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Hanwei Practical Tanto
- Thread starter Hesparus
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,318
I got their Tactical Tanto as a gift awhile back - it's relatively traditional in that it has a Ray skin wrapped handle & a pretty traditional shape. Plus it's differentially tempered. I think it would make a great addition to your collection even if doesn't exactly match. 
I had never heard of the tactical tanto until you mentioned it. It looks pretty cool. I think I'm looking for something a little more traditional, though, as I'm making a modern tanto right now that basically fills the same niche as the tactical tanto.
It's a shame about the plastic handle on the practical tanto, I like the white handle a lot and it matches my daisho better than the practical plus would.
- Chris
It's a shame about the plastic handle on the practical tanto, I like the white handle a lot and it matches my daisho better than the practical plus would.
- Chris
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2002
- Messages
- 400
Well, the rayskin on the Practical series is plastic, anyway. On the Practical tanto it's most likely a plastic "skin" over a wooden core. So even though the material isn't traditional, the construction is.
The plastic they use is pretty well molded - it shouldn't be an eyesore. If the theme fits, why not pick it up?
The plastic they use is pretty well molded - it shouldn't be an eyesore. If the theme fits, why not pick it up?
Knife Saber -
The plastic same on the practical series isn't a big issue for me because the wrapping is done pretty well and it draws the eye away from the plastic underneath. If the plastic were on the outside and looked as fake as the plastic they've been using then I would take issue with it. Authentic materials are far less important to me than authentic construction and asthetics. So the bottom line is how fake does it look?
- Chris
The plastic same on the practical series isn't a big issue for me because the wrapping is done pretty well and it draws the eye away from the plastic underneath. If the plastic were on the outside and looked as fake as the plastic they've been using then I would take issue with it. Authentic materials are far less important to me than authentic construction and asthetics. So the bottom line is how fake does it look?
- Chris
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2002
- Messages
- 400
Well, my experience with plastic rayskin is that Hanwei does hands-down the best job of making it look good. So it'll definitely be decent, and it probably won't register as plastic unless someone takes a closer look at it. I'm also confident that it will be superior to the molded rubber "rayskin" on the CRKT Hissatsu, and that stuff wasn't too bad itself.
That's very comforting to hear. How does it feel?
The Hissatsu looks pretty good and it looks like it feels pretty good, too. Being black, I think it's a little easier to sell a plastic handle. Paul Chen made a big gamble when he made his fake rayskin white, which I would think would be harder to make look real.
- Chris
The Hissatsu looks pretty good and it looks like it feels pretty good, too. Being black, I think it's a little easier to sell a plastic handle. Paul Chen made a big gamble when he made his fake rayskin white, which I would think would be harder to make look real.
- Chris
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2002
- Messages
- 400
Well, on first glance, I was taken in by the Practical Pro's fake rayskin. Then I took a closer look, and was forced to admit that no one has anything on Hanwei's rayskin molds. The color's well matched to the application, although the consistency of that color is one of the giveaways.
Dashizame style tsukas are never particularly comfortable anyway in my opinion - rayskin is hard and abrasive, and it's one of those nasty things that can cause you to become allergic to it with prolonged exposure. I'd have to imagine that the plastic might be an improvement in initial comfort, at least.
(The plastic on the Hissatsu is actually some sort of Kraton relative - it has a fair amount of "give," while the plastic Hanwei uses is somewhat harder.)
Dashizame style tsukas are never particularly comfortable anyway in my opinion - rayskin is hard and abrasive, and it's one of those nasty things that can cause you to become allergic to it with prolonged exposure. I'd have to imagine that the plastic might be an improvement in initial comfort, at least.
(The plastic on the Hissatsu is actually some sort of Kraton relative - it has a fair amount of "give," while the plastic Hanwei uses is somewhat harder.)