Paul Chen-Hanwei - Practical Series - Wakizashi

by Pachi Paradice

Product Features

• Thickness: .24"
• Handle: 6-1/2"
• Overall Length: 27-1/2"
• Blade: 20"

Product Description

The Practical Series (SH1070, SH2061, & SH2254) represent CAS's most popular set, offering excellent quality at a great price. The blades are hand forged high carbon ste3el and are differentially tempered using a traditional claying method to produce a HRC60 on the edge (ha) and a HRC40 on the back (mune) with a medium (chu) kissaki. The temper line (hamon) is authentic and prominent. The fittings (koshirae) are superbly antiqued adding to the aesthetics of the set. The saya is done in a deep black lacquer and the sageo is black Japanese cotton. The tsuka-ito is wrapped in synthetic leather with great gripping characteristics and imitation ray skin (same) is used. Cost savings are affected by using fittings, which, while making no claims to authenticity, are very strongly built to withstand the rigors of cutting exercises (tameshigiri). Overall Length: 27-1/2" Blade: 20" Handle: 6-1/2" Thickness: .24" Weight: 1lbs 8oz

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• ASIN: B000LPO8XY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,813 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #61 in Sports & Outdoors > Other Sports > Martial Arts > Weapon Cases

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ground floor of good Japanese swords, February 22, 2007

By 

Scott Burright (Laramie, WY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul Chen-Hanwei - Practical Series - Wakizashi (Misc.)

There are cheaper Japanese short swords, but they are neither very good nor very Japanese. This one is both. Fit and finish are immaculate, and it ships razor-sharp. I handle a lot of knives and swords, and nothing I've tried comes alive in the hand quite like a good wakizashi. In a tight space, such as a modest home with 8-foot ceilings, there isn't much that could stand against this weapon.

The main difference between a "real" sword like this one and a junk sword or "wall hanger" is differential tempering. This blade is heat treated so that the edge is relatively hard, which keeps it sharp, and the spine is relatively soft, so that it can withstand shock without breaking. With proper care, it's a sword that will outlast the swordsman.

As the description says, the furniture isn't strictly authentic. Instead, the emphasis is on practicality. As you spend up in the Japanese sword world, you might gain in authenticity and aesthetics, but I don't see how you could gain much in functionality. This piece is made for heavy cutting practice, day in and day out. Anyone who is much interested in blades ought to have one.

(Be sure to compare prices between Amazon and online stores such as Kult of Athena.)