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Zach Stambaugh
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 Posted: Tue 18 May, 2004 11:13 pm Post subject: any comments on hanwei practical katana |
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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.
It is better to be over careful a hundred times than dead once. --- Mark Twain (give or take a slight misquote)
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Jeremiah Swanger
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| Posted: Wed 19 May, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: any comments on hanwei practical katana |
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| Zach Stambaugh wrote: | 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. |
Hi Zach,
I suppose rolled cardboard is a viable target, but don't bother the trees. Besides, what'd those poor alder saplings ever do to you besides provide you with oxygen? 
While I personally have no experience with the PK, others have said it's a good starter sword for those who don't have the ambition to pursue real Japanese Sword Arts training. For a little more, you can look into katanas from Kris Cutlery, who have an excellent reputation for affordable swords with quality heat-treatment. They do make a few "European" models as well (though none of them look particularly historically-accurate).
For low-end, affordable Western swords, you can also look into Museum Replicas Limited for swords made by Windlass. They're not bad in terms of appearance, and they are constructed pretty solidly (assuming you don't get one of the frequent lemons). Lastly, you can also look into the basic models from Arm Art.
Just remember, though, you get what you pay for. Hence why I'm saving up for something from the Albion Next Generation line.
"Rhaegar fought nobly.
Rhaegar fought valiantly.
Rhaegar fought honorably.
And Rhaegar died."
- G.R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire
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Allen W
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| Posted: Wed 19 May, 2004 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I like mine though its a little straighter and heavier than I like. I haven't done much cutting with it yet.
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Zach Stambaugh
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| Posted: Wed 19 May, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject: thanx guys |
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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.
It is better to be over careful a hundred times than dead once. --- Mark Twain (give or take a slight misquote)
Last edited by Zach Stambaugh on Thu 05 Aug, 2004 3:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Robert Zamoida
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| Posted: Tue 25 May, 2004 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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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.
Rob Zamoida
"When your life is on the line, you want to make use of all your tools. No warrior should be willing to die with his swords at his sides, without having made use of his tools."
-Miyamoto Mushashi, Gorin no Sho
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Zach Stambaugh
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| Posted: Thu 27 May, 2004 2:06 pm Post subject: thanx |
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do you do tameshigiri?
It is better to be over careful a hundred times than dead once. --- Mark Twain (give or take a slight misquote)
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Zach Stambaugh
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| Posted: Thu 05 Aug, 2004 3:45 pm Post subject: Kris cutlery |
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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.
It is better to be over careful a hundred times than dead once. --- Mark Twain (give or take a slight misquote)
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Thu 05 Aug, 2004 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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Just remember, though, you get what you pay for. Hence why I'm saving up for something from the Albion Next Generation line.
Amen!
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Allen W
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| Posted: Sat 14 Aug, 2004 6:24 am Post subject: |
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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.
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Zach Stambaugh
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| Posted: Mon 16 Aug, 2004 10:13 am Post subject: ;eshkiuwerhg;izdtoij |
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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.
It is better to be over careful a hundred times than dead once. --- Mark Twain (give or take a slight misquote)
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This is a standard topic