Hanwei Review

[horsefriend]

Had my first look at a Hanwei practice rapier blade last night (brought to my shop for salvaging) and feel I must pass on my review.

Blade was brand new, still in plastic wrap.

1. Button was absurdly large (5/16" x 1/2") and needed considerable reduction in order to fit a rubber tip.

2. Tand was a bolt welded to a stub tang. Weld was EXTREMELY porous and needed to be removed and rewelded.

3. The shoulders at transition to tang were square but one was a good 1/8" lower than the other.

4. The trasition from shoulder to tang was nicely radiused on one side but a sharp 90 degree corner (a stress inducing flaw) on the other.

5. Blade was VERY flexible, equivalent to my very well used epee or a new, quality foil.

6. I know that some groups have an edge width minimum for steel weapons, IIRC 1.5 mm, the Hanwei's edge ranged from .85mm to 1.125mm, uneven and pretty thin.


My personal ratings, on a scale of 1-10:

Zamorano practice rapier 9
AFS oval schlager 6
Hanwei 3

Despite the low price (@ $50) the Hanwei was no bargin and I would not recomend it to anyone without a thorough inspection of the actual blade you are purchasing, calling their QA slipshod being complimentary.


Alail/Scott