Hanwei Shashka
Apr 25, 2015 3:51:46 GMT
Post by Bertek on Apr 25, 2015 3:51:46 GMT
Disclaimer
I have no ties to Hanwei and purchased this saber due to my interest in Eastern European edged weapons.
I have a Persian Dragoon sword which is based directly upon the Russian Dragoon sword which shares the same blade as the Russia 1881 Shashka.
I will compare the two swords to each other through out the review.
Historical Background
When Imperial Russian forces conquered the Caucasus in the first half of the nineteenth century they encountered the Shashka wielded by the native inhabitants. The Shashka was a light (400 grams), sharp, fast, flexible blade which directly descended from a machete like tool. It quickly gained favor among the occupying Russian Cossack troops.
A design compromise was reached in 1881 and a hybrid saber/shashka was adopted as the official saber of the Imperial Russian armed forces. It was also adopted by the Persians who formed Cossack units of their own under Russian officers. This saber would continue to see combat through the end of WWII. Two hilts were used with this blade, a tradition D guard (the dragoon saber) and a guard-less shashka style hilt. Truth be told the 1881 Russian shashka has more in common with European saber design than the shashka of the Caucasus peoples.
Stats and Specs
Weight of sword without scabbard:
Hanwei Shashka: 775 grams
Persian Dragoon Saber: 779 grams
Point of balance:
Hanwei Shashka: 7.5 inches/ 19 cm
Persian Dragoon Saber: 6.5 inches/ 16.5 mm
Thickness of blade/distal taper (at hilt, midpoint, at end of fuller, and 1 inch from tip):
Hanwei Shashka: 6mm, 4.2mm, 2.9mm, 2.8mm
Persian Dragoon: 6.3mm, 4.6mm, 3.7mm, 2.2mm
Width of blade at hilt then at half and 1 inch before point:
Hanwei Shashka: 31.2mm, 31.3mm, 24.3mm
Persian Dragoon: 31mm, 28.8mm, 21mm
Length of blade:
Hanwei Shashka: 810mm, 31 7/8 inches
Persian Dragoon: 804mm, 31 5/8 inches
Curvature of blade:
Hanwei Shashka: 12.7mm, 1/2 inch
Persian Dragoon: 19mm, 3/4 inch
Amount of flex/temper in the blade:
Overall impressions:
Hanwei made a competent attempt at recreating the Imperial Russian 1881 Shashka. IMO dimensions of the blade are close, the only glaring geometric discrepancies are the amount of curve to the blade and the width does not taper as sharply toward the tip as the original dragoon saber.
My greatest concerns when I purchase a sword are historical accuracy in the blades geometry, I really wish Hanwei would have paid more attention to the curve and the tapering of the width. This is one of the first accurate reproduction sabers I have seen mass produced in regards to weight and distal taper, it is a shame they didn't get all the details correct.
As in other swords produced by Hanwei the hilt deviates from historical examples. In this case, instead of being made from wood the grip is made from plastic. The brass pommel also feels a bit back heavy to me when compared to the Dragoon model, I have never handled an original Shashka model so I don't know how that compares.
The Hanwei blade is etched on both sides with Imperial Russian motifs. I think they did a nice job with those and the design on the hilt. I think it is refreshing someone choose to recreate the Imperial motifs as opposed to the Soviet ones that are standard from the Indian produced models.
Again, as in previous Hanwei offerings the scabbard is made from ahistorical materials. In this case it appears that the core is wood covered in black plastic with brass fittings. I suppose they choose this route for ease of manufacturing, I usually don't care about scabbards one way or another, but I thought the choice of materials was strange. It also comes with a slightly cheesy sword knot.
Conclusion
It appears the Hanwei invested most of the production costs in the blade. In my opinion that is where the production costs should be put, but others may disagree and find the use of plastic in the hilt and scabbard to be not what they are looking for. That being said, since it appears Hanwei did attempt to make the blade correctly (weight, distal taper, and flexibility) I wish they would have paid more attention to the curve and width. The Hanwei Shashka handles well, very comparable to the Dragoon sword. However, performance wise the Hanwei saber does not cut as well as the Dragoon sword or any of my other period sabers. I live in a condo and have no place to cut water bottles, but I do cut gourds, melons, etc. Today I was cutting squash and the Hanwei blade stuck half way through every cut but one. I never have that happen with any of my period blades. It was also harder to control while cutting than when just handling it. I am not sure if was some inhibition on my part or due to the lack of curvature and taper of the blade. With sword geometry the devil truly is in the details. The Hanwei Shashka comes sharp from the factory, with no secondary bevel, so perhaps it would perform better with water bottles than vegetables, I almost got the impression too much surface area of the sword was coming into contact with the vegetable matter and causing the blade to stick.
I would recommend the Hanwei reproduction for someone who wanted to experience the feel of a Russian Shashka, however a period production sword would still be my first choice if actual cutting performance was a prime consideration.
I have no ties to Hanwei and purchased this saber due to my interest in Eastern European edged weapons.
I have a Persian Dragoon sword which is based directly upon the Russian Dragoon sword which shares the same blade as the Russia 1881 Shashka.
I will compare the two swords to each other through out the review.
Historical Background
When Imperial Russian forces conquered the Caucasus in the first half of the nineteenth century they encountered the Shashka wielded by the native inhabitants. The Shashka was a light (400 grams), sharp, fast, flexible blade which directly descended from a machete like tool. It quickly gained favor among the occupying Russian Cossack troops.
A design compromise was reached in 1881 and a hybrid saber/shashka was adopted as the official saber of the Imperial Russian armed forces. It was also adopted by the Persians who formed Cossack units of their own under Russian officers. This saber would continue to see combat through the end of WWII. Two hilts were used with this blade, a tradition D guard (the dragoon saber) and a guard-less shashka style hilt. Truth be told the 1881 Russian shashka has more in common with European saber design than the shashka of the Caucasus peoples.
Stats and Specs
Weight of sword without scabbard:
Hanwei Shashka: 775 grams
Persian Dragoon Saber: 779 grams
Point of balance:
Hanwei Shashka: 7.5 inches/ 19 cm
Persian Dragoon Saber: 6.5 inches/ 16.5 mm
Thickness of blade/distal taper (at hilt, midpoint, at end of fuller, and 1 inch from tip):
Hanwei Shashka: 6mm, 4.2mm, 2.9mm, 2.8mm
Persian Dragoon: 6.3mm, 4.6mm, 3.7mm, 2.2mm
Width of blade at hilt then at half and 1 inch before point:
Hanwei Shashka: 31.2mm, 31.3mm, 24.3mm
Persian Dragoon: 31mm, 28.8mm, 21mm
Length of blade:
Hanwei Shashka: 810mm, 31 7/8 inches
Persian Dragoon: 804mm, 31 5/8 inches
Curvature of blade:
Hanwei Shashka: 12.7mm, 1/2 inch
Persian Dragoon: 19mm, 3/4 inch
Amount of flex/temper in the blade:
Overall impressions:
Hanwei made a competent attempt at recreating the Imperial Russian 1881 Shashka. IMO dimensions of the blade are close, the only glaring geometric discrepancies are the amount of curve to the blade and the width does not taper as sharply toward the tip as the original dragoon saber.
My greatest concerns when I purchase a sword are historical accuracy in the blades geometry, I really wish Hanwei would have paid more attention to the curve and the tapering of the width. This is one of the first accurate reproduction sabers I have seen mass produced in regards to weight and distal taper, it is a shame they didn't get all the details correct.
As in other swords produced by Hanwei the hilt deviates from historical examples. In this case, instead of being made from wood the grip is made from plastic. The brass pommel also feels a bit back heavy to me when compared to the Dragoon model, I have never handled an original Shashka model so I don't know how that compares.
The Hanwei blade is etched on both sides with Imperial Russian motifs. I think they did a nice job with those and the design on the hilt. I think it is refreshing someone choose to recreate the Imperial motifs as opposed to the Soviet ones that are standard from the Indian produced models.
Again, as in previous Hanwei offerings the scabbard is made from ahistorical materials. In this case it appears that the core is wood covered in black plastic with brass fittings. I suppose they choose this route for ease of manufacturing, I usually don't care about scabbards one way or another, but I thought the choice of materials was strange. It also comes with a slightly cheesy sword knot.
Conclusion
It appears the Hanwei invested most of the production costs in the blade. In my opinion that is where the production costs should be put, but others may disagree and find the use of plastic in the hilt and scabbard to be not what they are looking for. That being said, since it appears Hanwei did attempt to make the blade correctly (weight, distal taper, and flexibility) I wish they would have paid more attention to the curve and width. The Hanwei Shashka handles well, very comparable to the Dragoon sword. However, performance wise the Hanwei saber does not cut as well as the Dragoon sword or any of my other period sabers. I live in a condo and have no place to cut water bottles, but I do cut gourds, melons, etc. Today I was cutting squash and the Hanwei blade stuck half way through every cut but one. I never have that happen with any of my period blades. It was also harder to control while cutting than when just handling it. I am not sure if was some inhibition on my part or due to the lack of curvature and taper of the blade. With sword geometry the devil truly is in the details. The Hanwei Shashka comes sharp from the factory, with no secondary bevel, so perhaps it would perform better with water bottles than vegetables, I almost got the impression too much surface area of the sword was coming into contact with the vegetable matter and causing the blade to stick.
I would recommend the Hanwei reproduction for someone who wanted to experience the feel of a Russian Shashka, however a period production sword would still be my first choice if actual cutting performance was a prime consideration.
