Hanwei Tactical Katana... an opportunity and some advice needed

For $80 I'd jump on that. Heck for full price I think the Tak Katana is a good deal. I only have the Tak Wak but we just tested both on Woods Monkey. They're really slick blades that you aren't going to be afraid to take out and use. We just tested them on watermelon and water filled milk jugs but it was quite entertaining. We did a full write up and a few videos just recently. Not sure that it's kosher to link to them but they're easy enough to find on Google.

Anyway, at $80 I wouldn't hesitate. We tested a raptor tanto too and its was nice, but I'm actually more partial to the more utilitarian Tak series.
 
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TStetz said:
For $80 I'd jump on that. Heck for full price I think the Tak Katana is a good deal. I only have the Tak Wak but we just tested both on Woods Monkey. They're really slick blades that you aren't going to be afraid to take out and use. We just tested them on watermelon and water filled milk jugs but it was quite entertaining. We did a full write up and a few videos just recently. Not sure that it's kosher to link to them but they're easy enough to find on Google.

Anyway, at $80 I wouldn't hesitate. We tested a raptor tanto too and its was nice, but I'm actually more partial to the more utilitarian Tak series.
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what exactly do you hope to find "testing" it on a watermelon?
 
BePrepared said:
Watermelon... the target that you can eat when the testing is done.
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Exactly! We did too. Mike, our actual reviewer despises watermelons. He was pretty funny in his write up of it. But the rest of our families ate the target when we were done :p

The melon was fun. The hard rind provides some resistance on the cuts and its much more entertaining than just cutting milk jugs both visually and the way the blade feels when it bites into the target, First slice Mike did just skimmed the top off in a really neat thin slice. Almost a scalping hit.

There's definitely a technique to it though. As others mentioned, it uses a draw cut. Mike is pretty good at it. As he mentions to me (I think you can hear it on one of the videos) I swing like a baseball bat. Not the best technique for these blades. I did much better personally with the Hanwei Military Dadao. More suited to my style (or lack there of), but I do really like the Tak series and did end up buying a Wak.

We're going to switch to pumpkins for testing soon :D
 
you can "cut" a watermelon/pumpkin/cukes etc. with even a wall hanger (it's pretty commonly done at cheesy MA demos)
 
SShepherd said:
you can "cut" a watermelon/pumpkin/cukes etc. with even a wall hanger (it's pretty commonly done at cheesy MA demos)
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Sure, I know. Not saying its any kind of "real" test. Its pretty fun though and you can tell the difference between cutting through one with something that has a good edge and just bludgeoning your way through one.

Honestly, while I certianly want a usable sword, what are most folks going to actually use it on other than melons, pumpkins, and water jugs? Maybe tatami mats, but most of us don't have those as readily available as the fun stuff :p
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Yes. Very yes. I never got the whole wood-chopping katana thing. It's possible to design sword/machete hybrids, but they are best designed around configurations that are actually suitable for that kind of use! A katana/machete hybrid would be appropriate for green vegetation at best. :o

I'm aware of the whole Bussekin thing with their "wakis" but while they technically function I disagree with the fundamental principle of the design.
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The more I've used my Waki, the more I agree. My experience with real swords is limited, and I can still tell that the balance and edge geometry are not great with the Swamp Rat. Don't get me wrong, it's tough as hell, holds it's edge, and the handle is made as well as any knife should be made. I'm understanding why the full tang was not the traditional way to make the sword's handle.
As a weapon, it could be lighter, especially in the handle. If the edge were convexed and thinner, and was maybe 1/2 tang, then, maybe then it would be on it's way to being a weapon. As it is, it's not a great chopper or slicer.

Oh yeah, for $80 go for it, if you can get the edge where it needs to be.
 
foxx said:
The more I've used my Waki, the more I agree. My experience with real swords is limited, and I can still tell that the balance and edge geometry are not great with the Swamp Rat. Don't get me wrong, it's tough as hell, holds it's edge, and the handle is made as well as any knife should be made. I'm understanding why the full tang was not the traditional way to make the sword's handle.
As a weapon, it could be lighter, especially in the handle. If the edge were convexed and thinner, and was maybe 1/2 tang, then, maybe then it would be on it's way to being a weapon. As it is, it's not a great chopper or slicer.

Oh yeah, for $80 go for it, if you can get the edge where it needs to be.
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were you talking about the Swamp rat not being a good weapon, or the Hanwei Tactical Katana? I was originally looking at the Hanwei... i can't see myself looking at the swamp rat. The price is far more than i can see myself spending on something that i don't have a clear purpose for.
 
I was talking about the Swamp Rat Waki being not the best at chopping or being a sword. I don't own the Hanwei, but it's got to be a better "sword" for your purposes. The Swamp Rat may be more tough, but the Hanwei will have more power. Really I was just commenting on what 42Blades was saying about it's design.

Sorry if I only added confusion to the thread. Get it, you have to start somewhere. Maybe it will steer you in another direction, better katanas, or even something else all together. I had a cheap o sword, then some tomahawks, now a Swamp Rat Waki and a 12" chopper, I'm just trying out different blades. I have realized that I don't need a great or expensive sword, I wouldn't want to damage it or myself.
 
If I could get the Tactical Katana for $80 I'd be all over it. Definitely get it.
 
I bought mine a couple of months ago from Kult of Athens for $139, they've since gone up to $168. I would definitely get it. By the way I just posted a new thread on a ridiculously simple modification I made to mine that improved it 100%.

(Edit) CRAP! I just looked at the dates of the original post and I'm sure you've decided by now. Never mind.
 
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not only have i decided, but i have convexed the blade and it is now a crazy awesome chopper

also got a rig that holds it perfectly on my back... it's my EOTWAWKI blade
 
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