cheness VS. cold steel

M

matthewalmighty

Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
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Which would be a better everyday chopper? I want a sword i can use. I am thinking either one of cold steel's warrior series or a Cheness in 9260. This will be my first sword and i am really only going on reviews I've read online, I have never handled these swords.
 
I have a Paul Chen practical plus Katana, for the money paid IMO being a fully usable functional sword it's one of the best IMO.
 
Neither would work well as a "chopper" ;). Get an axe or a heavy cleaver.
If you've never held either AND this is your first sword... well.... read on.
If you're insistent on a Japanese-styled production sword, the quality at this price level (200-500) can be very spotty. If you prefer no-frills functionality, may I suggest Kris Cutlery or the new Paul Chen Practical line (not the older line) - these are the XL, etc. variations. Note: bigger is not better. I usually recommend getting a quality bokken/bokuto (circa 50-100) first (especially if you ever plan to do a Japanese Sword Art - bokuto are cheap if it has to be replaced with one that "fits" the art, shinken/iaito, not so much).

Oh, and go register on Swordforum.com - do a bunch of searches and reading, you'll be glad you did. There are many recommendations, decent reviews, and of course, comments by those more experienced in both discerning sword quality and its functionality - but like any other forum, there is a good amount of hype and newb enthusiasm :D. This is probably the FIRST thing you should do. eBudo.com also has some great info.
 
Sounds like you might want to look into a large bowie or a hatchet. What do you want to chop? there are better and more convienant tools to bring to the chore.

Katanas are used for cutting.
 
"I want a sword i can use" I must have misunderstood, hopefully no harm done.

one of cold steel's warrior series I thought he was referring to swords. My mistake :eek:
 
Christ! I'm sorry I used the word "chopper!" Why do people respond to threads just to show they know more than someone else? I was simply trying to get the point across that I wanted something I could use, not something that just looks good. Thanks 'senoBDEC' and 'SpearZ.' I was considering one of the shorter Cheness models, as they are considerably less expensive, but I feel overwhelmed by the choices out there. Looks like I'll be reading 'swordforum' for the next month or so.;)
 
SpearZ said:
I know many people in my area buy Paul Chen functional swords, Wakizashi etc. All are happy with them. There is one called the Banshee you might want to look into, it could be what your looking for. Very light and practical chopper with a good sheath. It's got a locking mech on the sheath also.

You can get a look at it here:

http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=213
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I'm curious about the Banshee, did they fix that horrible issue with the tang?

Couple other names: J-Armory, Swordstore, Dynasty Forge, Oni Forge, Bugei, etc. Some of the higher end Paul Chen are the results from their collaboration with Bugei BTW.

P.S. Some katana were "choppers" but obviously used in a different way than what we would consider "choppers"... they tended to be much thicker, less distal taper in general, smaller kissaki, no bo-hi (maybe even a little shorter). More for being able to withstand contact with armor (not chopping through helmets or the like). The thicker blade and more "blunt" edge geometry also made edge repair (pretty likely) easier and the blade would last longer too (more material to remove) - of course, depends on how much "good steel" there was.
 
I know of two tree planters up here use the banshee for there bushwacking tree planting stuff. If the banshee's they have can handle that type of work, they must be pretty solid.

If you want a chopper that's inexpensive get a CS machete, for about $15 to $20 if it does work out, who cares, throw it away.
 
I've looked around at a lot of good utility swords, and for the money, my recommendation is one of the Busse American Kensei 47 swords. Fairly indestructible, very good metal, a decent size. When I had to finally make a decision about what I wanted, I ponied up the $600 and got one of the best blades I'll ever own.
 
matthewalmighty said:
Christ! I'm sorry I used the word "chopper!" Why do people respond to threads just to show they know more than someone else? ;)
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Ahh, at last someone sees what I have noticed as well amoung the M-Arts gang....

What I have seen is that if you post questions about things like Katana, or any of the fighting arts you run smack into jerks , and or, teenagers.

I dont know why this is, but on ever forum I have even been on thats connected to the fighting arts I have ended up just walking away .....I cant take how the guys treat each other, and this is all the more painfull to watch when new guys drop in and just ask the normal beginner questions that EVERYONE asks in the beginning.....
 
matthewalmighty said:
This will be my first sword .
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about two years ago I had a friend who was in the market for his first Katana.
He sent me all kinds of information back then and we looked at a bunch of swords.

Now my information is a bit old, but what I remember is that you mostly get what you pay for when it comes to katana.

Under $50 bucks and you mostly get junk,,,
Except you can do some looking and find a sword thats a real sword with all the right parts.
If you just want a cheap under $50 sword, then the only way to go is to look for a sword that has a real sheath, and a real handle and handle wrap and all the other parts....If nothing else getting a cheap sword will be something that will show you how things work.

$100 swords SHOULD be real swords with all the correct parts and a real wood sheath (Not a flat pipe as many are)
I dont know if a $100 sword could be forged, but it would be nice if it were, always watch out for the $100 katana that are made of 440 Stainless, they are well known trouble makers.

$300 ....For this much money you should be able to find a very good sword that is forged...likely in China, but forged none the less.
a good $300 sword might not show a great hamon, but it should have some sign that there is a correct Heat-treatment.

$600, here is where the real good swords start out at...a $300 sword is nice, but a $600 one is a dream. The weight should be better, the fact is that everything should be better .
Many people get swords in this price range and change out all the hardwear for better stuff and end up with a darn good sword...

$1000 - $12000...this is the good stuff,,,,a $1000 sword is something you pass on to the next generation. You dont goof around now with this sword, it's for real cutting in a real M-arts class,,,,,

Oh, and there is no limit to what you can spend from here...

------------------------
This is about all I remember about getting a first sword...
My friend ended up getting something called a Practical Plus I think, I will have to send him an email and ask if thats the right one...
 
posts about high-potential-mall-ninja-attractors from people who haven't bothered to do their basic research often get larted.
 
matthewalmighty said:
Christ! I'm sorry I used the word "chopper!" Why do people respond to threads just to show they know more than someone else? I was simply trying to get the point across that I wanted something I could use, not something that just looks good. Thanks 'senoBDEC' and 'SpearZ.' I was considering one of the shorter Cheness models, as they are considerably less expensive, but I feel overwhelmed by the choices out there. Looks like I'll be reading 'swordforum' for the next month or so.;)
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Go to the beginers forums on sword froum international.

They love katanas SO much that generic one liner "what kind of KaTaNaz should i getz?" posts get 30 replies, but ANY post about a European sword is promptly ignored, even if the poster actualy gets off his duff, and post a review or contributes soemthing usefull. :jerkit:

If you want something useable, just get a Hanwei Paul Chen model. They are perfectly usable. The Cheness Paul chen models are equaly as functional, but are also very decorative and much more expensive. $200-$300 will get a funtional cutter; it wont be authenticaly forged or any of that stuff, but it will be a good functional cutter.
 
mr.trooper said:
Go to the beginers forums on sword froum international.

They love katanas SO much that generic one liner "what kind of KaTaNaz should i getz?" posts get 30 replies, but ANY post about a European sword is promptly ignored, even if the poster actualy gets off his duff, and post a review or contributes soemthing usefull. :jerkit:
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*EDITED* The trends come and go, there are plenty of enthusiasts for all sword (and weapon) traditions on Swordforum.com - Gaelic, German, Italian, more modern (Napoleonic era) designs to the early Viking designs. I will admit there are a lot more newbs recently excited about katana. Hopefully they'll learn something useful there.

mr.trooper said:
If you want something useable, just get a Hanwei Paul Chen model. They are perfectly usable. The Cheness Paul chen models are equaly as functional, but are also very decorative and much more expensive. $200-$300 will get a funtional cutter; it wont be authenticaly forged or any of that stuff, but it will be a good functional cutter.
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Um... other way around actually. While I think the Cheness blades are decently functional (I would actually say a bit less than adequate - but it usually does work, and Paul Chen has a great return policy) their furniture and way of mounting leaves much to be desired, unless this has changed significantly in the last year or so since I've handled his products. And yes, some of their earlier models were a bit flashy/cheap-looking.

The newest (and in some cases, first/second generation) Hanwei Practical line were considered excellent buys for their price range. Thicker blades, better edge geometry, and a functional mount (sometimes epoxy was used - very strong mount, but permanent). However, for the price, I would still go with a Kris Cutlery.

Saving up for what you really want, and practicing with a bokuto, will reward you in the end.
 
aarrgghh I just wrote a huge review of my cheness and compared them to Oni forge and Busse then the stupid server forgot who I was and made me relogin.

I will summarize it based on your budget.

200$ cheness

400$ Oni Forge

600$ Busse.

Lots and lots of money Howard Clark custom.

Cold Steels swords suck (love the shovel though)
 
senoBDEC said:
First, way to hate on an entire community. The trends come and go, there are plenty of enthusiasts for all sword (and weapon) traditions on Swordforum.com - Gaelic, German, Italian, more modern (Napoleonic era) designs to the early Viking designs. I will admit there are a lot more newbs recently excited about katana. Hopefully they'll learn something useful there.


Um... other way around actually. While I think the Cheness blades are decently functional (I would actually say a bit less than adequate - but it usually does work, and Paul Chen has a great return policy) their furniture and way of mounting leaves much to be desired, unless this has changed significantly in the last year or so since I've handled his products. And yes, some of their earlier models were a bit flashy/cheap-looking.

The newest (and in some cases, first/second generation) Hanwei Practical line were considered excellent buys for their price range. Thicker blades, better edge geometry, and a functional mount (sometimes epoxy was used - very strong mount, but permanent). However, for the price, I would still go with a Kris Cutlery.

Saving up for what you really want, and practicing with a bokuto, will reward you in the end.
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Im a member of SFI. Not hating on Kat lovers, just observing something i think is funny.

What your point about the Hanwei / Cheness? I never said either of them were perfect. I said the oposite. what i SAID was that they are capable of cutting things without breaking. I specificaly made it a point to say that they NOT top of the line in any way. Cheness range in price fromt he same to more than the Hanwei Paul chen. they certainly are NOT any less decorative.
 
mr.trooper said:
Im a member of SFI. Not hating on Kat lovers, just observing something i think is funny.
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Then I must have misread your intent. Sorry about that. I left SFI two years ago, after spending a while there. Yes, it is quite true. Odd noone talks about the bow or spear, the true "kings" of combat ;).

mr.trooper said:
What your point about the Hanwei / Cheness? I never said either of them were perfect. I said the oposite. what i SAID was that they are capable of cutting things without breaking. I specificaly made it a point to say that they NOT top of the line in any way. Cheness range in price fromt he same to more than the Hanwei Paul chen. they certainly are NOT any less decorative.
Click to expand...

mr.trooper said:
If you want something useable, just get a Hanwei Paul Chen model. They are perfectly usable. The Cheness Paul chen models are equaly as functional, but are also very decorative and much more expensive. $200-$300 will get a funtional cutter; it wont be authenticaly forged or any of that stuff, but it will be a good functional cutter.
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Opposite of that, neither of the statements bolded is generally true due to the aforementioned issues with the mount (and cheaper fittings than the latest generations of Hanwei's Practical line).

Personally, on a budget, I'm a big fan of Walter Sorrells http://www.waltersorrells.com/blades/
and James Raw http://www.rawblades.com/.
Other favorites are R.H. Graham http://www.rhgraham.com/ and John Lundemo http://odinblades.com/Pages/Odinpage2.html

but... a bit beyond the scope of the thread no? :D. Consider it eye-candy.
 
did you ever get your katana? I now have both cheness and paul chen hanwei, and can give you some details, just pm or email me if you want.
 
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