Hanwei Samurai Sword Series

Authentically crafted weapons at affordable prices.

Epitomizing the art of the Samurai sword maker, these weapons are hand crafted at the Dalian (China) forge of Chen Chao-po (known in the U.S. as Paul Chen), the widely respected authority on the art of oriental swordmaking.

Displaying features usually found only on original Samurai swords, these pieces provide a unique opportunity to own a katana of a quality usually found only in private collections, museums, or in the Orient.

Orchid Katana

The Orchid katana has a hand-forged and folded K120C powder steel blade, differentially tempered using a traditional clay method to produce an HRC60 edge and HRC40 back. This provides an excellent dispersion of carbides, resulting in a very tough steel with outstanding edge-holding properties. The temper line (hamon) is evident and prominent and the grain pattern (hada) shows distinct layers.

Many "temper lines" on decorative swords are simply etched or ground into a blade and have no functional value but a true temper line indicates that the edge has been independently hardened in the traditional manner. A sure way of checking the authenticity of a temper line is to first check if the "waves" are spaced in an exactly uniform pattern (the spacing in a true temper line will be slightly irregular) and then to verify that the pattern is "mirrored" on each side of the blade, signifying that the edge is hardened through the blade, rather than just at the surface.

The Orchid katana has a deeply lacquered blue saya (scabbard). High quality ray skin is used on the tsuka; the tsuka-ito and saya-ito are premium Japanese cotton. The koiguchi and kurigata are of buffalo horn, and the fuchi, kashira and kojiri are of bronzed iron with silver and gold detailing. The habaki is one-piece brass construction. The tsuba is of blackened iron, with an Orchid and Butterfly decoration inlaid in silver, brass and copper.

The Orchid katana comes with a traditional maintenance kit (see the bottom of this web page) containing blade oil, rice papers, oiling cloth, a powder ball for blade polishing, brass awl and hammer, and complete instructions.

Here are the sword measurements:
Orchid Katana blade length 28 inches; overall length 40.5 inches

Orchid Katana $1,185.75 Clearance $929 (Add $20 shipping)

Bushido Katana

The Bushido katana also has a hand-forged and folded K120C powder steel blade, differentially tempered using a traditional clay method to produce an HRC60 edge and HRC40 back. This provides an excellent dispersion of carbides, resulting in a very tough steel with outstanding edge-holding properties. The temper line (hamon) is evident and prominent and the grain pattern (hada) shows distinct layers.

The saya is deeply lacquered in gold with inlaid brass cherry blossom (sakura) flowers. High quality ray skin is used on the tsuka; the tsuka-ito and saya-ito are premium Japanese cotton. The koiguchi and kurigata are of buffalo horn, and the fuchi and kashira are of blackened bronze with brass detailing. The habaki is one-piece brass construction. The tsuba is of blackened and bronzed iron, with detailing in gold and silver showing a battle scene decoration.

The Bushido katana comes with a traditional maintenance kit containing blade oil, rice papers, oiling cloth, a powder ball for blade polishing, brass awl and hammer, and complete instructions (see the bottom of this web page).

Here are the sword measurements:
Bushido Katana blade length 27.25 inches; overall length 40 inches

Bushido Katana $913.75 Clearance $799 (Add $20 shipping)

Practical Katana & Wakizashi

These swords give you the opportunity to own and use a Hanwei blade at the cost of an economy sword. The blades are forged and differentially tempered, using the same process as the more expensive blades, resulting in a HRC60 edge and HRC40 back. The temper line is authentic and prominent.

Cost savings are effected by using fittings which, while making no claims to authenticity, are very strongly built to withstand the rigors of cutting exercises in the dojo. The maintenance kit, which is included in the more expensive katanas, is not included but can be purchased separately.

Here are the sword measurements:
Practical Katana blade length 27.25 inches; overall length 39.5 inches
Practical Wakizashi blade length 20 inches; overall length 27.5 inches

Practical Katana $212.50 (Add $20 shipping) katana out of stock
Practical Wakizashi $174.75 Clearance $139 (Add $15 shipping)

Practical Plus Katana & Wakizashi

The "Practical Plus" Katana and Wakizashi provide very economical cutting swords as dependable as the Practical Katana and Wakizashi (above), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods.

The blades are forged and differentially tempered (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamons, showing a wavy pattern, are prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine same (rayskin) on the tsuka, with a wrap (tsuka-Ito) specially developed for its gripping qualities. The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome tsuba is of an iron "sunburst" design with a brass habaki. The maintenance kit, which is included in the more expensive katanas, is not included but can be purchased separately.

Here are the sword measurements:
Practical Katana blade length 27.25 inches; overall length 40.5 inches
Practical Wakizashi blade length 20 inches; overall length 27.25 inches

Practical Plus Katana $301.75 (Add $20 shipping) katana out of stock
Practical Plus Wakizashi $225 Clearance $199 (Add $15 shipping)

Shogun Folded Katana

The Ryumon Shogun katana has a hand forged and folded AISI 1060 carbon steel blade meticulously crafted for a Damascus look. The bronze tsuba (guard) and the kashira (guard) and the kashira (buttcap) bear the Tokugawa Shogunate kamon (family crest). Each sword has a one piece brass construction blade collar to ensure proper fitting of the blade into the scabbard. In addition, the handle is wrapped with genuine ray skin and then tied with Japanese cotton ito. Also included is a silk sword bag. The katana comes with a cherry wood scabbard.

Here are the sword measurements:
Katana blade length 28 inches; overall length 42 inches. The handle length is 12 inches.

Shogun folded katana with cherry wood scabbard $250 (Add $20 shipping)

Maintenance kit

The maintenance kit contains blade oil, rice papers, and oiling cloth, a powder ball for blade polishing, and a brass awl and hammer. The kit is contained in a fitted wooden box and full maintenance and handling instructions are included.
Maintenance kit $29 (Add $7 shipping)