I am considering purchasing a practical katana and an interested in any comments. I am also interested in the Hanwei tsunami katana, but the price is prohibitive.

I intend to use the sword for play rigorous cutting against durable targets such as young alder trees, or rolled cardboard. also some swordplay practice. I would prefer many western styles, but once i find something that appeals to my tastes I look at the price, and decide i would prefer a small car instead.

i would like any comments by either katana aficionados, people who own hanwei katanas, or people who have other inexpensive suggestions. I would also appreciate any horror stories of paul chen swords spontaneously combusting one day after purchase or similar stories that might be relevant to a purchase decision.

I like mine though its a little straighter and heavier than I like. I haven't done much cutting with it yet.

i appreciate both of your input. i have held one and did think i would prefer a katana a little straighteer and lighter. i would also preferr a longer more graceful point ( o-kissakai??) i would also preferr a hi or two.

why are they suited to beginners. do they not hold up to abuse, or are they just overly clumsy?


I will continue to denude the countryside of alder here. they grow amazingly fast. their purpose is to be the first stage of forest regrowth. they can grow about 40' tall in a year. not to mention 3-5 " in diametre. i used to clear a slope with a machete every summer. it would grow back by the next summer. doing this gave me some play area, and continued to enrich the soil with nitrogen.

i take good care of my surroundings, but base my decisions on what works rather than what makes me feel better about myself.

My sensei has one of the earlier generations of the Hanwei Practical Katana, and he has performed well over a thousand cuts with it, and has tried many times to push it to failure against varied targets with no success :) . If you're looking for a good beginner's blade and workhouse for cutting you can't go wrong with the Practical Katana, especially for the price.

do you do tameshigiri?

how does the kris cutlery sruff compare to hanwei in quality. the curvature looked nicer, but the quality looked lower. I definitely preferr iron furnature to brass. brass is just too flashy. i really have never liked the wallhanger look.

However that is just from looking at the website. they did not have many pictures.


I think my next sword will be an atrim. i'd tell you which model, but then I would start looking, and that gets expensive...

ps i just accidentally bought *2* practical plus katanas. I will probably have to resell one of them. oops.

Just remember, though, you get what you pay for. Hence why I'm saving up for something from the Albion Next Generation line.
Amen!

My brother just bought a practical katana and it cuts beautifully. We butchered four innocent 3" shipping tubes. Sometimes you get a little more than you pay for.

well, my next one will prolly be a an Atrim. that warsword they just reviewed looks lovely.

However, Jeremy Krause just just brought up a point for me. I have always wanted to change that expresstion to "You pay for what you get."

because high price oes not equate to high quality, but high quality does cost mnore to produce..... Just because you paid alot does not mean you get alot.

there is my rant. tell me if you agree.