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Post by Cottontail Customs on Jan 5, 2015 22:21:13 GMT
Jacky might mean oroshigane instead of tamahagane. Either way, it's a nice looking hada and hamon but a bit out of my price range for now.
-Josh
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Post by Aurélien on Jan 5, 2015 22:32:01 GMT
Nice video. Sorrels and Hernandez are very famous and their work definitely deserve our respect. Same thing for Jacky's work (not the same level of quality and achievement than the 2 artists mentioned above, of course). The point I want to express is not Chinese/US/French tamahagane vs Japanese tamahagane, but tamahagane vs modern steel. As usual, " beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - you want something with a more traditional construction and an interesting hada? Tamahagane will certainly make you happy (but make your wallet much lighter). You want a safer and more resilient steel? T10 or 5160 will be your best bet, and you won't have to set your wallet on fire or sell a kidney. It's a matter of taste, purpose, and budget. Imho, tamahagane starts to be really interesting when it is forged by REAL artists, like Japanese smithes (from past or present days) or foreign high graded smithes like Sorrels. It means that tamahagane starts to be really interesting... when you put a lot of money on the table. But Jacky's tamahagane? Not sure it deserves our attention and money. Just my opinion, definitely not an absolute and objective way of seeing things Nonetheless, I prefer to be clear : no Huawei bashing here, I'm a HUGE fan of Jacky's work. In my eyes, he's simply the best smith you can find on ebay. Period. But if one day I want a tamahagane sword, I will save big money and invest in a high grade sword (modern custom or real nihonto). not in a Chinese repro.
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Post by Aurélien on Jan 5, 2015 22:37:20 GMT
Plus, for the price of a Huawei tamahagane sword, I can get a Hanwei Bushido or a Tiger Elite - interesting hada too, and mounted in a better package than Jacky's. But once again, a matter of taste
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 5, 2015 23:49:22 GMT
I don't take what you're saying as Huawei bashing, we all have personal opinions on our swords, like any of the Japanese Emperors did...lol The sad thing is all the dodgy Chinese sword makers have giving the blacksmiths with 2000 years of sword making history a bad name, and we all have a tendency of grouping them into "made cheaply in china", more so when it comes to Chinese made Japanese Katana's. China had access to higher quality materials as they weren't as isolated as Japan, and TRADITIONAL blacksmithing would of most defiantly been different, but not but that much. I love the look of Katana's, and the history and culture behind them, this is what gives them the mystical appeal. But in the 21st century most countries have access to the same high quality, more refined materials that go into making tamahagane, it just boils down to how trained they are in making it. In saying that, I'll be able to see when the Huawei Katana turns up, I'm waiting like a kid at Christmas..lol
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Post by sonofarwyn on Jan 5, 2015 23:55:17 GMT
A very basic rundown off the top of my head comparing Hanwei to Huawei (in my opinion): ............ There's a lot more but I'm tired now and will add to the list when I think of them -Josh Ouch should I be worried, Huawei did send me a China Post tracking number haven't tried to check it yet.. Does the "one off" I ordered fit into that rundown or they put more effort into it, though it kinda makes me feel like I picked the wrong sword now.. One question, can someone explain how a Choji Hamon like the one on the Katana I got is formed, I can't find any info on Choji Hamon's. You should be good. In my experience, if you ordered off of anything Huawei had on their ebay site, and you have a tracking number, your in good shape. Huawei has a pretty good rep for getting the stock stuff right and shipped in a timely fashion. They are a bit spottier when it comes to customs, but other than a bad QC report here once, I don't recall seeing any issues with their regular stuff.
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 6, 2015 1:02:33 GMT
Guess what the wife is taking picture of right now. Please forgive the quick clean, there was so much machine oil on the blade it's going to take a bit to clean off, not a bad thing though. I do like how the well oiled the blade and then wrapped it in a light plastic, means none of the oil got into the Saya. Much lighter than the 47 Ronin replica, and quiet sharp on the paper test. Now I just got to bring myself to cut with it, don't want to scuff up the new shiny blade..lol..
Pics soon.
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Post by Aurélien on Jan 6, 2015 1:13:28 GMT
Schoolofmonkey : I'm pretty sure your Huawei won't dissapoint you!
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 6, 2015 2:01:01 GMT
Congratulations!
Hahaha, I know that feeling. I was super, super-anal about scratches at first. I'm broke, and nice new things don't come along very often and i like to keep my things as new as possible for as long as possible. In retrospect I now really view that as lost time. Cutting is a lot of fun, and worth the scuffs...well, some scuffs. Light scuffs, to an extent, hahaha.
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 6, 2015 3:28:21 GMT
Congratulations! Hahaha, I know that feeling. I was super, super-anal about scratches at first. I'm broke, and nice new things don't come along very often and i like to keep my things as new as possible for as long as possible. Honestly I'm in the same boat, and if it wasn't for my wife secretly saving the money I wouldn't of had this sword. Had to give up work 18months ago, during the birth of our 5th son they found a very rare and deadly cancer (its the same one that killed Audry Hepburn and Steve Jobs) on my wife's appendix which spreads by creating a cancer filled mucus, her's had spread to her chest cavity. The surgery she needed was HUGE, they took every organ she didn't need from the chest to her pelvis, she's still recovering now. So she'd been saving to say thank you, she felt I had given up a lot for her and the kids, I see it as doing my part as a husband and father. Guess that's why I don't want to scuff it, but man I'm itching to use it..lol. Sorry got a bit off track. Here's the picture that were took, all in nature sunlight, none of those Hamon enhancing tricks that get used, there's no oil on the blade to enhance the shine, Just wanted to show you guys the raw Katana. Hope I didn't picture flood..lol
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 6, 2015 3:35:54 GMT
Quick cutting of some A4 Paper:
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 6, 2015 3:47:45 GMT
That looks really superb! Classy and understated. I love that style of tsuba as well.
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Post by Cottontail Customs on Jan 6, 2015 3:50:17 GMT
Congratulations! Dang, I was secretly and selfishly hoping it wouldn't be as nice as it seemed because I really didn't need the extra temptation. This really is one of, if not the, nicest total package sword I've seen from Hauwei ever. A little acid etching would really make that gorgeous hamon pop! I think I have to ask Jacky about a clone in shirasaya now Enjoy your sword and all the best to your wife and family -Josh
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 6, 2015 7:12:05 GMT
So I'm guessing by the responses it was well worth the money. The acid etching thing scares me a little..lol..
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 6, 2015 14:03:27 GMT
Ok I've done my first cuts. First was the water bottle, first try I bounced off, my nervousness and fear of damaging the blade kinda took over and I didn't connect properly. Second cut went through cleanly (well for a first timer anyway) Second cut was on a fairly thick bush, by then I had my confidence up and realized (after the first botched cut) that this sword is not going to get damaged easily, I swung cleanly, giving a really nice clean cut: Now I think the bush was a bit nasty on the blade, it left a nasty black discoloration that Isopropyl alcohol would not lift. I pulled out my trusty stainless steel cleaner (I use it on my display swords) and bam black gone blade ultra shiny. (The stainless steel cleaner is basically citric acid with a small amount of ammonia.) I always go over the blade again with Isopropyl alcohol to remove any other nasties that might be in the cleaner, then of cause the oil (using the singer sewing machine oil). Good as new, passes the paper test (Still learning how to do this properly..lol) Oh and here's a picture of my nearly 3yo thinking he is tough, he was saying "stab stab" while he was holding the Katana..lol
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Post by skane on Jan 6, 2015 15:44:48 GMT
Great looking blade and overall package! Liking that koiguchi on the saya; substantial horn and wood lining, nice attention to detail.
Congrats on the nice sword and best wishes for your wife's recovery!
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Post by Aurélien on Jan 6, 2015 16:05:31 GMT
Excellent pictures and awesome sword, Monkey!! This Huawei is definitely worth of money. Like Josh, I'm jealous The whole package is really sexy, I really like the blade and its habaki. Happy to see that Jacky is still at the top! You can be proud of your puchase. But first of all, you can be proud of yourself and your wife. Wish the best to the seven (!?!) members of your "little" familiy
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 8, 2015 8:45:42 GMT
Ok now that I've been playing for a couple of days, can someone give me a few pointers how to do a review of this Katana. Don't have much to compare it with...yet..lol..
Can't put "it scared off the guys trying to get in the back door lastnight", yeah wife heard them and grabbed it, they quickly ran after that. There's been 5 houses around us that have been broken into over Christmas.
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Post by schoolofmonkey on Jan 9, 2015 1:40:52 GMT
A little acid etching would really make that gorgeous hamon pop! Ok I've been doing more cutting, still practicing, I need to get myself a proper cutting stand that's for sure. Had a hard foam box (like a pool noodle), Just had it sitting on an outdoor table, so I was just hitting it off the table. Me making the rookie mistake though "this sword isn't that sharp" run my finger down the blade, I'm now typing with a band aid on..lol Took a pic for laughs, never let it be said Huawei swords aren't sharp, because they are VERY sharp, its user error is it doesn't go through..lol... Anyway had a had time cleaning crap off the blade, there seemed to be a stick residue, so I tried the vinegar etching technique, then cleaned the blade with isopropyl alcohol and oiled. Hamon stands WAY out now, but the blade isn't as shiny, Now I think I my need to polish the blade again. What can I do that with, here's some pictures in the sun so you guys can judge for yourselves.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 9, 2015 1:42:27 GMT
Here is the review template. sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/18655/I always took as good a photograph of each component as I could and gave my thoughts on the quality. No need to worry about comparing it to anything. Just give your honest opinions and impressions.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 9, 2015 1:44:59 GMT
Yeah, etching will dull the finish. you can hit it with some Metal Glo or Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish and it should help, or polish the non-hamon areas with some high-grit paper(like 2000). Attach the paper to a block and pull from the base of the blade to the tip. You can use water or oil to lubricate it.
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