Hanwei Side Sword -- myArmoury.com

Paul Mullins · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: Hanwei Side Sword

I just ordered this sword from Kult of Athena. I am curious if any of my fellow forum members own this sword.

What can I expect? I am planning on doing some customizing to mark it as my individual piece. I have read that some of the Hanwei basket hilts are made from stainless and have plastic handles.

Mike Arledge · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 5:22 am Post subject:

Its not bad for what it costs. I think with some work on the hilt and the edge geometry you cna have a classy piece. Its not going to be in the same class of handling as a darkwood piece or an A&A rapier/sidesword, but the cost is significantly less. I remembder it being a threaded tang though I hope I am right in that.

Paul Mullins · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 5:37 am Post subject:

Thanks Mike!

That is exactly what I was expecting.

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 6:47 am Post subject:

Check this out:

http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/side-sword.html

M.

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Check this out: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=10718

Dan P · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 6:50 am Post subject:

I've got one of these. It moves ok, cuts ok, is more or less worth it for the price. The balance is better for thrusting than cutting IMO. I'd suggest taking off the pommel and checking the handle and the tang for cracking or bending after every time you test cut something with this sword. The tang is threaded so its pretty easy.

Ironically, the Hanwei finish is much better on display than on my Darkwood rapier; of course the Darkwood feels twice as good in the hand for twice as much money... The sidesword was the most baller sword in the world when I bought it, today I'd rather save the money for something else, but I don't regret it.

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Wed 02 Dec, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

I owned one of these for a while and it's not a bad sword at all, for this price point.

The grip core is hollow plastic so this will present some issues during use, I filled mine with an epoxy and solved that problem. The heavy pommel actually makes the sword balance very far back in the hand, as a sword meant for cutting and thrusting I'd have preferred to have a bit more presence in the blade. Overall though it's better than many similar offerings in this price range.

Paul Mullins · Posted: Fri 04 Dec, 2009 4:55 am Post subject:

So, I got the sword two days after ordering it from Kult of Athena "Thumbs up" for excellent shipping and amazing customer service.

I was amazed how lively this piece was for a mass production piece. I have had the unique fortune to handle many 17th and 18th century swords in a local collection. IMHO this piece comes fairly close to some of the pieces I have held. There is a noticiable difference in an original blade and this piece, but I have handled one "cut and thrust" that was much heavier and harder to handle.

Once I am finished with my customizing project, I will post some photos.

Eric Spitler · Posted: Fri 04 Dec, 2009 6:01 am Post subject:

Hey, I've got one too! Popular sword. Decent blade- stiff in all the right places, just flexible enough in the middle, actually comes sharp enough to cut. But the pommel on mine comes unscrewed too easily. I wish it came in a left-handed version.