转贴澳大利亚刀友Brissybeater

汉威

转贴澳大利亚刀友Brissybeater.对于汉威"Tinker" Longsword (Sharp) 的入手评测
Custom Sword Shoppe Order, CAS Hanwei "Tinker" Longsword (Sharp) with Custom Grip, Scabbard and Baldric.

by Brissybeater.





Introduction



This little venture started when Sonny Suttles of Valiant Armoury was putting forth a new enterprise adjacent to VA called the Custom Sword Shoppe. The idea being it would be VA's Performance Line with custom leathers, colors, belts, baldrics etc.

While this tickled me pink (or antiqued princess red if you prefer) I have had a real taste for CAS Hanwei's Tinker Line Swords. I bought the H/T Viking sword a few months ago and loved it, if I had known about what was installed with Sonny I would of had it sent through his workshop.

Additionally the CSS is for Sonny to keep himself and his crew busy in between making up the Signature line swords which is a brilliant business idea. Turn-over is always a key factor in any business.

It was when on the Valiant Armoury forums (now CSS Forums) Sonny put up a range of Hanwei Tinkers re-done in nicer leathers that I popped my head up like a bloodhound on the scent and decided I would probe a bit furthur.





I knew however that with funds tightening and yes thanks to the duopoly of our two largest (and nearly only) grocery chains in this country the price of feeding oneself has been on a stupidly skyrocketing trend for the last 5 years. Yeah, drought, sure.

So with me heading to university soon and the glorious costs of fee's, books, blah blah blah, a sword last hurrah was in order.

While not really my last sword it would be the last time I could get one without selling a kidney or stopping off with a hose down the street at midnight rather then the petrol pump like a civilised human being.

So I wanted a blade that could "sorta" fill a few loves. This is when I decided I wanted a longsword and I wanted it to look pretty. And not just any pretty, my kind of pretty. Sonny came to my rescue.

I exchanged many many emails with Sonny and he was always open to help and possibility. I was quite willing to give Sonny leway in design with a few of my own options. I wanted Antique Red for handle and scabbard (they use the existing parts) and I wanted a baldric for it in Antique Brown. I went with a 5 riser setup, one either end and three in the middle. The rest I left in Sonny's capable hands and he didnt dissapoint me once drop.

By the way Sonny was EXTREMELY generous with this order and with me in a few different capacities. He is a credit to the industry and a gentleman and a scholar to boot. Thankyou again Sonny.

Historical overview

While the CAS Hanwei Tinker Longsword isnt a real historical blade its taken many contemporary cues from designs to make a true performance blade. I'm sure this information has been well executed in other reviews so wont bore you all with to many details.

Initial Impressions

I had the chance to hold a standard model Hanwei Tinker Longsword at a local weapons shop so I had a chance to differ the subtleties of both.





The cord wrapped leather is so much cleaner and grippier then the chrome tanned black standard. The risers give a direct nimbleness and control allowing minute rolls of the hands and fingers to get cuts spot on (however my lack of fitness, flexibility and long time between bottle cutting wouldnt of suggested this to much).

However it is not only a visually and aesthetically juggernaut improvement over the standard but looks damn sexy too.








I'm a short, stocky bloke with small hands (size 7 med gloves), so getting a longsword to behave is quite difficult seen as though I'm out of shape and with zero training. However while this blades design isnt a major bottle cutter like the GSOW with its Type XIII is has got good slashing potentiol right on C.o.P.







Statistics

Overall length: 46 3/4"
Blade length: 34 3/4"
Handle length: 12"
Weight: 2lb 14oz
Point of Balance: 3 1/2"
Point of Percussion: 21 3/4"
Width at Guard: 2 1/8"
Width at Tip: 3/4"
Thickness at Guard: 25"
Thickness at Tip: .09"

However its design does lend more to the thrust and oh boy it nearly makes a rapier look like a iron pipe. Its light and active and you can get that point on and in through a whole lot. If you point control (as important to maintain your direction and follow through with a point like edge alignment with a cut), you can really see this into an opponents heart after a nimble wind on his blade.








However the blade while still being that classical Hanwei sharpness wasnt to bad (and I'm blaming my sloppy technique way before Hanwei) and I could cut milk and soft drink bottles. Although is still could use a good touch up.





The leather is nice and thin yet very supple and secure and the color is flawless.










The Baldric is top notch, I gave Sonny an overall length to go with and he did the rest I didnt know what to expect but very cool.








The double buckles across the chest are striking and good for stability.

The dual buckles and frog for the scabbard keep it in nice and tight and can adjust for along the scabbard, the whole weight is taken nicely on my shoulder and I even did a full run with in on (much to the strange look of my neighbour over the fence).





But all the weight kept in the area and it didnt bounce around alot or trip me up. I couldnt ask for a more snug and secure way to wear this blade.







Conclusions

I have decided to give it a name "Aciei Advorsum Advorsari" which is a Latin general of "Edge Towards Enemy" a bit of a play on the Claymore Mine stamped warning "Face Towards Enemy". I will have to etch it on the blade.

The reason being is I see this being a very contemporay blade, a modern portrayal with classical flair and it is a little bit lairy and bon vivant. I get in the Ren mood very easilly gazing at it or wearing it. Such a shame men these days cant still wear them proudly around the street.

Then again people might think more and be careless less if those rules were still around. Then again with my skill I imagine I wouldnt be writing this. I do know however its waiting for the day I am good with the longsword.