Who the Heck is HANBON SWORD?
Jul 11, 2016 1:08:18 GMT
Post by mtngunr on Jul 11, 2016 1:08:18 GMT
Being totally new to the forum, new to Nippon style swords, and new to Sino versions of the same, i just wanted to chime in on this thread, as it has prompted me to request a tanto from HanBon.
Read with interest the sword origins, and even debate, but when viewed as an outsider, it seems plain the business man selling the swords lives in a sword making town, and by dealing directly with smiths and other cottage industry suppliers of everything from sheaths to handles to fittings, is simply well situated to supply about anything a buyer could wish, and whether done under one roof entirely superfluous, as he seems to have never claimed suchlike one master and apprentice made every item from scratch and in house, where not even the Japanese did that during classic periods of their history.
In any case, based on posts here, where it seems very good quality in general and great value for the dollar, plus occasional ineveitable turkeys, are the norm, which is about all a buyer could ask...heck, the man seems to even offer sword stands for only an additional $12 shipping.....seems hard to complain.
By way of introduction, zero training of any culture in swordsmanship, but trained in shotokan to include master classes with Nakayama decades back, accomplished stick fighter of irish clan school, knife fighting of ComTech/Keating school, former military to include owner/user of a Bagwell wootz fighting bowie, so am simply attempting to purchase a tanto from HanBon, as something more my speed.....and also as the Randall 1-8 and/or Bagwell knife pretty much constantly at hand, the tanto seems ideal for such, as well. I also own a Raptor tanto in 5160 which is a fine user, but was looking towards something more traditional/pretty without going the uber-stout Cold Steel Warrior route.
I will keep this forum posted as to how goes the order, and also review of quality. Being an outsider looking in, and totally disinterested in anything not aimed to it being a good quality weapon, my take obviously quite different than anyone after traditional with all the bells and whistles. With much use of plainer and fancier steels in combat, I see no reason why a machete type steel such as 1065 would not make a mighty fine blade if taken to spring temper, less fragile than 1095 in a long blade, whether the 1095 plain or in a laminate, which is why nobody makes machetes of 1095. The 1065 would obviously not hold an edge as long, lacking the carbides, but also lacking the carbides, would be free of weakness caused by carbide clumps, and the 1065 capable of spring temper and a mid 50s Rc which would be more than adequate for limb lopping of whatever variety, and dented edge ironed out easily. It also seems a folded 1065 even mo' bettah.
BUT, it all depends on what the smiths do as for quench, and what their target performance might be. And also what might be requested as for that target, and if even possible, or if no such request could be granted in their production methods. I am realistic enough to know i cannot request a sophisticated heat treat and drawdown from a production setup and price point. This will be interesting...
Rather than flip back and forth to a glossary of saya/tsuba etc, what i am attempting to order is the Japanese import red lacquered sheath with horn appointments and black import wrap. The tanto with simple iron guard, white ray skin, traditional black silk (synthetic is fine, rots slower), and only thing in the air is handle front ring and pommel, would prefer iron or horn, but may end up having to use brass. Tanto blade probably of folded 1065, but may need go with 1095 core if they are unable to take the 1065 to desired hard spring temper.
Again, we shall see how this goes, and you could not find a more ignorant of subject matter consumer subject on the planet. It took me a solid hour of back and forth with glossary even to write the request email in a common vocabulary. A good test case if ever there were one.,
Read with interest the sword origins, and even debate, but when viewed as an outsider, it seems plain the business man selling the swords lives in a sword making town, and by dealing directly with smiths and other cottage industry suppliers of everything from sheaths to handles to fittings, is simply well situated to supply about anything a buyer could wish, and whether done under one roof entirely superfluous, as he seems to have never claimed suchlike one master and apprentice made every item from scratch and in house, where not even the Japanese did that during classic periods of their history.
In any case, based on posts here, where it seems very good quality in general and great value for the dollar, plus occasional ineveitable turkeys, are the norm, which is about all a buyer could ask...heck, the man seems to even offer sword stands for only an additional $12 shipping.....seems hard to complain.
By way of introduction, zero training of any culture in swordsmanship, but trained in shotokan to include master classes with Nakayama decades back, accomplished stick fighter of irish clan school, knife fighting of ComTech/Keating school, former military to include owner/user of a Bagwell wootz fighting bowie, so am simply attempting to purchase a tanto from HanBon, as something more my speed.....and also as the Randall 1-8 and/or Bagwell knife pretty much constantly at hand, the tanto seems ideal for such, as well. I also own a Raptor tanto in 5160 which is a fine user, but was looking towards something more traditional/pretty without going the uber-stout Cold Steel Warrior route.
I will keep this forum posted as to how goes the order, and also review of quality. Being an outsider looking in, and totally disinterested in anything not aimed to it being a good quality weapon, my take obviously quite different than anyone after traditional with all the bells and whistles. With much use of plainer and fancier steels in combat, I see no reason why a machete type steel such as 1065 would not make a mighty fine blade if taken to spring temper, less fragile than 1095 in a long blade, whether the 1095 plain or in a laminate, which is why nobody makes machetes of 1095. The 1065 would obviously not hold an edge as long, lacking the carbides, but also lacking the carbides, would be free of weakness caused by carbide clumps, and the 1065 capable of spring temper and a mid 50s Rc which would be more than adequate for limb lopping of whatever variety, and dented edge ironed out easily. It also seems a folded 1065 even mo' bettah.
BUT, it all depends on what the smiths do as for quench, and what their target performance might be. And also what might be requested as for that target, and if even possible, or if no such request could be granted in their production methods. I am realistic enough to know i cannot request a sophisticated heat treat and drawdown from a production setup and price point. This will be interesting...
Rather than flip back and forth to a glossary of saya/tsuba etc, what i am attempting to order is the Japanese import red lacquered sheath with horn appointments and black import wrap. The tanto with simple iron guard, white ray skin, traditional black silk (synthetic is fine, rots slower), and only thing in the air is handle front ring and pommel, would prefer iron or horn, but may end up having to use brass. Tanto blade probably of folded 1065, but may need go with 1095 core if they are unable to take the 1065 to desired hard spring temper.
Again, we shall see how this goes, and you could not find a more ignorant of subject matter consumer subject on the planet. It took me a solid hour of back and forth with glossary even to write the request email in a common vocabulary. A good test case if ever there were one.,