Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Apr 10, 2009 17:17:47 GMT -5
Hanwei Wind & Thunder
Review by Marc Kaden Ridgeway-------- 6 April 2006
Hi Folks,
I guess most of you are familiar with the Wind and Thunder,but I had a request or two, so ... a review.
Where to start?
Right out of the box, I was pleased with the aesthetics.The polish is nice, a mirror finish on the shinogi ji , a satin finish on the ji. the sword has the "sword on a stick" syndrome that many P.C.
swords have... but it's a lot more noticable in photographs.overall, on a first glance the whole package is pleasing.
The specs:
Nagassa 29.75
Motohaba 1.4"
motokasane around 7 mm
saki kasane 5.5-6mm
width at shinogi 8 mm
kissaki 3.4 inches
weight 3lbs 5 ounces.
sori .6 inch.
tsuka 11.75 inches
upon closer inspection,of course the illusion breaks down.The fittings are an interesting mix of well made and cheap looking.
Everything is tight though... no wiggles anywhere.
The ito is nice cotton ,but a little too loose .On the ura side, the first diamond after the menuki is quite loose, and moves when swung, exposing hishigami.
the same is nothing special, not bad, not good just more of the same
I kind of like the tsuba,Steel? Iron? I'm not sure...blackened steel I think.
Habaki, eh, it's a habaki.
The blade in my opinion is beautiful.I love a wide , Thick blade without a lot of taper.
The hamon has alot of little swirls of activity in it.
The kissaki is a change of geometry, not just the scratched on polish that looks like someone drug the tip along the sidewalk.
The yokote is plain to see, and feel.
Upon picking this beast up the first impression is sheer weight.
This thing is heavy!!
It is awkward. I have heard this sword described as an axe , and it seems true.The momentum is hard to stop.Empty water bottles fly away from the blade and hit the ground spinning,Crushed,cut... but not sliced.
On the other hand, three inch bamboo stalks look at this thing and fall into two halves.
Many , many cuts later I have come to terms with this blade.I've learned how to adjust for the changes the heft makes in the tosen.
I've cut empty bottles(no water),hanging rope, soaked newspaper, and bamboo larger than I care to tell you.The wind and thunder slices through hard targets like butter.
Even with proper hasuji the empty bottles more explode apart than slice through.
All in all I am very happy with this sword.I plan to make a new tsuka,and theme it diferently, in effect having two swords.
There are good points and there are shortcomings, but all in all this is an excellent cutter, and with experience the heft and balance are more pleasing.
I don't like long tsuka, but feel this katana could benefit from another inch or two of tsuka.Other than this, and the wrap, there is little to complain about, and at the price I paid, these are acceptable.My growing maki skills will serve me well here.
Review by Marc Kaden Ridgeway-------- 6 April 2006
Hi Folks,
I guess most of you are familiar with the Wind and Thunder,but I had a request or two, so ... a review.
Where to start?
Right out of the box, I was pleased with the aesthetics.The polish is nice, a mirror finish on the shinogi ji , a satin finish on the ji. the sword has the "sword on a stick" syndrome that many P.C.
swords have... but it's a lot more noticable in photographs.overall, on a first glance the whole package is pleasing.
The specs:
Nagassa 29.75
Motohaba 1.4"
motokasane around 7 mm
saki kasane 5.5-6mm
width at shinogi 8 mm
kissaki 3.4 inches
weight 3lbs 5 ounces.
sori .6 inch.
tsuka 11.75 inches
upon closer inspection,of course the illusion breaks down.The fittings are an interesting mix of well made and cheap looking.
Everything is tight though... no wiggles anywhere.
The ito is nice cotton ,but a little too loose .On the ura side, the first diamond after the menuki is quite loose, and moves when swung, exposing hishigami.
the same is nothing special, not bad, not good just more of the same
I kind of like the tsuba,Steel? Iron? I'm not sure...blackened steel I think.
Habaki, eh, it's a habaki.
The blade in my opinion is beautiful.I love a wide , Thick blade without a lot of taper.
The hamon has alot of little swirls of activity in it.
The kissaki is a change of geometry, not just the scratched on polish that looks like someone drug the tip along the sidewalk.
The yokote is plain to see, and feel.
Upon picking this beast up the first impression is sheer weight.
This thing is heavy!!
It is awkward. I have heard this sword described as an axe , and it seems true.The momentum is hard to stop.Empty water bottles fly away from the blade and hit the ground spinning,Crushed,cut... but not sliced.
On the other hand, three inch bamboo stalks look at this thing and fall into two halves.
Many , many cuts later I have come to terms with this blade.I've learned how to adjust for the changes the heft makes in the tosen.
I've cut empty bottles(no water),hanging rope, soaked newspaper, and bamboo larger than I care to tell you.The wind and thunder slices through hard targets like butter.
Even with proper hasuji the empty bottles more explode apart than slice through.
All in all I am very happy with this sword.I plan to make a new tsuka,and theme it diferently, in effect having two swords.
There are good points and there are shortcomings, but all in all this is an excellent cutter, and with experience the heft and balance are more pleasing.
I don't like long tsuka, but feel this katana could benefit from another inch or two of tsuka.Other than this, and the wrap, there is little to complain about, and at the price I paid, these are acceptable.My growing maki skills will serve me well here.
