on Kult of Athena, this has to be the cheapest functional single hand Euro on the market, hands down. It's a solid, sturdy blade that comes sharp, though it's pretty well known that the edges on Hanwei's Euros are somewhat sketchy at times and I didn't actually think to ask if this one had been touched up. :oops: But I'm not reckless enough to cut my finger to find out, so we'll leave it at that. Through handling this sword, I've come to learn that, for the time being, I'll stick to two-handed swords on account of the extra mechanics that would go into cutting with a blade like this; even just swinging it takes a little extra thought so you don't lop something off.
Pros
- Lively sword, even in the hands of the inexperienced
- Scabbard fit is excellent
- Inexpensive price makes it a great entry level blade
- Excellently designed by a renowned swordsmith
- So customizable it's crazy
Cons
- Hex nut construction is a turn off for some
- Grip is a little on the thin side, though those with normal or small sized hands may not notice
- Edge has been well noted as being somewhat hit or miss
Bottom Line
Would I recommend this sword? In the words of my mom: ya damn skippy. If you have an interest in one-handed swords, Euro swords, or a combination, this is a sword you have to own at some time or another, if only because its low price point and resilient design would make for a great backyard cutter that would likely forgive all but the worst botched cuts; by that same token, it would make an excellent first sword (though I'd personally stick to a two-hander for that). Also, because you can customize the hell out of these swords, they would make a great DIY project. Hanwei also sells this sword in a bare blade form if you wanted to build a sword from the ground up.
Jaa, mata.