Hanwei Zatoichi - My new katana Review
Dec 20, 2020 11:10:25 GMT
Post by borisgimenez on Dec 20, 2020 11:10:25 GMT
Hello everyone.
I want to share with you my "firsts" impressions with the Hanwei Zatoichi katana I just bought.
Please excuse me for my English, which is not my native language. If mistakes scratch your eyes, don't hesitate to tell me, I will correct them.
General information on the Zatoichi Katana
It is the weapon of a fictional character, popular even outside the Japanese borders. Zatoichi is a blind masseur from the Edo period. He is armed with a straight blade concealed in a red lacquered cane. This weapon allows him to get rid of his enemies and protect the innocent.
The character is fictional, and his weapon is fictional as well. The blade is straight, and the general appearance is a Shirasaya. A Shirasaya is a protective mount for blades that are not in use. This type of mount is not suitable for combat / cutting use for several reasons:
- The Tsuka is smooth, which makes the grip hazardous
- The integrity of the Tsuka is not reinforced by the Ito, nor by the Fuchi and the Kashira
- The Tsuka is light, and the absence of a Tsuba causes the balance of the blade to shift towards the tip. The handling feels it.
Of course, Zatoichi who is a master of Iaijutsu is not embarrassed by all of this.
General information on purchasing
The katana was purchased from Sword & More. It is a German seller, from the Hamburg area, and I live in the South of France. The seller is reliable, I have done business with him before and recommend him for purchases in Europe. The Katana was delivered via GLS with a tracking number.
It's a Paul Chen / Hanwei. Hanwei offers several versions of the Zatoichi katana. The version I bought is the SH2267, with a "natural" rosewood finish, tinted in red. It is difficult to find precise information about the steel used for the blade. CAS Iberia reports that it is "high carbon steel". Kult of Athena talks about a 1566 steel. I don't know.
This is a newer model, as indicated on the control label.
The box
The katana arrived in a cardboard box, full of protection and containing another cardtube with the sword, secured with foam.
The handle, scabbard, accessories
The set has a wood finish, tinged with red. There is a kind of varnish which gives a satin aspect. On the Omote side of the Tsuka, there are two grooves that allow to determine the orientation of the blade. As the assembly is very simple and straight, there are no other indications concerning the position of the cutting edge.
The Tsuka and Saya fits well, and the friction is good. On mine, there is no rattling. From what I have read, it seems I got lucky.
There is a single Mekugi, rather high on the Tsuka. In his review, Paul Southern says his version is epoxy glued. On mine, I see no trace of glue, no burrs or sags. But I couldn't remove the Mekugi. I didn't overdo it, and on no site I have seen any indication of dismantling recent versions. I assume that all Zatoichis Katanas are glued and not removable.
The Habaki is centered and very adjusted.
There is no maintenance kit, but none were advertised, so there are no issues.
However, there is a bag. In black synthetic fabrics. It’s not high quality, but the finishes are clean. It’s a nice surprise
.
The blade
Since the blade is straight, one could say it is a Chokuto type. But the position of the Shinogi and the Mekugihana is not correct. The blade is more of the Shinogi / Shobu Zukuri type. Let me explain. The general appearance is Shinogi Zukuri, but the absence of Yokote causes the ending to be Shobu Zukuri. In other words, the visible Yokote is only aesthetic and due to polishing.
All that to say that in fact ... this is mostly a fictional weapon. Which is not an insult.
The blade is through hardened, the visible Hamon is not real and made by etching.
The polishing is neat. The Shinogi-ji and the Mune have a glossy finish. Not like a mirror, but satisfying. The Ji is a little darker, with a satin finish. On the Ha, although it is not real, the Hamon is defined with a sense of depth. It’s a beautiful etching job.
I did not expect such a level of finish. It’s a very pleasant surprise.
Regarding the dimensions the blade is rather small, which is not bad considering the balancing on the tip. A larger blade would accentuate this fact.
Handling / cutting
Despite its smooth appearance and satin finish, my hands did not slip during handling. The absence of curvature gives no indication of the orientation of the cutting edge. There are only the two oblique notches on the handle to find your bearings. Caution is advised when using this katana (even more than usual).
I submitted pool noodles and green bamboo (2 cm in diameter) to this blade. None were a problem and the cuts are clean. However, the cuts are less easy than with other katana that I have had the opportunity to use (Bushido, Tori Elite and Tiger Classic). This is probably due to the fact that the Zatoichi's blade is straight, but also probably because of my poor skills.
Conclusion
This is obviously not a weapon intended for practice in the Dojo. With a little humor, one could even dispute the strict designation of "weapon", since its design (balance, grip) is not designed for martial efficiency (apart from the concealment aspect). And there is also the fact that it cannot be taken apart for inspection / maintenance. It could be classified under "weapons by destination".
More seriously, I am extremely delighted with this saber. It is beautiful and well finished. And the fact that it can be used occasionally for light cutting is very nice.
I had hesitated for a while between this one and the folded blade version (SH2114, which is almost three times more expensive). I absolutely do not regret my choice, and even, I do not recommend the folded blade version. Let there be no misunderstanding. I think the folded blade version should be as well finished, and with the same qualities, as this one. But it also has the same limitations: straight form mounted in Shirasaya; with the consequences on handling, balance etc. This is of course not prohibitive, but it is a question of a balance between the quality of the object, the use of the object and the price of the object. And for the price of the folded version there are, in my opinion, better options (admittedly with a Koshirae). This is of course a personal opinion and others may have a different appreciation.
For those who would like to combine katana and film replica, the SH2267 is a blast.
Pros :
- Quality of construction.
- Attention to detail
- Level of finish, relative to the price
Cons :
No really cons, as long as you are aware of what it is, and especially what it is not.
Thank you for reading
I want to share with you my "firsts" impressions with the Hanwei Zatoichi katana I just bought.
Please excuse me for my English, which is not my native language. If mistakes scratch your eyes, don't hesitate to tell me, I will correct them.
General information on the Zatoichi Katana
It is the weapon of a fictional character, popular even outside the Japanese borders. Zatoichi is a blind masseur from the Edo period. He is armed with a straight blade concealed in a red lacquered cane. This weapon allows him to get rid of his enemies and protect the innocent.
The character is fictional, and his weapon is fictional as well. The blade is straight, and the general appearance is a Shirasaya. A Shirasaya is a protective mount for blades that are not in use. This type of mount is not suitable for combat / cutting use for several reasons:
- The Tsuka is smooth, which makes the grip hazardous
- The integrity of the Tsuka is not reinforced by the Ito, nor by the Fuchi and the Kashira
- The Tsuka is light, and the absence of a Tsuba causes the balance of the blade to shift towards the tip. The handling feels it.
Of course, Zatoichi who is a master of Iaijutsu is not embarrassed by all of this.
General information on purchasing
The katana was purchased from Sword & More. It is a German seller, from the Hamburg area, and I live in the South of France. The seller is reliable, I have done business with him before and recommend him for purchases in Europe. The Katana was delivered via GLS with a tracking number.
It's a Paul Chen / Hanwei. Hanwei offers several versions of the Zatoichi katana. The version I bought is the SH2267, with a "natural" rosewood finish, tinted in red. It is difficult to find precise information about the steel used for the blade. CAS Iberia reports that it is "high carbon steel". Kult of Athena talks about a 1566 steel. I don't know.
This is a newer model, as indicated on the control label.
The box
The katana arrived in a cardboard box, full of protection and containing another cardtube with the sword, secured with foam.
The handle, scabbard, accessories
The set has a wood finish, tinged with red. There is a kind of varnish which gives a satin aspect. On the Omote side of the Tsuka, there are two grooves that allow to determine the orientation of the blade. As the assembly is very simple and straight, there are no other indications concerning the position of the cutting edge.
The Tsuka and Saya fits well, and the friction is good. On mine, there is no rattling. From what I have read, it seems I got lucky.
There is a single Mekugi, rather high on the Tsuka. In his review, Paul Southern says his version is epoxy glued. On mine, I see no trace of glue, no burrs or sags. But I couldn't remove the Mekugi. I didn't overdo it, and on no site I have seen any indication of dismantling recent versions. I assume that all Zatoichis Katanas are glued and not removable.
The Habaki is centered and very adjusted.
There is no maintenance kit, but none were advertised, so there are no issues.
However, there is a bag. In black synthetic fabrics. It’s not high quality, but the finishes are clean. It’s a nice surprise
.
The blade
Since the blade is straight, one could say it is a Chokuto type. But the position of the Shinogi and the Mekugihana is not correct. The blade is more of the Shinogi / Shobu Zukuri type. Let me explain. The general appearance is Shinogi Zukuri, but the absence of Yokote causes the ending to be Shobu Zukuri. In other words, the visible Yokote is only aesthetic and due to polishing.
All that to say that in fact ... this is mostly a fictional weapon. Which is not an insult.
The blade is through hardened, the visible Hamon is not real and made by etching.
The polishing is neat. The Shinogi-ji and the Mune have a glossy finish. Not like a mirror, but satisfying. The Ji is a little darker, with a satin finish. On the Ha, although it is not real, the Hamon is defined with a sense of depth. It’s a beautiful etching job.
I did not expect such a level of finish. It’s a very pleasant surprise.
Regarding the dimensions the blade is rather small, which is not bad considering the balancing on the tip. A larger blade would accentuate this fact.
Handling / cutting
Despite its smooth appearance and satin finish, my hands did not slip during handling. The absence of curvature gives no indication of the orientation of the cutting edge. There are only the two oblique notches on the handle to find your bearings. Caution is advised when using this katana (even more than usual).
I submitted pool noodles and green bamboo (2 cm in diameter) to this blade. None were a problem and the cuts are clean. However, the cuts are less easy than with other katana that I have had the opportunity to use (Bushido, Tori Elite and Tiger Classic). This is probably due to the fact that the Zatoichi's blade is straight, but also probably because of my poor skills.
Conclusion
This is obviously not a weapon intended for practice in the Dojo. With a little humor, one could even dispute the strict designation of "weapon", since its design (balance, grip) is not designed for martial efficiency (apart from the concealment aspect). And there is also the fact that it cannot be taken apart for inspection / maintenance. It could be classified under "weapons by destination".
More seriously, I am extremely delighted with this saber. It is beautiful and well finished. And the fact that it can be used occasionally for light cutting is very nice.
I had hesitated for a while between this one and the folded blade version (SH2114, which is almost three times more expensive). I absolutely do not regret my choice, and even, I do not recommend the folded blade version. Let there be no misunderstanding. I think the folded blade version should be as well finished, and with the same qualities, as this one. But it also has the same limitations: straight form mounted in Shirasaya; with the consequences on handling, balance etc. This is of course not prohibitive, but it is a question of a balance between the quality of the object, the use of the object and the price of the object. And for the price of the folded version there are, in my opinion, better options (admittedly with a Koshirae). This is of course a personal opinion and others may have a different appreciation.
For those who would like to combine katana and film replica, the SH2267 is a blast.
Pros :
- Quality of construction.
- Attention to detail
- Level of finish, relative to the price
Cons :
No really cons, as long as you are aware of what it is, and especially what it is not.
Thank you for reading