Post by hroarrodhinnsson on Sept 1, 2023 5:51:42 GMT
So...I recently purchased a Hanwei Basket-hilt Broadsword from Amazon. I am not a fan of the red liners they come with so was prepared to remove the liner upon receiving the sword. I paid around $405, including shipping and handling. When my package arrived, I entirely forgot I was going to do an unboxing video and tore into the packaging, wanting to get as much time with my new friend as possible, since I had to work that night. About the packaging: the sword came in a box that was covered by a white plastic bag. I opened the bag, removed the box, only to find the box end seemed to have been duct taped by someone with a strange addiction to duct taping thing. I am not kidding. There was nearly a quarter inch thick layer of tape. I got the tape cut through and reached in for the sword. And boy, was I surprised. The sword inside was not the one I ordered, but it's more expensive brother, the Hanwei Antiqued Scottish Basket-hilt Broadsword. I could barely contain my excitement. Not only is this my first basket-hilt, but it was even better than the one I thought I would be receiving. Now...onto the review.
At first glance, this is a very attractive blade. Far as I can tell so far, it is solid. Decent weight,feels good in the hand. Having read a few reviews of the Hanwei basket hilts, I took a look down the blade to see if there was a distal taper. There most definitely was. It may not be as pronounced as on other swords, but the blade is a bit on the thin side anyway. This is not a bad thing. I have been hearing/reading that Hanwei made basket hilts that were very blade heavy. I found this to be somewhat true, the balance point seems to be about 4 inches from the basket. This in entirely unnoticed in use. I was also prepared for an overbuilt basket. Not so. Nor is it so small that I can't get my hand in. It is a perfect fit for my hand. I had never handled a sword with a rayskin grip before, or at least not one without silk wrapping. I expected the denticles to be super rough, like the sand paper rayskin had once been used for. Instead, I found the most comfortable grip I had ever held. I immediately filled a few 2 liter soda bottles with water and set about the test cutting. Here is my only complaint. The edge is...not sharp. After denting my neighbor's car with a flying soda bottle, I gathered the bottle and examined it, thinking my edge alignment was off. It wasn't. The edge bit in but did not cut through. I next attempted a thrust. Now, per other reviews, I expected the basket to cut into my wrist with a straight thrust. I don't know if they changed the design, or if people are trying to use swords they are not trained in using, but my guess is both. I was able to thrust the sword, same as any other blade. As to the results from the thrust test? Before I knew I had hit the bottle, my blade had passed through both sides of the bottle, which did not move. The blade slid out as easily as it slid in. Will be sharpening it and retesting the cutting capabilities.
For those that like numbers: (on a scale of 1-10)
Appearance: 10
Feel:10
Weight:8
Sharpness:3
Historicity: unknown. Need to look up original at the royal armory in the UK.
Overall: 8/10
Final thoughts. I did not make a mistake when I called it my new friend. This sword is easily one of the best I have ever owned. Once sharpened, it will be damn near perfect. Would I recommend this blade to others? No. Because I don't want everyone going out and buying them and driving their prices up, I would like a couple more. But no, seriously, yes, I most definitely would recommend this sword. But I would recommend learning a bit about their use before purchasing.
Slàinte Mhath!
Edited to add:
I forgot about the scabbard. Having previously owned Hanwei's Practical Viking sword, I had very low expectations on the scabbard and the way the scabbard fit the blade. So often people buy swords with ill-fitting scabbards...or worse, ill-fitting sheathes...not the case here. Now, I would never even come close to gushing when it comes to a Hanwei scabbard. I get why they seem like an afterthought. Scabbards are hard, having made a few of them myself, I get it. But this one surprised me. The construction is wood with leather wrapping. It is hard to describe the method of construction, mostly because I do not understand how it was sewn. But the stitching is smooth, forming diamonds down the entire length. The throat and chape are reinforced with metal. Hanwei claims that it is steel, but, as a blacksmith, I have my doubts. At the throat, on the inside, is a piece of leather, I assume to protect bothe the sword edge from the scabbard and the scabbard from the sword edge. Now how does this all hold together? Well, I carried the sword around the house, holding it by the grip with point down. Even after shaking the sword vigorously, (and getting strange looks from the wife) the scabbard was still flush against the top of the basket. So I flipped it around and held the scabbard. Gave it a shake...nothing. even with nothing but the fit of the scabbard supporting the weight of the sword, it remained in place. This is not the story after having begun the sharpening process. It still hold if you hold the sword, but gravity will pull the sword free.
At first glance, this is a very attractive blade. Far as I can tell so far, it is solid. Decent weight,feels good in the hand. Having read a few reviews of the Hanwei basket hilts, I took a look down the blade to see if there was a distal taper. There most definitely was. It may not be as pronounced as on other swords, but the blade is a bit on the thin side anyway. This is not a bad thing. I have been hearing/reading that Hanwei made basket hilts that were very blade heavy. I found this to be somewhat true, the balance point seems to be about 4 inches from the basket. This in entirely unnoticed in use. I was also prepared for an overbuilt basket. Not so. Nor is it so small that I can't get my hand in. It is a perfect fit for my hand. I had never handled a sword with a rayskin grip before, or at least not one without silk wrapping. I expected the denticles to be super rough, like the sand paper rayskin had once been used for. Instead, I found the most comfortable grip I had ever held. I immediately filled a few 2 liter soda bottles with water and set about the test cutting. Here is my only complaint. The edge is...not sharp. After denting my neighbor's car with a flying soda bottle, I gathered the bottle and examined it, thinking my edge alignment was off. It wasn't. The edge bit in but did not cut through. I next attempted a thrust. Now, per other reviews, I expected the basket to cut into my wrist with a straight thrust. I don't know if they changed the design, or if people are trying to use swords they are not trained in using, but my guess is both. I was able to thrust the sword, same as any other blade. As to the results from the thrust test? Before I knew I had hit the bottle, my blade had passed through both sides of the bottle, which did not move. The blade slid out as easily as it slid in. Will be sharpening it and retesting the cutting capabilities.
For those that like numbers: (on a scale of 1-10)
Appearance: 10
Feel:10
Weight:8
Sharpness:3
Historicity: unknown. Need to look up original at the royal armory in the UK.
Overall: 8/10
Final thoughts. I did not make a mistake when I called it my new friend. This sword is easily one of the best I have ever owned. Once sharpened, it will be damn near perfect. Would I recommend this blade to others? No. Because I don't want everyone going out and buying them and driving their prices up, I would like a couple more. But no, seriously, yes, I most definitely would recommend this sword. But I would recommend learning a bit about their use before purchasing.
Slàinte Mhath!
Edited to add:
I forgot about the scabbard. Having previously owned Hanwei's Practical Viking sword, I had very low expectations on the scabbard and the way the scabbard fit the blade. So often people buy swords with ill-fitting scabbards...or worse, ill-fitting sheathes...not the case here. Now, I would never even come close to gushing when it comes to a Hanwei scabbard. I get why they seem like an afterthought. Scabbards are hard, having made a few of them myself, I get it. But this one surprised me. The construction is wood with leather wrapping. It is hard to describe the method of construction, mostly because I do not understand how it was sewn. But the stitching is smooth, forming diamonds down the entire length. The throat and chape are reinforced with metal. Hanwei claims that it is steel, but, as a blacksmith, I have my doubts. At the throat, on the inside, is a piece of leather, I assume to protect bothe the sword edge from the scabbard and the scabbard from the sword edge. Now how does this all hold together? Well, I carried the sword around the house, holding it by the grip with point down. Even after shaking the sword vigorously, (and getting strange looks from the wife) the scabbard was still flush against the top of the basket. So I flipped it around and held the scabbard. Gave it a shake...nothing. even with nothing but the fit of the scabbard supporting the weight of the sword, it remained in place. This is not the story after having begun the sharpening process. It still hold if you hold the sword, but gravity will pull the sword free.