Hanwei swords

DHB the cutter

DHB the cutter

Joined
Jan 26, 2002
Messages
89
Hello,
The Paul Chen swords were probably the first good ones by 400-1000 dollars, in this ocean of only 420 and 440 decorative ones, latter on it appeared the Kris Cutlery Katana, Rob Criswell, Cold Steel and others (besides the expensive ones that there were before). I myself have a Musashi Daito, by beeing an admirer of Miyamoto Musashi history. I`d like to know what kind of swords do you like more, or how is the best ?
Only reminding: folded (kami, bushido, orchid and tiger), traditional (musashi, golden oriole, shinto), practical, shirasaya or the bugei ones (I reading an interview with mr. Paul Chen, he said that there are no diference in the ones he makes to bugei (besides the price) or the ones he makes in the Hanwei and sells by the CAS IBERIA). What you think?:D
 
Well just as an aside, the Kris Cutlery katana at least were around well before the Paul Chen offerings.

Personally I think that the Cold Steel offerings made by Fred Chen are probably nicer then the Hanwei stuff but that is just a personal opinion.

I am also far more into Western swords then oriental swords.

I believe that you are paying for Bugei's customer service, polishing, and fitting as well as weeding out of the lemons more then you are really paying the extra money for the swords.
 
Hello Triton,

First I want to say that I entered in your site and like a lot. I would just like to thank you for the correction, and you`re right, really the site of kris cutlery mention that they start in april 1984 and Paul Chen starts to deal with CAS IBERIA in about 1997, I think. Am I right??? And since the purpose of this threat is to see what kind of the Paul Chen swords are better, do you have any oppinion about it? What do you prefer?

:confused:
 
Come on people, is there anyone that prefer any kind of P Chen sword?
Like I said I prefer the Musashi daito, its very beautiful, and like in the book of five rings, there are descriptions of his sword ( and it really seems to has the same aspect ).
Anyone test one of Chen`s swords in the tameshigiri? How does it goes?
 
Hey DHB,

Thanks for the encouragement about my site! :) It isn't much but I like to call it home. :)

I hope you don't feel like I am after you are something with those corrections that certianly wasn't my intention. Just trying to point a thing or two out when I actually know something about it.

As for the Hanwei swords I have not personally handled any of them, but I do like the looks of the Musashi set. I like the Golden Oriole to. From everything I hear they are very nice swords for the money.
 
DHB,
I have the Golden Oriole katana...haven't tested it, yet, but seems like a good deal...got it half-price off eBay. I must say that it is vastly different from some of the Honmono (real swords) that I've checked out in Japan, but I'm not prepared to pay that price, yet.:)
FM.
 
Hi again,

FM I agree with you, there are real nihon to that are quite different from the Hanwei swords (like the ones of Heian period), but I heard from a iai do shidoshi (8 Dan) that he thought this kind of swords are very simillar to some kinds of real nihon to; like the Musashi, the Golden Oriole or the shinto (this one I saw a picture from Tokio Museum of the real shinto katana (from the EDO period) that I found really the same). I personally think that it depends on what kind of katana we are talking about, because if you look in the site below :
http://www.netsword.com/Cheninterview.html
Mr. P. Chen himself told that he tried to copy the original ones (remmember that all were based in real ones), I also think that the real ones can have more quality but the Hanwei ones can be quite similar to some of the real swords. The Hanwei can be considered shinken (modern swords), in spite of not beeing japanese, or copyies of real ones but they follow a traditional pattern. But I like to know what you, that hold a real japanese sword thinks about it, and what you think they have of differences?
 
DHB,
Here's my analogy...as I used to ride horses a lot, there are some that you ride and some that ride you. A good horse can immediately tell if you are in control of them. The honmono have a spirit of their own that is incomparable to reproductions, not that some repros are any less practical or beautiful. The real ones that I have held tend to have true life and one better be skilled or the possibility for self-injury is great. When it is said that a sword has a spirit, it is definitely so, from my experience. I have also held swords that have drawn blood and there is a unique energy that they possess.
...hope this helps.
FM.
 
I tend to agree with most that for the money the
Paul Chen are a good deal.I think that the term
reproduction is very subjective in that the patterns
are copies from specfic periods, but as these blades
are being forged now they should be considered as blades
of their own merit.
 
Personally, I wouldn't compare them whatsoever to true Nihonto, as they aren't in the same league -- nor are they intended to be.

They are designed for a more budget-minded individual who can't afford a good Nihonto for swordsmanship, but don't want to put up with a low quality gunto/showato or beater swords. Also, I consider it a plus, given that these, like many American-made blades, are meant to be used (but not abused).

I've cut with some of the Hanwei models, and have handled most of the rest of them, and I like them for what they are. Even the higher-end ones aren't as nice as Cicada forge pieces of similar range, but they're still a bargain. They're shaped reasonably well for what they are, and I applaud that. And, they also display a hamon, which makes them significantly prettier. But the hamon is not the only feature of a blade by any stretch...and just because a blade has one, it doesn't qualify it to be compared to Nihonto, which are significantly more than that.

All the same, they're quite nice. I like the proportions of the Shinto model, much moreso than the GO or Musashi or other long-handled models. But whatever floats your boat for that, and if you are happy with it, enjoy! :D
 
Hi again,

I agree with everyone, I think, personally, that P. Chen`s ones are really good swords, but I´d never put them in the same positions as the authentic nihon to, its like the real Elvis and some copies, this last ones can be very good and even sing well, but there is no comparison with the real one.
 
Hello,
only to explain, when I said that I found the Hanwei similar to the real nihon to I was talking about the appearance, talking about te all of the sword I would never do such blasphemy. I only wanted to know if there are much difference in holding each one, since in aspect I continue thinking that they can be quite similar (of course depending of the type of the real or the copy we are considering), but I also agree it is only in appearance, I, like a iai do practicing, I would think twice in trust my life to a Hanwei but never to a real nihon to, in spite of continue thinking it can be of very good quality.
 
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