HuaWei Unokubi Wakizashi CUTTING VIDEO ADDED
Apr 25, 2014 17:17:25 GMT
Post by TheMu on Apr 25, 2014 17:17:25 GMT
Introduction
I bought this sword because I wanted a wakizashi that I can customize completely. I'm going to make all parts (tsuba, menuki, fuchi, kashira...) myself. This wak is mounted in rosewood shirasaya so it is a good base to start with. This is a second hand wak and I bought it from fellow forum member Jussi.
Historical overview
This is a wakizashi "side inserted sword". Wakizashi is companion sword of katana. This wakizashi is mounted in rosewood shirasaya. Shirasaya is meant for storing the blade. A blade in shirasaya shouldn't be used before properly mounted. And so on...
Full Disclosure
I'm just a humble wanderer with no strings attached...
Initial Impressions
I knew that the saya was broken when I bought this so that doesn't bother me. The shirasaya is, as expected, trash in every way. But I was really surprised about the blade and that's the reason why I bought this. It's stunning! Beautiful clean geometry, nice polishing and pleasing hamon. I'm very positively surprised of the quality of the blade.
Statistics
Nagasa: 51,3 cm
Nakago: 19,5 cm
Sori: 1,1 cm
Motohaba: 3,15 cm
Sakihaba: 2,35 cm
Moto-gasane: 7,2 mm
Moto-shinogi-gasane: 7,5 mm
Saki-gasane: 2 mm
Saki-shinogi-gasane: 5,6 mm
Kissaki: -
Bare blade weight: 549 g
Weight in koshirae: 731 g
Steel: T-10
Tsuka: 20,9 cm - weight 161 g
(I copied the stats from Jussi)
The Blade
This cheap HuaWei has completely flawless and clean geometry. For comparison all Hanweis I've had (Shinto, Lion Dog, Raptor) have annoying slight "waves" that blemish the blade geometry visually (otherwise those three are amazing blades).
Polishing is pleasing though it looks somehow artificial. Of course it is not stainless steel but somehow it resembles it. Anyway the polishing is good.
I like the unokubi style blade. Not my favourite but it looks and feels nice. I think HuaWei has successfully carried out the complex shape and I can't find anything special to complain about.
Jussi tested the HRC of this blade and it was 50-55 for the edge and 40 or below for the spine.
Habaki is little bit off.
Nakago shape is OK and parts fit together OK.
This blade has almost no niku. I like that.
Here's comparison picture of the HuaWei wakizashi and Hanwei Shinto side by side. You can't see it from the picture but the blades are almost different color. They both are T-10 but they don't resemble each other at all. Maybe because of the very different polishing and hamon.
Tsuka and Saya
Tsuka is glued really poorly together and I'm sure it will eventually split in half just like the saya. Fit is IMO too tight. I think it's a pretty wretched tsuka albeit it is just a shirasaya. Shape and finishing is OK. I don't mind the flaws. I bought this because of the blade.
Handling Characteristics and Cutting
I don't dare to swing or cut with this because of the shirasaya build, but this feels well balanced and comfortable in hand. I'll swing and cut with this later when I have mounted it properly.
Test cutting added to this thread!
Conclusions
I'm happy with my purchase and I believe I'm gonna really like this wak after I've mounted it. I'm positively surprised by the quality of HuaWei blades. Shirasaya is horrible but the blade is great.
Pros
- Clean geometry
- Feels nicely balanced
- Overall finish is good
- Not expensive
- Amazing cutter
Cons
- Shirasaya is horrible in most imaginable ways
- habaki is little bit off
The Bottom Line
If HuaWei blades are normally this good I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a mid level wakizashi blade. I don't yet know how it performs when cutting, but I'm really optimistic. Great project sword for its price!
Thank you.