Hanwei Practical XL Light CUSTOM Katana
Dec 14, 2008 13:39:06 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2008 13:39:06 GMT
Hanwei Practical XL Light CUSTOM Katana
First of all. This katana doesn’t fall in our 300 mark. But because this is a very beautiful, and as it is a Hanwei also a very functional sword, I really want to share with you my katana.
The base of this katana is a Hanwei practical XL light blade. This Japanese, battle ready, blade is made by Paul Chen's hanwei forge and belongs to a new generation of 'affordable' cutting swords. The battle ready practical Xl Light katana was designed and made for the tamashigiri practitioners in het Japanese Martial Arts world. When we compare the standard practical katana with this Xl light Katana ,the difference was very clear. This new designed sword has a better geometry and has a more 'beefy' blade compared with the Standard Practical katana or any other katana in the Paul Chen series. It feels more "solid" and does give a safer feeling when performing cutting exercises (tameshigiri). The blade is longer and much wider&thicker than the standard practical or practical plus katana. A Bo hi (groove) is added to this sword to reduce the weight. Yet, it's still 200 grams more heavy than the practical katana. This blade falls in the competitive Cutting/Light Weight blades.
Practical Plus XL Light Stats :
Blade Length: 75 cm
Handle Length: 29 cm
Overall Length: 104 cm
Weight: 1200 gram
POB : 13 cm after tsuba
DESIGN, FIT and FINISH
This katana has black rayskin wrapped with a dark brown cotton ito and within this is a beautiful gold plated dragon themed menuki. The kashira and fuchi are antiqued flower themed solid steel fittings. The Tsuba is a “wave”-tsuba. The tang is double pegged, signed and numbered. As you can see, the seppa are from a different size. And now let’s go to the review.
The Blade
The back of this blade has a nice polished bo-hi. The blade doesn’t feel heavy at all. As known is there an etched hamon. The blade is razorsharp.
If you want a beefy blade, this katana will fulfill all your needs. This blade is a little bit wider than my practical plus elite katana. You can compare both pictures in my two reviews (see under).
As you can see is my telephone totally disappeared under this blade. The same picture in my Elite review show a little bit of both sides of my telephone.
The kissaki is defined, coming to a razor sharp point that would be useful for stabbing. The etched hamon runs thru the kissaki.
The Bo hi is deep, broad and runs thru the tip of the blade.
The Tsuka
The tsuka is wood wrapped with black rayskin and wrapped with dark brown cotton ito.
The fuchi is a beautiful, well defined, antiqued,flower pattern, made of solid steel.
The menuki is a gold painted dragon motif. (There are two kinds -> at the kashira is one dragon and at the fuchi is a double dragon). Here you also can see the quality of the rayskin.
The tang is signatured…
…and numbered.
The Kashira
Like the fuchi is this a beautiful, well defined, flower pattern. It’s not glued. This is also a more antiqued fitting like I’m used to my other practical plus katanas.
The Tsuba
This is an antiqued design of a “wave”-tsuba. (Also from hanwei)
The Saya
Is not lacquered. Many people like this kind of saya because it doesn’t need so much cleaning as the lacquered version.
I received this katana with an unwrapped sageo (and again…that’s in my opinion pitiable).
This custom katana also doesn’t fit very well in the saya. I prefer to have a snug fit and not have the katana fall out if turned upside down. The koiguchi (saya opening) is completely lacquered like the saya.
TESTING
I tested this katana on different types of plastic bottles.
After this I hang up a bottle on a wire.
And finally I’ve cut a single tatami mat.
As you can see on all my pictures, this katana produces only nice clean cuts.
5 minutes of samurai-feelings.
CONCLUSION
Is this custom katana also a decent cutter? YES! This custom katana seems to be a very well built beautiful looking sword. Am I happy with this bought? YES! Is it cheap having a custom katana (like this)? NO!
THE VERDICT
Historical Accuracy: N/A
Fit and Finish: 3/5 (it would be more if the saya would better fit the blade)
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5 (a little bit too expensive)
OVERALL: 4/5 (Excellent)
WHERE TO BUY
I bought this custom at samourai sword shop (Belgium) from Dave. Dave is a very honest and correct person. This wasn’t my first sword I bought from his store and it will definitely not be the last one. I like doing business with him. I bought this sword for the price of 425 euro.
First of all. This katana doesn’t fall in our 300 mark. But because this is a very beautiful, and as it is a Hanwei also a very functional sword, I really want to share with you my katana.
The base of this katana is a Hanwei practical XL light blade. This Japanese, battle ready, blade is made by Paul Chen's hanwei forge and belongs to a new generation of 'affordable' cutting swords. The battle ready practical Xl Light katana was designed and made for the tamashigiri practitioners in het Japanese Martial Arts world. When we compare the standard practical katana with this Xl light Katana ,the difference was very clear. This new designed sword has a better geometry and has a more 'beefy' blade compared with the Standard Practical katana or any other katana in the Paul Chen series. It feels more "solid" and does give a safer feeling when performing cutting exercises (tameshigiri). The blade is longer and much wider&thicker than the standard practical or practical plus katana. A Bo hi (groove) is added to this sword to reduce the weight. Yet, it's still 200 grams more heavy than the practical katana. This blade falls in the competitive Cutting/Light Weight blades.
Practical XL light custom Katana
Review by Serge Winckelmans, BELGIUM
Review by Serge Winckelmans, BELGIUM
Practical Plus XL Light Stats :
Blade Length: 75 cm
Handle Length: 29 cm
Overall Length: 104 cm
Weight: 1200 gram
POB : 13 cm after tsuba
DESIGN, FIT and FINISH
This katana has black rayskin wrapped with a dark brown cotton ito and within this is a beautiful gold plated dragon themed menuki. The kashira and fuchi are antiqued flower themed solid steel fittings. The Tsuba is a “wave”-tsuba. The tang is double pegged, signed and numbered. As you can see, the seppa are from a different size. And now let’s go to the review.
The Blade
The back of this blade has a nice polished bo-hi. The blade doesn’t feel heavy at all. As known is there an etched hamon. The blade is razorsharp.
If you want a beefy blade, this katana will fulfill all your needs. This blade is a little bit wider than my practical plus elite katana. You can compare both pictures in my two reviews (see under).
As you can see is my telephone totally disappeared under this blade. The same picture in my Elite review show a little bit of both sides of my telephone.
The kissaki is defined, coming to a razor sharp point that would be useful for stabbing. The etched hamon runs thru the kissaki.
The Bo hi is deep, broad and runs thru the tip of the blade.
The Tsuka
The tsuka is wood wrapped with black rayskin and wrapped with dark brown cotton ito.
The fuchi is a beautiful, well defined, antiqued,flower pattern, made of solid steel.
The menuki is a gold painted dragon motif. (There are two kinds -> at the kashira is one dragon and at the fuchi is a double dragon). Here you also can see the quality of the rayskin.
The tang is signatured…
…and numbered.
The Kashira
Like the fuchi is this a beautiful, well defined, flower pattern. It’s not glued. This is also a more antiqued fitting like I’m used to my other practical plus katanas.
The Tsuba
This is an antiqued design of a “wave”-tsuba. (Also from hanwei)
The Saya
Is not lacquered. Many people like this kind of saya because it doesn’t need so much cleaning as the lacquered version.
I received this katana with an unwrapped sageo (and again…that’s in my opinion pitiable).
This custom katana also doesn’t fit very well in the saya. I prefer to have a snug fit and not have the katana fall out if turned upside down. The koiguchi (saya opening) is completely lacquered like the saya.
TESTING
I tested this katana on different types of plastic bottles.
After this I hang up a bottle on a wire.
And finally I’ve cut a single tatami mat.
As you can see on all my pictures, this katana produces only nice clean cuts.
5 minutes of samurai-feelings.
CONCLUSION
Is this custom katana also a decent cutter? YES! This custom katana seems to be a very well built beautiful looking sword. Am I happy with this bought? YES! Is it cheap having a custom katana (like this)? NO!
THE VERDICT
Historical Accuracy: N/A
Fit and Finish: 3/5 (it would be more if the saya would better fit the blade)
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5 (a little bit too expensive)
OVERALL: 4/5 (Excellent)
WHERE TO BUY
I bought this custom at samourai sword shop (Belgium) from Dave. Dave is a very honest and correct person. This wasn’t my first sword I bought from his store and it will definitely not be the last one. I like doing business with him. I bought this sword for the price of 425 euro.
