Hanwei PK blade bent

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kaosu04

Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
988
Bought a PK several months ago, I know I inspected the blade when I first got it, and it was perfectly straight. I've stored it in the scabbard the entire time I've owned it, and the only thing I've ever cut with it was a sheet of paper. The blade is now bent, as in the edge at the base of the sword points at a different angle than the end of the sword. I can only assume the scabbard is doing this. I will store the blade out of the scabbard from now on, but the damage is already done. I suppose you cant really fix this?
 
I was thinking the scabbard until now. You say it could warp from the way it sits? I have kept it in the scabbard edge flag sitting in the box. I'd imagine that would cause the blade to actually bend though, not twist. I'm thinking edge is just cutting into a piece of the bottom of the scabbard and being torqued enough to twist it.
 
Ok, read that thread, and it seems like people often imagine a bend or a "twist" when it isnt really there quite often. I am thinking some clever use of a cheap laser pointer can give me an idea of how much it is bent if at all. Thanks for the help. I am still waiting for the authorization on my SFI account, and I couldnt find a place to browse without logging in.
 
Your scabbard could very well have warped (the wood) - this plus the relatively poor fit could easily bend the blade. AND, the blade may have come from the factory bent. Or during shipping... too many things here. Good even lighting is a must.
 
kaosu04;

I recommend that in future, you do not store the katana within the scabbard.
When stored in the wooden scabbard, various elements such as rust spots, and absorbsion, can affect the quality of the blade itself, and it is therefore advised that both the katana and the scabbard are stored separately from one another.
I personally always thoroughly oil and powder my katana's before storing, and then wrap them in rice paper, whilst storing the scabbard in a cloth bag.
The only sword I would store in it's scabbard, would be those of a stainless steel "wall-hanger" type quality.

It is unfortunate that yours is already bent though, and I hope you can ressurrect your katana back to it's original condition. I'd be interested to know exactly what was the cause of the blade bending ?...either way I hope you can fix it, and prevent a similar situation in the future. :)
 
I oil it every other week or so with mineral oil. If it werent a cheap PK I'd definitely take more care of it. I guess now I will get a sword stand and keep the blade stored out of the sheath. If it is twisted, I doubt I will be able to fix it. It isnt major, have to look very very closely in bright lighting to even notice it. When I upgrade to better katanas they will definitely be treated differently. This one is actually supposed to be a beater...just havent gotten around to the beating yet. Also, I live in Arizona. Rusting isnt quite a problem here as much as it is for other people, my Recon Tanto, for example, never gets oiled, and it is abused constantly, no problems after a year.
 
Keeping it out of the saya is good for long-term storage - we're talking months here. Wrap it, keep it safe from humidity, heat, and oxygen. Otherwise a light coat of oil (stress on light) will be sufficient if you're taking proper care of it otherwise. If you're intending to keep it on your rack in between dojo sessions, then it's safer in it's saya than in the open air. Unless...

The saya is actually what caused it to twist, in which case you need a new saya. Otherwise you're left with something that's really only half a japanese-style sword.

If it's twisted, that's a pretty huge problem. That actually creates a larger displacement in the edge around the twist than a bend... Don't know how you'd fix that yourself.
 
If it is twisted, it is very minor, I'd say maybe 2 degrees. It couldnt be seen even under close inspection. I confirmed it isnt perfect by placing two flat pieces of wood on both sides of the blade, and measuring the distance. Should I expect a $175 Hanwei to be perfectly straight?
 
Probably not. A deviation like that could easily be explained by the forgers at Hanwei being a touch off when shaping the geometry. Or it could be the saya torquing the blade slightly when inserted. Is there any feeling of tension when you sheath the blade, before the habaki hits the koiguchi?
 
No, not before the habaki touches, but sometimes it seems the habaki will not go in straight, so I back it out and adjust the angle. I've inspected the blade thoroughly on many ocasions to see if it is cutting into any part of the saya, and there are never any signs of it.
 
kaosu04 said:
.......Should I expect a $175 Hanwei to be perfectly straight?
Click to expand...

I've actually heard numerous individuals state that the quality of every sword that comes out of Hanwei is not always up to scratch, and it is not that uncommon for a faulty product to slip through the net, so your bent blade may well indeed have arrived in that state. Although your first post did state that you had inspected it upon arrival......
 
Correct, I inspected it all from angles. My last sword (a cheapie) came bent quite severely, so this was actually the first thing I looked for.
 
I'd be a bit surprised if the saya caused the warpage or twist or whatever it is. In order to have a blade take a set you would have to have some significant bending and the information you have presented about the sword not cutting into the saya etc. would argue against that. Also how much would the saya really be bending it if it were? A millimeter a centimeter at most? Certainly not enough to take a set UNLESS the sword were not heat treated at all. I suspect that it probably came the way that you see it now and your first inspection accidentally missed it. Just my two cents. Remember with swords as with most things you get what you pay for.
 
I'm beginning to think I did just miss it the first time. Or that I'm just not sure whether or not it is truly bent now. I keep second guessing myself. I dont expect it to be perfect for $175. I'm not sure if I'll ever cut anything with it. I do think the sword looks very nice for the price, and the traditional forging is a plus too. It just drives me crazy that I'm absolutely certain whether or not it is bent.
 
I'd say that if it's at the point where you can't really tell, forget about it. There are bigger issues with the PKs than an imperceptible twist, so you probably should just enjoy your sword. Every time you think you see the bend, have a beer. Pavlov guarantees that, soon enough, you will see it as a good thing :)
 
knife saber said:
....... Every time you think you see the bend, have a beer. Pavlov guarantees that, soon enough, you will see it as a good thing :)
Click to expand...

In saying that, if you have a beer "everytime" you see the bend (and if you look at your sword everyday), you will probably drink yourself to the stage where you won't see it at all,.... and you'll be a happy alcoholic with a bent sword. :)
 
Here's a philosophical question to ponder: If a sword and it's owner are both bent, will they be happy? :)
 
knife saber said:
I'd say that if it's at the point where you can't really tell, forget about it. There are bigger issues with the PKs than an imperceptible twist, so you probably should just enjoy your sword. Every time you think you see the bend, have a beer. Pavlov guarantees that, soon enough, you will see it as a good thing :)
Click to expand...

"There are bigger issues with the PKs than an imperceptible twist"

Knife Saber, would you care to elaborate on that statement?
If you can, try to be specific about timeline as well, the swords have been around for six years or so and have gone through some changes.

Cheers

;)Hotspur; not that there might not be issues
 
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