The Armour Archive

Ok, so from an entry level perspective, what's the difference between the Hanwei Practical Rapier with 37" blade and the Zen Warrior R13 rapier? Besides price, since the R13 is about twice as much.


Hanwei Practical
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... Inch+Blade

Zen Warrior:
http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/catalog ... egory%3D70

The Hanwei rapiers are junk. Plain and simple, junk. One just broke on my sleeve last weekend. The ZWA weapon won't, say, randomly hit a bad batch and explode after 3 weeks of use, and if it does, you can get it replaced.

I would never, ever, ever recommend the Hanwei rapiers. The hand-and-a-half swords are fine, but the rapiers are just universally dreck.

Hanwei are very basic and are less durable.
ZWA offers a lot of blade types with the rapier I would ask around and see if you can compair how the TO1 compairs to the T03.
If my memory is right one is ovid in cross section while the other has more of a diamond shape.

They preform differently traditionaly the Hanwei has a bit more flex or whip while the ZWA is a little firmer.

I would check with your new kingdome marshal to see what blades are permited for cut and thrust.

I'd recommend the Zen Warrior T03. They have a variety of flexibility, so if you prefer a blade more stiff or more whippy they can accomadate that. While I don't like most of their guard designs (personal taste), the blades themselves are very good. In my opinion the R6 and R9 guards are the best ones they have.

Hanwei is tendonitis in a can. ZWA has OK blades, but I don't like the hilts.

I've got a 43" Hanwei rapier that I've had since they first came out. Narry a scratch on it. Its just like the day I bought it.

Course... thats cause its so flip floppy and whippy that its neigh impossible to use... So, I never use it.

I did steal the wire wrapped grip and use it on my current rapier...

The ZWA stuff is tough as nails. I use their blades on several of my rapiers.

What you don't want in a ZWA hilt is one that rigs the ricasso in front of the hilt so the tang is exposed. Most of them are set up like that from the epee days, but the R13 hilt doesn't have that flaw. It screws up the balance and your control over the blade if it's forward mounted.

They're both sub-standard but in different ways.

The Hanwei needs a heavier pommel, something in the order of 250g. With the heavier pommel they become controllable and you lose the wobble and tendonitis issues.

The T03 blades are freight trains, and every one that I've seen has been stiffer than my Darkwood sidesword blade!

Seriously, I'd recommend saving the extra money and buying from Darkwood instead. They're worth the investment.

If you want a cheap blade, get the Hanwei, and find a heavier pommel for them. The cylindrical pommel from Darkwood works well on the 42", and other like his round pommel for that job on the 37".

The Hanwei 37 is actually extremely well balanced. The 43 isn't. They don't do anything different for the 43 that they do on the 37, so the balance sucks.

Blades are a bit floppy in the 43, the 37 isn't bad.

In 4 years, I know of one Hanwei breaking in my entire kingdom. They are the most common starter blade by far.


I've never been impressed by Zen's swords. Their masks are great, and the "heavy" gorget is fine (The rapier one isn't legal here- even though they still tell people it is), but the few swords I've handled from them were crap.

The first sword I used was a loaner from a friend. Zen 43" with a cup hilt. I ended up with tendonitis- just like he did, and the person that used it after me. It is now relegated to "emergency loaner" status. It only gets pulled out after everything else is already in use.

I'd either go with a Hanwei 37 or jump to a darkwood economy line. Skip Zen altogether.

BTW- you can get a 47" hanwei for just under $100 after shipping:

http://www.trophysoutdoors.com/node/10263

I use a 37 inch hanwei (OH2255 blade). Its a good blade and has been less prone to taking a set than even some darkwoods I have seen and used. (My blade has never taken one and my group fences MUCH harder than typical SCA standards)

That said, Hanwei blades are so inconsistent, that to buy them online is a huge gamble. Mine came mounted up by James the Just, and I asked for the stiffest blade he had. He did me good.

Otherwise, I would recommend handling them, or buying from someone who you trust. They do produce an occasional gem of a blade, but many times they do really suck.

thanks for the information and opinions. Once I'm finished with my degree, I'll more time after work to hit some of the nearby events and practices to see some blades in person. I've handled some Darkwood swords at WMAW 06. Nice, but pricier than the finance misnitry allows. I'm looking at the 37" length because I'm leaning towards a more cut and thrust approach.

I did have an oddball idea. Is it possible to swap the blade from the practical Mortuary Hilt for a rapier blade? The basket hilt is more what I want for C&T when and if I do take it up, but it's not legal for Heavy rapier.

Couple comments:

First, I'd also suggest saving a bit more and buying something from Darkwood's economy line. They start at $280 with a Darkwood blade (and you can knock $80 off of that if you want a Hanwei blade...). I have both an economy Pappenheimer and a regular-line swept hilt, and while the former is a simpler design and is much more plainly finished, it's every bit as sturdy. Darkwood builds to last.

Second, if you get a good one (and it's a bit of a dice roll), the Hanwei blades are not bad, really. The 37 balances far, far better than the 42, which is also a bit too whippy for my taste. I've been finding that the shorter blades have a lot of advantages, enough to offset the reach of the 42" and up crowd. Perhaps the largest advantage ends up being in the fencer's head: if you don't buy into the blade length arms race, you'll probably also avoid turning into a one-trick-pony "sniper." You'll be forced to learn proper footwork and parries...which tend to negate that reach advantage pretty easily. I love facing those 47's with my Darkwood 38...even a foible-to-foible bind gives me a huge leverage advantage, and the overcompensation after I degage' is almost comical.

Last, have you handled the Practical Mortuary sword? They're not at all bad (and the SCA C&T legal) standard blade balances well), but the hilt is small. If you have large hands, you may find it doesn't work for you. I did (and have been eying Armour Class' wonderful version of this weapon for a while now...).