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Post by Rob Dorsey on Oct 2, 2014 1:43:59 GMT
Konbonwa,
I see often erroneous comments on Hanbon Sword and who this prominent Ebay seller of Japanese and Chinese swords. The complaint seems to stem from the company's use of three Ebay pseudonyms and one owner's name. Well, it happens that Mr. Yao Yilin (Yilin is his given name, you know, the reversed Asian thing), is a friend of mine and he asked me to do what I could to straighten up the discrepancies regarding the company name.
Mr. Yao Yilin is the owner of the Long Quan Hanbon Sword Factory doing business from Longquan, China. The company somehow wound up with two Ebay usernames: swordsmith668, which Mr. Yao oversees directly and swordmaker688 which is overseen by an assistant, Mr. Xu.
Mr. Yao very much wants everyone to know that all swords from either of these Ebay stores are made by Long Quan Hanbon Sword Factory and apologizes for any confusion that may have been created. Mr. Yao is a fine businessman, honest and easy to deal with. His swords, of which I have twelve in my collection, are good, honest well tempered blades and they offer a wide range of blade shapes and construction from through tempered plain high-carbon steel blades in 1045, 1060 or 1095, or ten times folded 1060 or 1095 blades with or without clay tempering. Clay tempering is available on any of these blades and the hamon produced is clear, well brought out and as bright as I have seen in the industry. They also offer Kobuse blades which is a 1095 hard edge encased within an outer shell of softer steel, even 1060 folded steel, which offers a hard R60 edge steel with a body and spine of softer more resilient steel. These are super cutting blades. All are offered with single or double bo-hi. The double bo-hi is very cool looking and I really want to swing one to see how the balance is with that much steel removed. Could make for a fast and lightning quick sword for Iaido (with no edge of course).
Yilin is currently making me a custom blade of longer length (31 in.) and with a longer tsuka (14 in.) with an inscription in Kanji engraved on the side. It's a 1095, clay tempered blade with bo-hi and I intend to try using it for cutting tests.
The koshirae offered is of a standard up to any I have seen from China and he has one feature that I think is fabulous. After buying your sword you can scroll down on the ad and select a different tsuba, samegawa (ray skin), Tsuka Ito (wrapping) in cotton, synthetic silk, or leather (vinyl). While the quality of the parts is pretty much Long Quan standard, you have the ability to fully customize your sword so that the sword you get looks totally different from the picture on Ebay. It's as if you are buying the blade and then picking out the koshirae. If you have no idea what you want, well then they have chosen a set that pleases you enough that you purchased the sword. This is a service that is one of the best deals on the internet.
Moderators, if this is too much rah-rah for Hanbon or Mr. Yao please understand I put it up just to clear up a discrepancy regarding their business name. I am not a business associate of Hanbon, merely a very satisfied customer, so I hope you leave it up. After all the cheer leading for Ronin that goes on around here, maybe a little sunshine is needed, huh? Rob Dorsey
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Greg E
Member
little bit of this... and a whole lot of that
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Post by Greg E on Oct 2, 2014 3:18:39 GMT
Thanks for clearing up the two names. I have one of their swords and another on the way. Mr. Xu has been very helpful and responsive.
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Post by Arwyn on Oct 2, 2014 5:58:37 GMT
I don't see a problem here. Clearing up the names is a good thing, and vouching for your experience with the swords from Hanbon is one of the reasons the forum is here. Explaining who handles which account is rather helpful actually.
I own one of their swords, the blade quality is quite good for the price. The fittings are pretty much Long Quan standard, as you said.
If I had anything to nitpick, its the tsukamaki and tsuka. I found the tsuka to be pretty small/thin. Nothing wrong with it mechanically, but thin. The tsukamaki, imo, is the the real let down, the rest of the sword is quite good for the price, but the tsukamaki is similar to Mushashi at half the price. It does seem to be getting better though, so hopefully it continues to improve.
The customer service was pretty good in my one experience with them as well.
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Post by Gene J on Apr 27, 2015 1:19:59 GMT
I he also Kondo?
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Post by aw1973 on Mar 9, 2016 13:20:01 GMT
I was looking for a budget battle ready companion to my 1060 musashi miamoto wakizashi. Not much out there for in the lower price range, i see the hanbon on ebay which is the last place i look for a sword but it seemed decent 1060 thru hardend for $97 i think. But i have never heard of that brand so im skeptical. Any imput on them or that sword? Or any imput where i can get a decent sub $200 miamoto wakizashi...? I cant spend to much im catching flack for my sword addiction i have 8 katanas and im like a sword junkie now im never satisfied an im spending $ i shouldn't spend on swords... Arrgg!
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addertooth
Member
Working the tsuka on two bare blades from Ninja-Katana, slow progress
Posts: 458
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Post by addertooth on Mar 9, 2016 13:57:54 GMT
I can't speak for his sub 200 dollar swords, but his higher end swords are as they are described. He holds a record (of sorts) with me. He is the only source which has provided the correct lamination (Gyaku Kobuse) in the first shipment. Of the other 14 swords ordered (through other sellers), I had to prove to the vendor of the swords, the blade arrived constructed incorrectly before they sent a correctly laminated blade. Also, if you want the best Ito wrap a vendor can provide, always specify "Hishigami" under the wrap. Depending upon the vendor, it will run an additional ten to thirty dollars. The hishigami requires them to use their most experienced hand to perform the wrap of the handle. Below is a picture of the wrap on my SwordSmith668 (Hanbon) blade.
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Post by chrisperoni on Mar 9, 2016 13:59:01 GMT
Konbonwa, I see often erroneous comments on Hanbon Sword and who this prominent Ebay seller of Japanese and Chinese swords. The complaint seems to stem from the company's use of three Ebay pseudonyms and one owner's name. Well, it happens that Mr. Yao Yilin (Yilin is his given name, you know, the reversed Asian thing), is a friend of mine and he asked me to do what I could to straighten up the discrepancies regarding the company name. Mr. Yao Yilin is the owner of the Long Quan Hanbon Sword Factory doing business from Longquan, China. The company somehow wound up with two Ebay usernames: swordsmith668, which Mr. Yao oversees directly and swordmaker688 which is overseen by an assistant, Mr. Xu. Mr. Yao very much wants everyone to know that all swords from either of these Ebay stores are made by Long Quan Hanbon Sword Factory and apologizes for any confusion that may have been created. Mr. Yao is a fine businessman, honest and easy to deal with. His swords, of which I have twelve in my collection, are good, honest well tempered blades and they offer a wide range of blade shapes and construction from through tempered plain high-carbon steel blades in 1045, 1060 or 1095, or ten times folded 1060 or 1095 blades with or without clay tempering. Clay tempering is available on any of these blades and the hamon produced is clear, well brought out and as bright as I have seen in the industry. They also offer Kobuse blades which is a 1095 hard edge encased within an outer shell of softer steel, even 1060 folded steel, which offers a hard R60 edge steel with a body and spine of softer more resilient steel. These are super cutting blades. All are offered with single or double bo-hi. The double bo-hi is very cool looking and I really want to swing one to see how the balance is with that much steel removed. Could make for a fast and lightning quick sword for Iaido (with no edge of course). Yilin is currently making me a custom blade of longer length (31 in.) and with a longer tsuka (14 in.) with an inscription in Kanji engraved on the side. It's a 1095, clay tempered blade with bo-hi and I intend to try using it for cutting tests. The koshirae offered is of a standard up to any I have seen from China and he has one feature that I think is fabulous. After buying your sword you can scroll down on the ad and select a different tsuba, samegawa (ray skin), Tsuka Ito (wrapping) in cotton, synthetic silk, or leather (vinyl). While the quality of the parts is pretty much Long Quan standard, you have the ability to fully customize your sword so that the sword you get looks totally different from the picture on Ebay. It's as if you are buying the blade and then picking out the koshirae. If you have no idea what you want, well then they have chosen a set that pleases you enough that you purchased the sword. This is a service that is one of the best deals on the internet. Moderators, if this is too much rah-rah for Hanbon or Mr. Yao please understand I put it up just to clear up a discrepancy regarding their business name. I am not a business associate of Hanbon, merely a very satisfied customer, so I hope you leave it up. After all the cheer leading for Ronin that goes on around here, maybe a little sunshine is needed, huh? Rob Dorsey As per the more recent discussion regarding ebay sellers, it seems pretty clear to me that whomever Rob was talking with was just another reseller feeding him a line. Remember, Rob was just parroting what he'd been told by this Yao person, none of Rob's info was firsthand - all simply repeating what he'd been told by the person taking his money. What was that person going to tell him? Exactly what he wanted to hear of course. Read this thread for more detailed info: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/47212/most-sellers-operating-parent-company?page=2of note from that thread, Kiyoshi provided the address for Hanbon (as per shipping labels I believe - Hanbon - nan da yang, Jian Chi Rd, Long Quan, China, 323700. Chris from Ronin Swords had his wife, who was in Longquan, go to the address: Feb 26, 2016 11:16:52 GMT -5 Ronin Katana said:
I had my wife stop by as promised. The Hanbon address is not a physical address, but she went to the area and looked for sword shops, factories, and assembly places. Nothing in the area to indicate a sword business or factory is located there.
The second address turned out to be a candy store. Either the owners of Huawei also own the store, or a friend of theirs does, and they are using the address as their return shipping address, which is required for the EMS forms.
Neither company is registered as a foreign trade company in mainland China, or Hong Kong. The names they are using for their businesses are just as ethereal as the businesses themselves.
From the looks of it, I think future factory claims, claims of employing smiths, or even having a basic workshop can largely be assumed to be put out simply to garner sales. They assume that no one is going to come looking, and in fact despite this post, and my blog, the vast majority of ebay buyers will never have a clue they don't have everything they claim.
Edit - Permission is given to repost the candy shop pictures.
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Post by stoicshadow on Mar 9, 2016 14:20:53 GMT
It is terrible that there is so much dishonesty and uncertainty in the sword making industry of China but given this and the other information available who can deny it.
Given that it appears that all or at least the vast majority of ebay/Aliexpress vendors are just acting as contractors who subcontract out the work to people in the forges, I am curious how many actual forges or factories produce the worlds katanas. It would probably be very useful if we could know where these factories and forges are. I am aware of only two(Dalian, Huanuo Forge).
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Post by sweiaidoka on Mar 9, 2016 15:05:35 GMT
Today I got my second sword from Hanbon. A wakizashi to go with my katana. My experience is only good with Hanbon. The waki was send february 29 and got it 2h ago. It is the lowend and I got it customized to match my katana. I payed $92 free shipping and the costom didn't ad any tax. So I'm pleased. Everything is nice and tight. So far I'm happy.
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Post by stoicshadow on Mar 9, 2016 15:15:45 GMT
Today I got my second sword from Hanbon. A wakizashi to go with my katana. My experience is only good with Hanbon. The waki was send march 29 and got it 2h ago. It is the lowend and I got it customized to match my katana. I payed $92 free shipping and the costom didn't ad any tax. So I'm pleased. Everything is nice and tight. So far I'm happy. I am glad that you are happy, which is really all that matters. If you order something and what you get is what you ordered or at the very least it is something that you are happy with then that is great. Even though I do not know you I am happy for you. I am not saying that Hanbon is terrible either in absolute terms or even in relative terms as compared to other ebay vendors just that the Chinese sword market is terribly shadowy and full of bad customer service and dishonesty.
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Post by wazikan on Mar 9, 2016 18:16:53 GMT
i bought a wakizashi from him and it would stick in the saya when I would draw it out. I emailed him and his response was it was fine when it left the factory. the only way it can be removed was to break the habaki hold then kind of turn the blade so it pointed corner to corner. I had to wrap a piece of sandpaper around a stick and sand down the inside of the saya. he has nice stuff and theres a few pieces I would like from him. but it rubbed me the wrong way
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Post by zabazagobo on Mar 9, 2016 18:37:59 GMT
All the swords I bought from Hanbon had annoying flaws and issues with the order. The first was okay for what it was (but not great by any means) and the other two got progressively worse. Given these were all $250 USD or less, but I'd avoid doing business with Hanbon due to the lackluster experiences I've had.
Sword that falls out of saya? Check. Sword that won't leave saya? Check. Samegawa that isn't even panels but some weird, small, round pieces of a synthetic plastic-like material glued to the wood? Check. Kashira that flies off the first time you cut with the blade? Check. Issues with communication with the blade arriving not as ordered? Check. Issue with the tempering that reveals defects on blade? Check. Poor overall geometry? Check. Sword handles like a crowbar? Check. Positive feedback refund/return shenanigans? Check.
It's a case study in why buying katanas off ebay in general sucks.
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Post by lygon on Mar 16, 2016 4:29:40 GMT
So i received my first Hanbon sword today. Yao Yilin was great, and the sword looks and feels great, if a little heavy for a ko katana (no hi).
I really love it, as i picked every aspect of the blade/tsukamaki. All fittings are tight and there is no rattle anywhere. i do think i will have to somehow tighten the saya fit... everything else is very tight. However it was always my intent to replace the tsuba with a custom iron one (family mon) i made while waiting for the sword to arrive. I tried to remove the mekugi to no avail -- These bad boys are really in there and won't budge. i have defaced all four sides of the mekugi attempting to get them out. I think they are glued in, and i also noticed some dried glue-like residue between the tsuba and the top blade side seppa. If it turns out to be glue i will not be very happy.
i will drill out these mekugi this weekend (replace them) and get to the bottom of it and report back after tsuba replacement and some light cutting.
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Post by sweiaidoka on Mar 16, 2016 8:01:46 GMT
So i received my first Hanbon sword today. Yao Yilin was great, and the sword looks and feels great, if a little heavy for a ko katana (no hi). I really love it, as i picked every aspect of the blade/tsukamaki. All fittings are tight and there is no rattle anywhere. i do think i will have to somehow tighten the saya fit... everything else is very tight. However it was always my intent to replace the tsuba with a custom iron one (family mon) i made while waiting for the sword to arrive. I tried to remove the mekugi to no avail -- These bad boys are really in there and won't budge. i have defaced all four sides of the mekugi attempting to get them out. I think they are glued in, and i also noticed some dried glue-like residue between the tsuba and the top blade side seppa. If it turns out to be glue i will not be very happy. i will drill out these mekugi this weekend (replace them) and get to the bottom of it and report back after tsuba replacement and some light cutting. On my Hanbon swords the mekugi was tight but not glued and the tsuka is also very tight. I have made a wedge like thing to hammer the tsuka off.
I tapped the mekugi into the palm of the hands, tight but no problem. After i got the tsuka off i filed a little on the mekugi-ana to remove some scale, bet they drill the hole in the tsuka and nakago with the tsuka in place.
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Post by sweiaidoka on Mar 16, 2016 8:21:48 GMT
The saya habaki fit on my Hanbon swords was a tad loose when i got them but now they have tighten to a good fit. Must have to do with the coolness at the airplane and then acclimatize.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Mar 16, 2016 11:18:45 GMT
I have had a few through here, some for relatives and some sold, still have three and I'm happy with all of them, irrespective of the "who" all have been very good or better, and about 15% cheaper, especially good for Aussies.
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addertooth
Member
Working the tsuka on two bare blades from Ninja-Katana, slow progress
Posts: 458
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Post by addertooth on Mar 16, 2016 14:54:08 GMT
The first time removal of the Mekugi (handle pegs), is typically a chore on most swords. If you are using the classical little brass hammer, you will likely become very frustrated. I use a more stout tool-set for the initial removal of the pegs.
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Post by lygon on Mar 19, 2016 23:53:07 GMT
EDIT: So to report back, mekugi out, no glue. its just a real deal katana with masterfully tight fittings. I'm impressed.
my custom tsuba is slightly thinner than the tsuba that came from hanbon, so ill need a thicker seppa or two seppa at bottom, not sure yet how exactly ill fix that yet
This first is a 21" blade ko kat with 10.5 inch tsuka whole thing ~33" i absolutely love it. (this is effectively my back mounted "ninjato", its just short enough), -- this is the curved ninjato variety. But now I want a full size katana too, something with bo hi and perfect handling for some serious backyard bamboo cutting. Let me know if you guys have any recommendations.
Hanbon is A+ in my book. will repeat business!
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Post by bbycrts on Apr 7, 2016 23:11:20 GMT
I had a hankering for a Michonne-style katana and after weeding through tons of them on ebay decided on one of Hanbon's versions. It arrived yesterday and I'm very pleased with it! Obviously the Walking Dead theme is goofy and not a true historical katana, but the blade is beautiful and very sharp. I opted for a folded 1060 with hamon - real hamon, very nice. The fittings are all tight and secure. The ito wrap is very tight and the twists alternate, so that's cool.
I'm a total newbie and my experience would fit in a thimble, but at least my first impressions are that I got exactly what I was hoping for - looks and feels like a quality piece, so I'm happy!
Oh...first post!
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Post by pellius on Apr 21, 2016 20:56:49 GMT
I appreciate the great info on this site, so I try to add info when I can.
I just received my first katana today - it was a gift. It is a Hanbon/Yao customized katana. I'll maybe do a review at some point. I have always been a Chinese martial arts guy, so my knowledge of the katana is anecdotal and second hand. Nonetheless, I am currently holding in my hand my new katana, and I must say it seems pretty good. The customizations are as directed/promised, including engravings, materials, design, etc. Fit and finish seem good to my untrained eye, and pass my various non-expert "tests" (e.g., the sword does not rattle in or fall out of the scabbard, etc.). I don't know how much this one cost, but I believe it was a mid-priced (maybe $250-350) example.
The person who gifted this sword to me was very particular in customization so as to match a wakizashi already in the collection. Considering the various communication barriers, I'm impressed that the katana was done exactly as requested and really quickly.
This is the second item my family bought from Yao. So far, everything has been exactly as advertised, and communication has been exceptional.
One other thing. I've never been to China, but a quick Google-map search for the return address on my shipping label leads to an area with a number of commercial/industrial business listings, among them being "Longquan Shenfenf Daojian Factory," "Jinping Daojian," "Zengshi Daojian," "Bangping Daojian," etc. I don't speak Chinese (any dialect), but Google-translate indicates "daojiang" is Chinese for "the sword." No Google Streetview in China, of course, but the satellite image looks a lot like dedicated industrial development that is similar in appearance to the various Youtube videos of Longquan forge tours. FWIW.
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