Paul Chen/ Hanwei

lagarto

lagarto

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Oct 26, 2001
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Does anyone have any information regarding Paul Chen and Hanwei Knives, specifically his swords. I like the look of his Viking Sword, but I wonder what the quality is like. Does it come sharpened? Is the steel and heat treat actually any good? If anyone has any information it's much appreciated. Thanks.
Lagarto
 
lagarto said:
Does anyone have any information regarding Paul Chen and Hanwei Knives, specifically his swords.
Click to expand...

FWIW - Paul Chen/Hanwei make the katanas that Bugei sell and James Williams uses for Tameshigiri (sword cutting).

jWilliams_040605.jpg


see more photos at:
Blade Show 2004 - Tameshigiri - Photos

As for some of the specific questions of the Viking sword you're interested in - CAS Iberia - the vendors in the USA - can probably answer some of them.

http://casiberia.com/


--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
If you are asking about the Godfred sword by Chen, the word seems to be that it is a bit of a crapshoot as the heat treat seems to be rather spotty. This was especially true on the earlier ones and I have heard that it has improved on the later ones, but it is still a bit of a gamble. When it sold for $250, it might have been worth a try, but they are a good bit higher now.

On the other hand, I have heard good things about his "Practical" series of swords. These are quite basic and intended for the re-enactor market in that they are made with rebated edges and without points. With that stated intent, my guess would be that the tang would be pretty good and not a rat-tail. Rat-tail tangs are the type where they weld a bolt to a stub of a tang coming off of the blade and then fasten the hilt to that with a nut. The problem is that rat-tail tangs tend to break in use, leaving you holding a hilt and no more in your hand. Very embarrassing! :grumpy:

Look here for some examples: http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Medieval_Swords_by_Hanwei.html

I would add that I have one of his seaxs and the knife is as solid as the railroad track from which it was made. I cannot say as much for the scabbard, which I have had to modify to keep the seax from falling out of it. I have also seen some of his other swords, such as the Scottish basket hilted broadsword and his Scottish Smallsword and theyseem to be pretty well made for the money. But be certain that you are ordering a Paul Chen Hanwei sword when you order a CAS I sword, not all of CAS I's swords are made by him.

One more suggestion, and that is that you might look in on SwordForum International's website, www.swordforum.com While they can sometimes seem a bit snippy, there is a huge reservoir of knowledge there for the person interested in tapping it.
 
I thought that I would add a couple of other sources for nice Viking style blades.

http://www.lutel.cz/index2e.htm Check out numbers 12014, 12015, & 12016, all for some 8100CZK, which converts to about $316.00US, including a very nice scabbard. You have to ask for and pay for sharpening. Art Elwell imports Lutel's items and you can email him to see if he has any in stock. Ask about price, as he adds a bit for his trouble. HJe is a genuinely nice guy with whom to do business. http://www.a-work-of-art.net/

http://www.kriscutlery.com/medieval/index_viking.html Kris makes very good user swords. They aren't very fancy, but everyone who has one seems to love it. They come sharp, as I understand it. I would note that the Kris sword, unlike the others, has a longer grip for modern hands. The Lutel and the Hanwie Viking swords have grips that are true to the historical models, but which are a bit on the short side for most of us today.

Museum Replicas also sells a variety of Viking swords, but they buy them from the Indian company that owns them and, as with the Hanwei Godfred, the reputation for quality control is quite spotty. You can get a good one or you can get a stinker.

Note: for the purists out there, I am wellaware that "viking" is a job description and not a term describing a culture. That word would be "Norse". To "gang a viking" was to go sea-raiding, in other words, be a pirate, an honorable occupation in the 9th -11th Centuries in Scandanavia.
 
practical series are not for re-enactors! they are NOT rebated! they are sharp blades! the "decorative" series are the ones with non-sharpened edges and sells for much less.
 
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