Marc Kaden Ridgeway
May 14th, 2009, 01:08 PM
I apologize if anyone is bothered by me posting my old reviews here... I realize that they are on various forums.. but I thought that there may be members here that could benefit from reposting.
If it is a problem let me know, and I will stop.
Paul Chen Tori Elite
I ordered and paid for the sword and it arrived within 24 hours, so big thanks to all involved with that ... even UPS.... LOL
The Tori arrived in bullet proof packaging... and record time... included the standard cleaning kit and sword bag...sword bag was OK ... but I was hoping for one of those awesome Wind and Thunder bags.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9871/img0754mediummy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Specifications
Sellers Specs
Blade length: 28”
Handle length: 11”
Overall length: 40”
Weight: 2lb 7oz
Point of Balance: 5"
Width at Guard: 1.34"
Width at Tip: 1.03"
Thickness at Guard: .25"
Thickness at Tip: .16"
Sori: 3/4"
My Specs
Nagasa : 27 7/8 in
Motohaba: 1.3 in
Sakihaba: 1 in
Motokasane: 6.5mm
Sakikasane: 5mm
Sori : 5/8 in
POB: 4.75 in
Tsuka : 11 in total length including fittings
Weight : 2. lbs 7 oz
So we disagree on the nagasa, sori and the POB
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/876/img0755mediumly6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Aesthetics
Sugata is shinogi zukuri with chu-kissaki. Kissaki is geometric, with an actual physical yokote... refreshing... and a definite Hanwei advantage. The hamon is gunome and the boshi ko-maru.
It is folded K120c . The "hada" is hard to classify, but looks vaguely like matsukawa.
The saya has black laquered rattan for the first 9 inches and brown matte finish after that. the brown sageo is nice ... a tight weave.
The koshirae are steel , and in a tori (crane) theme. The menuki are a nice looking kabuto set..though I have no idea what that has to do with the crane theme. Seppa and habaki are bronze and the habaki has a rain pattern .
Samegawa is black laquered panels wrapped in tactile brown suede. Same is not great...its ok .. but the omote side actually has small emporer nodes.
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/4369/img0790mediumiy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/3973/img0786mediumvp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5149/img0789mediumnu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1531/img0784mediumbh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/2861/img0759mediumox3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fit & Finish
The fit and finish is about what you'd expect from a $1000 Hanwei
.
Everything is tight and solid. No wiggles , twists , shakes . shimmies, slides , rattles , rocks, rolls, hips , hops, or bippity bops.
The fittings are mounted well , the tsuka solid , habaki a decent fit. The tsuka maki isn't perfect , but servicable.
Th polish is nice, burnished on the shinogi -ji. A bit more satin in the ji. the hamon is enhanced, but not distasteful.
Lines are clean and crisp.
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8161/img0758mediumwh8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5286/img0774mediumvw9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8341/img0775mediummq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Handling Characteristics
The Tori is light and fast.
Holy smokes what a well balanced sword.
I don't know what else I can add to the specs... they tell it all. The balance is right in there at 4.5... the tsuka nicely shaped and the leather ito very tactile... Just a great handler.
Corners like its on rails , to paraphrase Pretty Woman
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/1694/img0779mediumfs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/927/img0773mediumsz4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/1118/img0767mediumic3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6921/img0771mediumbt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Cutting
I can't say a whole lot about cutting yet , because I haven't cut a lot. I did cut some dry Coke bottles
.
My observation is she can be a bit bitchy about bad form... at least on bottles, rewarding it with a crushed and spinning bottle.
I had some bad cuts at first, because I was nervous.
I had a performance geometry PK like this, and the edge got all buggered up on bottle mouths and I was afraid to hit one... so after a couple of bad cuts I threw caution to the wind... and just cut
.
Then, my worst nightmare happened... a square strike on the bottle mouth... damn... brand new sword.... oh ...wait...ITS OKAY!!!
No edge damage ala PK for the Tori.
I began again with renewed confidence. Though she punished , bad form... she rewarded good cuts with bottles that seemed surised to be cut... they just lightly fell apart , barely disturbed by the blades passing ...neat!!
Can't wait to do some more cutting....maybe some goza...
Update... This thing cuts mats like butter ... huzzah!!!!
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2591/img0763mediumjj5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3875/img0761mediumev7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4595/img0766mediumri1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/503/img0783mediumeu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2489/img0769mediumgn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Aww, do I have to? Its a pain in the butt to nitpick this nice of a sword for shortcomings.... then again , I'm a hell of a nitpicker.
Ok... I've mentioned the ito isn't perfect... but its pretty good. I'd like to see a bit more sori... but its not real far off from what it was advertised at... specs will vary a bit on hand made swords... niku... could have some niku... but I knew it didn't going in...
I guess the only thing I really have to bitch about is those silly fake shitodome cast into the kashira... what the heck is that all about ? Thats Really the only disappointing thing on the sword...and I knew about that in advance too...
So all good,with a bit less than ideal, but no bad or ugly surprises .
Conclusion
.
The sword itself is well put together, attractive, and definitely one of the nicest production swords I've ever owned.
The geometry is not for everyone... in fact I don't particularly care for the Hanwei Performance geometries... I prefer a bit more traditional , with niku... dotanuki school type blades...
If you can get past the geometry though, this is a pretty damn well made sword, and a great mat cutter.
Thanks for reading.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2733/img0762mediumce3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3664/img0785mediumhy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/192/img0778mediumhc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4473/img0760mediumft9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3880/img0781mediumzr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9243/img0776mediumau0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
If it is a problem let me know, and I will stop.
Paul Chen Tori Elite
I ordered and paid for the sword and it arrived within 24 hours, so big thanks to all involved with that ... even UPS.... LOL
The Tori arrived in bullet proof packaging... and record time... included the standard cleaning kit and sword bag...sword bag was OK ... but I was hoping for one of those awesome Wind and Thunder bags.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9871/img0754mediummy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Specifications
Sellers Specs
Blade length: 28”
Handle length: 11”
Overall length: 40”
Weight: 2lb 7oz
Point of Balance: 5"
Width at Guard: 1.34"
Width at Tip: 1.03"
Thickness at Guard: .25"
Thickness at Tip: .16"
Sori: 3/4"
My Specs
Nagasa : 27 7/8 in
Motohaba: 1.3 in
Sakihaba: 1 in
Motokasane: 6.5mm
Sakikasane: 5mm
Sori : 5/8 in
POB: 4.75 in
Tsuka : 11 in total length including fittings
Weight : 2. lbs 7 oz
So we disagree on the nagasa, sori and the POB
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/876/img0755mediumly6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Aesthetics
Sugata is shinogi zukuri with chu-kissaki. Kissaki is geometric, with an actual physical yokote... refreshing... and a definite Hanwei advantage. The hamon is gunome and the boshi ko-maru.
It is folded K120c . The "hada" is hard to classify, but looks vaguely like matsukawa.
The saya has black laquered rattan for the first 9 inches and brown matte finish after that. the brown sageo is nice ... a tight weave.
The koshirae are steel , and in a tori (crane) theme. The menuki are a nice looking kabuto set..though I have no idea what that has to do with the crane theme. Seppa and habaki are bronze and the habaki has a rain pattern .
Samegawa is black laquered panels wrapped in tactile brown suede. Same is not great...its ok .. but the omote side actually has small emporer nodes.
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/4369/img0790mediumiy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/3973/img0786mediumvp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5149/img0789mediumnu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1531/img0784mediumbh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/2861/img0759mediumox3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fit & Finish
The fit and finish is about what you'd expect from a $1000 Hanwei
.
Everything is tight and solid. No wiggles , twists , shakes . shimmies, slides , rattles , rocks, rolls, hips , hops, or bippity bops.
The fittings are mounted well , the tsuka solid , habaki a decent fit. The tsuka maki isn't perfect , but servicable.
Th polish is nice, burnished on the shinogi -ji. A bit more satin in the ji. the hamon is enhanced, but not distasteful.
Lines are clean and crisp.
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8161/img0758mediumwh8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5286/img0774mediumvw9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8341/img0775mediummq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Handling Characteristics
The Tori is light and fast.
Holy smokes what a well balanced sword.
I don't know what else I can add to the specs... they tell it all. The balance is right in there at 4.5... the tsuka nicely shaped and the leather ito very tactile... Just a great handler.
Corners like its on rails , to paraphrase Pretty Woman
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/1694/img0779mediumfs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/927/img0773mediumsz4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/1118/img0767mediumic3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6921/img0771mediumbt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Cutting
I can't say a whole lot about cutting yet , because I haven't cut a lot. I did cut some dry Coke bottles
.
My observation is she can be a bit bitchy about bad form... at least on bottles, rewarding it with a crushed and spinning bottle.
I had some bad cuts at first, because I was nervous.
I had a performance geometry PK like this, and the edge got all buggered up on bottle mouths and I was afraid to hit one... so after a couple of bad cuts I threw caution to the wind... and just cut
.
Then, my worst nightmare happened... a square strike on the bottle mouth... damn... brand new sword.... oh ...wait...ITS OKAY!!!
No edge damage ala PK for the Tori.
I began again with renewed confidence. Though she punished , bad form... she rewarded good cuts with bottles that seemed surised to be cut... they just lightly fell apart , barely disturbed by the blades passing ...neat!!
Can't wait to do some more cutting....maybe some goza...
Update... This thing cuts mats like butter ... huzzah!!!!
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2591/img0763mediumjj5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3875/img0761mediumev7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4595/img0766mediumri1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/503/img0783mediumeu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2489/img0769mediumgn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Aww, do I have to? Its a pain in the butt to nitpick this nice of a sword for shortcomings.... then again , I'm a hell of a nitpicker.
Ok... I've mentioned the ito isn't perfect... but its pretty good. I'd like to see a bit more sori... but its not real far off from what it was advertised at... specs will vary a bit on hand made swords... niku... could have some niku... but I knew it didn't going in...
I guess the only thing I really have to bitch about is those silly fake shitodome cast into the kashira... what the heck is that all about ? Thats Really the only disappointing thing on the sword...and I knew about that in advance too...
So all good,with a bit less than ideal, but no bad or ugly surprises .
Conclusion
.
The sword itself is well put together, attractive, and definitely one of the nicest production swords I've ever owned.
The geometry is not for everyone... in fact I don't particularly care for the Hanwei Performance geometries... I prefer a bit more traditional , with niku... dotanuki school type blades...
If you can get past the geometry though, this is a pretty damn well made sword, and a great mat cutter.
Thanks for reading.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2733/img0762mediumce3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3664/img0785mediumhy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/192/img0778mediumhc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4473/img0760mediumft9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3880/img0781mediumzr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9243/img0776mediumau0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)