Review of Hanwei Raptor Serries Shobu Katana
Apr 9, 2009 0:25:41 GMT
Post by shadowhowler on Apr 9, 2009 0:25:41 GMT
Review of the Hanwei Raptor Serries Shobu Zukuri Katana
by Sean O. Stevens Grovetown, GA
Introduction
There has been a LOT of hype and interest in this sword. I decided to pre-order one of these for a couple reasons.
1. I love Shobu style katana.
2. It was the first Through Hardened Katana I had seen from Hanwei, and I was very currious.
3. I liked the look of the 'Battle Wrap' on the tsuka.
4. There were a lot of rumors about how TOUGH these swords would be,
that they would basicly be like Cheness Through Hardened blades but with the Hanwei style fittings.
They were supposed to release in June/July... but they came early.
Historical Overview
"Shobu Zukuri" means 'iris leaf', I belive. This is a refrence to the
shape of the tip of this blade style. The kissaki on a Shobu is VERY different then your standard Shinogi Zukuri style katana. I like it much better. It's said it was developed to help overcome invading mongols armour... there is no doubt that the Shobu Zukuri style katana is intended to CUT.
Initial Impressions
My raptor arrived in a large box along with a few other items.
It had it's own special box on the inside.
It was well packed in a very nicely shaped foam, shaped well to fit it. I'm going to save it, it's a good way to move the katana around.
It came with a sword-bag... the sword bag is unimpressive. It's plain black and not padded, so it's just a freebie. It also came with some folded up paper... basic info on adjusting fit of your katana in the saya, maintaining the blade, about CAS/Hanwei in general. Nothing specific about the Raptor itself. I would have liked some specific info on the steel used and whatnot. There has been so much hype, I was hopping for more info.
Upon handling the sword, it feels HEAVY. A LOT of blade pressence on this sword. It's tsuka is a bit longer then I normaly like, but it works for this sword because of the weight... almost feels like an O-Katana.
Statistics
Overall length: 45.5"
Nagasa length: 29"
Tsuka length: 13"
Weight: 2lb 12oz
Center of Balance: 6" from the tsuba
Components
The Nagasa
It has a nice shine, but is a bit rougher then other Hanwei blades I have seen. There is no hamon, and no fake hamon either... which I am glad for. Just clean lines. A long, thick, shiny peice of sharp steel.
The Kissaki
I love the shape and look of the Shobu Kissaki... just clean lines, no counter polish. I plan on getting more shobu in the future.
The tsuka
It has that grippy suede that hanwei uses... I would prefer a more traditional silk or even good cotten ito... but it's not bad and it DOES feel very good in the hand. VERY grippy.
The tsuka came off without much difficulty and shows little to no sign of damage. All in all, very decent quality at this price.
The Menuki
A pair of metalic gold colored feathers. Not sure how it's on there, but it feels pretty well attached. The menuki suit the theme of the sword overall very well.
The Fuchi
Contenues the bird theme, fits very well with the sword.
Feels solid, iron or blackened steel.
Fuchi-Kashira
Also keeps to the theme VERY well.
The seppa
Brass and of decent quality. Much better then some other swords I've seen.
The Mekugi
Decent quality here as well, they are formed to go in one direction, and don't fall apart when removed like some lesser quality mukugi I've seen.
The habaki
Brass, decent fit to the sword, seen better and seen worse.
The Tsuba
Iron or blackened steel... and of course, contenues the bird theme of the sword. I guess if you like birds, you'll LOVE the artistic style of this blade. If not, well, you won't be too happy.
The Nakago
A bit slimer then some I have seen, but solid. Has a couple numbers on it.
The Saya
It has a pebbled finish... which I LOVE. I am not found of the shiny saya's that show a finger print every time you touch them.
Fits the sword well... there is no rattle.
Handling Characteristics
This is a pretty big sword... and it's pretty blade heavy. It feels a
bit odd to me, tho I may get used to it. The extra blade pressence is likely very aproprate for what this sword is ment to do... cut harder targets. The extra long tsuka, which I normaly do NOT like, is usefull on this blade for getting a grip that feels right. I do not like the feel of the sword in one hand at all... but it two hands with the grip spaced far apart, it feels VERY powerfull.
Test Cutting
Since this sword was, as I understand it, ment to be used for 'non traditional targets' I decided to introduce it to some.
As you can see in the paper cutting test... it does not SEEM super sharp at first, but put some swing into it and it seems to cut very well.
Conclusions
Overall... I think this sword is a very interesting new option from
Hanwei. It remains to be seen how TOUGH it is... I would not normaly cut threw the thick plastic laundry detergent jug I did at the end of the video above with a Katana... I save those for Generation 2 and Dark Sword Armoury two handed swords. This time I did it because the whole POINT of the Raptor serries is that the swords are made tough.
They talk the talk, and so far, they SEEM to walk the walk, but time will tell for sure. I'll update this review as the Raptor Shobu and I spend more time together.
Pros
A very interesting theme to the sword showed in all the fittings.
The Option of three blade styles in the Raptor line.
Hanwei fit and finish on fittings with (hopefully) more durability.
Cons
If birds are not your thing, this sword is not for you.
The Shobu is a bit heavy.
The Bottom Line
I'm glad I bought the sword... I like the Shobu style and I think the sword is very well put together. I'm not sure it lives up to all the hype that surrounds it... but time will judge that better. My first impression is not AS favorable as I had hoped, but IS favorable.
I think with the Raptor Serries from Hanwei, if you like what you see and hear in this review, you will not be sorry if you buy one.
I bought mine from Wiwinti sword supply for $230. I Pre-ordered it some time ago, and was informed by Marc at Wiwingti that the sword was ready to go and needed to be payed for monday, and I had the sword wensday. I'm very happy with my experince with Marc and Wiwingti!
Thanks for Reading!
by Sean O. Stevens Grovetown, GA
Introduction
There has been a LOT of hype and interest in this sword. I decided to pre-order one of these for a couple reasons.
1. I love Shobu style katana.
2. It was the first Through Hardened Katana I had seen from Hanwei, and I was very currious.
3. I liked the look of the 'Battle Wrap' on the tsuka.
4. There were a lot of rumors about how TOUGH these swords would be,
that they would basicly be like Cheness Through Hardened blades but with the Hanwei style fittings.
They were supposed to release in June/July... but they came early.
Historical Overview
"Shobu Zukuri" means 'iris leaf', I belive. This is a refrence to the
shape of the tip of this blade style. The kissaki on a Shobu is VERY different then your standard Shinogi Zukuri style katana. I like it much better. It's said it was developed to help overcome invading mongols armour... there is no doubt that the Shobu Zukuri style katana is intended to CUT.
Initial Impressions
My raptor arrived in a large box along with a few other items.
It had it's own special box on the inside.
It was well packed in a very nicely shaped foam, shaped well to fit it. I'm going to save it, it's a good way to move the katana around.
It came with a sword-bag... the sword bag is unimpressive. It's plain black and not padded, so it's just a freebie. It also came with some folded up paper... basic info on adjusting fit of your katana in the saya, maintaining the blade, about CAS/Hanwei in general. Nothing specific about the Raptor itself. I would have liked some specific info on the steel used and whatnot. There has been so much hype, I was hopping for more info.
Upon handling the sword, it feels HEAVY. A LOT of blade pressence on this sword. It's tsuka is a bit longer then I normaly like, but it works for this sword because of the weight... almost feels like an O-Katana.
Statistics
Overall length: 45.5"
Nagasa length: 29"
Tsuka length: 13"
Weight: 2lb 12oz
Center of Balance: 6" from the tsuba
Components
The Nagasa
It has a nice shine, but is a bit rougher then other Hanwei blades I have seen. There is no hamon, and no fake hamon either... which I am glad for. Just clean lines. A long, thick, shiny peice of sharp steel.
The Kissaki
I love the shape and look of the Shobu Kissaki... just clean lines, no counter polish. I plan on getting more shobu in the future.
The tsuka
It has that grippy suede that hanwei uses... I would prefer a more traditional silk or even good cotten ito... but it's not bad and it DOES feel very good in the hand. VERY grippy.
The tsuka came off without much difficulty and shows little to no sign of damage. All in all, very decent quality at this price.
The Menuki
A pair of metalic gold colored feathers. Not sure how it's on there, but it feels pretty well attached. The menuki suit the theme of the sword overall very well.
The Fuchi
Contenues the bird theme, fits very well with the sword.
Feels solid, iron or blackened steel.
Fuchi-Kashira
Also keeps to the theme VERY well.
The seppa
Brass and of decent quality. Much better then some other swords I've seen.
The Mekugi
Decent quality here as well, they are formed to go in one direction, and don't fall apart when removed like some lesser quality mukugi I've seen.
The habaki
Brass, decent fit to the sword, seen better and seen worse.
The Tsuba
Iron or blackened steel... and of course, contenues the bird theme of the sword. I guess if you like birds, you'll LOVE the artistic style of this blade. If not, well, you won't be too happy.
The Nakago
A bit slimer then some I have seen, but solid. Has a couple numbers on it.
The Saya
It has a pebbled finish... which I LOVE. I am not found of the shiny saya's that show a finger print every time you touch them.
Fits the sword well... there is no rattle.
Handling Characteristics
This is a pretty big sword... and it's pretty blade heavy. It feels a
bit odd to me, tho I may get used to it. The extra blade pressence is likely very aproprate for what this sword is ment to do... cut harder targets. The extra long tsuka, which I normaly do NOT like, is usefull on this blade for getting a grip that feels right. I do not like the feel of the sword in one hand at all... but it two hands with the grip spaced far apart, it feels VERY powerfull.
Test Cutting
Since this sword was, as I understand it, ment to be used for 'non traditional targets' I decided to introduce it to some.
As you can see in the paper cutting test... it does not SEEM super sharp at first, but put some swing into it and it seems to cut very well.
Conclusions
Overall... I think this sword is a very interesting new option from
Hanwei. It remains to be seen how TOUGH it is... I would not normaly cut threw the thick plastic laundry detergent jug I did at the end of the video above with a Katana... I save those for Generation 2 and Dark Sword Armoury two handed swords. This time I did it because the whole POINT of the Raptor serries is that the swords are made tough.
They talk the talk, and so far, they SEEM to walk the walk, but time will tell for sure. I'll update this review as the Raptor Shobu and I spend more time together.
Pros
A very interesting theme to the sword showed in all the fittings.
The Option of three blade styles in the Raptor line.
Hanwei fit and finish on fittings with (hopefully) more durability.
Cons
If birds are not your thing, this sword is not for you.
The Shobu is a bit heavy.
The Bottom Line
I'm glad I bought the sword... I like the Shobu style and I think the sword is very well put together. I'm not sure it lives up to all the hype that surrounds it... but time will judge that better. My first impression is not AS favorable as I had hoped, but IS favorable.
I think with the Raptor Serries from Hanwei, if you like what you see and hear in this review, you will not be sorry if you buy one.
I bought mine from Wiwinti sword supply for $230. I Pre-ordered it some time ago, and was informed by Marc at Wiwingti that the sword was ready to go and needed to be payed for monday, and I had the sword wensday. I'm very happy with my experince with Marc and Wiwingti!
Thanks for Reading!