looking into getting a practical katana, have heard mixed emotions about them, i was wondering if i could get some opinions, thanx for the help
Posted by: imcrazy
Re: paul chen - 05/09/05 07:35 PM
Well most people would probably say they aren't the absolute best out there, however if you wanted the absolute best then you would have to get a hand crafted folded steel sword forged by the best blacksmith around. Course that also the best way to empty your wallet to...
However not having any experience with them I can't really say whether they are good or bad. All I know is that my friend has merely a forged steel blade that he got for $230 CAN and it seems able to hold up to many things quite well (including large logs) It doesn't stay sharp nearly as long as say a folded one, but it seems pretty decent.
yea hanwei swords are good but if i were you i would look at cold steels warrior series and bugei
Strongly recommend searching the archives over at
http://www.swordforum.com These swords have been reviewed many many many many times. There's a wealth of opinions and reviews already waiting for you.
Posted by: Belnick
Re: paul chen - 05/10/05 12:56 AM
Chen Chao-Po does great swords at a low price, if u want better buy a sword that has taken 7 years to make and cost you 7000 euro
For those not in the know, Chen Chao-Po is Paul Chen's real name.
That said I disagree with the previous poster. Not everything turned out by the Hanwei forge is "great". They make a lot of really super cheap mass produced stuff with very poor quality control. They also turn out some really nice stuff, particularly the stuff that is custom made for Bugei Trading Company and passes their QC procedures.
Swords do not take 7 years to make. A couple of weeks or so is all that is required to make even the top notch art swords in Japan. There are plenty of reasonably affordable swords on the market that are better than than the cheap low end stuff that Hanwei turns out. Check the reviews at Swordforum. It's all there.
Hey hey!
Have you looked at any of the Last Legend blades? They look really nice, and are the ones I'm looking at once I get the money to buy myself a Japanese sword. check them out at
www.lastlegend.com, and enjoy!
you done any google searches for howard clark?
might wanna try. *drool*
Posted by: oxygen8
Re: paul chen - 05/15/05 10:39 PM
Clark is amazing! but too bad he has a huge backlog.
Check these guys out, they are really amazing as well. I LOVE their videos!
www.zhengwutang.com [image]http://www.zhengwutang.com/chinese/archive/02/01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.zhengwutang.com/chinese/archive/02/02.jpg[/image]
Posted by: Xavier
Re: paul chen - 05/15/05 11:01 PM
i've been recently thinking about getting a katana, i'm wondering if it would be wise to just go to japan and have one made for me i mean i already want to go anyway
Posted by: Walter Wong
Re: paul chen - 05/16/05 10:22 AM
There's no need to go to Japan to get a Japanese made sword. Plus unless you know how to speak Japanese very well and you understand the strict system they have about Japanese swords getting in and out of Japan, you won't find going to Japan to pick one up that convienant.
You can get a traditionally made Japanese sword made in Japan from
www.swordstore.comOr you can go to
http://www.aoi-art.com/
Posted by: gdhblfkbg
Re: paul chen - 06/03/05 02:44 AM
If you're looking for a cost practical katana (samurai sword) then by all means get a paul chen sword, however if you want something that you can split hardwood with like it's not even there and will hold an edge better than something from a movie than check out Wally Hayes. He's based in ottawa, ontario, canada, his web site is something like hayesknives.com he specialises in knives but his Silver Dragon Menukis katana is a $8000.oo(usd) sword. All hand made, silk cord over rayskin over hardwood handle, the blade is a 1600 layer damascus cable steel.
check it out
Posted by: glad2bhere
Re: paul chen - 06/03/05 08:19 AM
Just wanted to take a moment and emphasize the comment made earlier (by Charles?) that one should be careful not to use Paul Chen and HANWEI as though they are the same entity. They are not. FWIW.
Best Wishes,
Bruce
Posted by: Walter Wong
Re: paul chen - 06/03/05 12:54 PM
I didn't think Paul Chen owned Hanwei as I've understood it Paul Chen is in charge of the Chinese and Japanese styled swords department. Yes? No?