Hanwei Renaissance Side Sword Grip Failure Explained.
Jul 13, 2014 15:49:44 GMT
Post by Uhlan on Jul 13, 2014 15:49:44 GMT
To view the pictures, please use the printer button.
I got this Hanwei RSS from Mr. Dave Kelly.
He told me the grip was failing and he was so kind to express this in the price and
also, he packaged the grip extra carefully.
This is what I found:
I remember there were a lot of posts about this grip, but I cannot remember anyone
come up with a solution or a ,,what and why'', so I will give it a try.
The plastic of the grip is very hard and dense, so I see no fault there, or it must be
that it is too hard maybe.
I think the main reason for the grip failures lays in the way the tang is designed.
See those shoulders in there?
They sit in the grip, not under the pommel. Also, one sits higher than the other.
This means two things:
a. The grip takes all the force. Not a big problem when the fit is 100% and
the material is okay.
b. Even when the fit is 100%, somebody will take the sword apart and later shove
the grip back on the wrong way around, not noticing the difference in shoulder height and
and go happily cutting and winding up with a broken grip.
The only thing that holds the pieces together then is the metal wire wrap.
But here is what I found in the inside:
Shoddy chisel work, resulting in an uneven dispersion of force.
Some points of the grip take all the heat, while the rest do not, resulting in lengthwise cracks.
Conclusion.
Those shoulders serve no purpose other than wracking a nice grip.
Instant grip removal is required and also removal of said shoulders.
Even good wood will not take that strain forever.
I think the best way to go is to remove the shoulders, making a good grip, waxing the tang, shoving the new grip on, inserting epoxy and screwing the pommel back on.
It will be a hassle, but this is the only way to get the new grip to fit 100% and still be able to change the blade.
I know the RSS is out of production and this post long after the fact, but I think there could be a lot of people out there who may benefit from it.
As to the construction: It beats me why Hanwei ever thought this to be a good idea.
Cheers.
I got this Hanwei RSS from Mr. Dave Kelly.
He told me the grip was failing and he was so kind to express this in the price and
also, he packaged the grip extra carefully.
This is what I found:
I remember there were a lot of posts about this grip, but I cannot remember anyone
come up with a solution or a ,,what and why'', so I will give it a try.
The plastic of the grip is very hard and dense, so I see no fault there, or it must be
that it is too hard maybe.
I think the main reason for the grip failures lays in the way the tang is designed.
See those shoulders in there?
They sit in the grip, not under the pommel. Also, one sits higher than the other.
This means two things:
a. The grip takes all the force. Not a big problem when the fit is 100% and
the material is okay.
b. Even when the fit is 100%, somebody will take the sword apart and later shove
the grip back on the wrong way around, not noticing the difference in shoulder height and
and go happily cutting and winding up with a broken grip.
The only thing that holds the pieces together then is the metal wire wrap.
But here is what I found in the inside:
Shoddy chisel work, resulting in an uneven dispersion of force.
Some points of the grip take all the heat, while the rest do not, resulting in lengthwise cracks.
Conclusion.
Those shoulders serve no purpose other than wracking a nice grip.
Instant grip removal is required and also removal of said shoulders.
Even good wood will not take that strain forever.
I think the best way to go is to remove the shoulders, making a good grip, waxing the tang, shoving the new grip on, inserting epoxy and screwing the pommel back on.
It will be a hassle, but this is the only way to get the new grip to fit 100% and still be able to change the blade.
I know the RSS is out of production and this post long after the fact, but I think there could be a lot of people out there who may benefit from it.
As to the construction: It beats me why Hanwei ever thought this to be a good idea.
Cheers.