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Hanwei Bone Handled Rapier Review

Associated  images  can  be  found  atthe end result being the small sword or court
sword. I'm not saying that this blade shape
I've just received a Hanwei bone handledis in any way unauthentic, I just prefer a
rapier and main gauche for review and I'mwider  blade  from  an  earlier  period.
quite impressed. Model numbers SH1092 and
SH2197. The guard is nicely formed -I did not test the blade for performance but
functional and yet elegant, as befitting aI expect it would perform quite well against
gentleman's weapon. There are a couple ofa period blade. Modern blade steel is
slight wobbles in the guard branches but theycompletely different than that of the 16th
don't detract from the overall look and feelcentury, both in its manufacture and chemical
of the piece. As you can see from the photoscomposition. Because of these differences in
there are a number of embellishments to thematerials it isn't easy to compare modern
guard that really make it quite attractive.blades with old. An exact comparison of blade
It's not over-done so the total appearancethicknesses and hardness doesn't really tell
suggests a weapon an officer might haveus much, because the materials have such
carried.different specifications. I think it's safe
to say that modern steels are tougher, more
The pommel is quite massive but balances thechemically consistent and hold an edge better
long blade well, and the balance point is(using modern tempering techniques) than
just a fingers width in front of the passteels of several hundred years ago.
d'âne. The blade is just over 36in longTempering methods can also be quite different
which is about right for the period. Thisbut modern steels can be tempered using older
weapon feels very quick in hand, somewhat duedifferential tempering methods as well as
to its light weight (just over 2lbs) but alsomodern  cryogenic  techniques.
its balance. The grip is generous and will
easily accommodate a gloved hand. The pasAfter all of this waffling I believe this
d'âne has ample space for gloved fingersblade to be excellent steel with a good
and the écusson is nicely shaped to give atemper.
good grip yet not cut into your fingers. Now
whether the grip is historically accurate isThe main gauche is a perfect companion to
a different question. Many grips on antiquethis rapier. The bone grip is done in the
swords were large like this but some weresame fashion and the guard and quillon match.
not. I suspect it would depend on theThe blade is nicely shaped and comes to a
swordsman and his preferences. I don't thinkfine  point.
we can say with certainty that all swordsmen
used gloves. The grip on this particularScabbards for both blades are of a composite
model  feels  good with, or without, a glove.material covered with leather. They are done
quite  nicely  and  match  the  blades  well.
The bone handle is very attractive. This is
not my first choice for a handle materialBlades for both weapons come unsharpened but
because I've seen a number of old knives andcould easily be with a few strokes of a
swords with very loose bone or antlerstone. Sharpening isn't something I recommend
handles, but this grip is a little different.since a sharp sword is much more dangerous
You can see in some of the photos a smallthan most people think. I've heard of a
bone spacer on either end of the bone grip. Inumber of accidents with sharp blades. When
presume this acts to strengthen the ends ofmost people pick up a sword they expect it to
the bone. This is an excellent feature andbe the garden variety you would find at the
says a lot about Hanwei's commitment tomall, and they handle it with very little
producing 'the real thing' rather than wallrespect. Remember also that rapiers weren't
hangers. This sword can be ordered with adesigned as cutting weapons. They depended on
practical fencing blade so they have thoughta lethal thrust. A sharpened blade was meant
about  its  use  in  practice.to discourage grabbing and trapping of the
blade.
The blade is nicely done but I would have
liked to see it wider and a little stiffer.In conclusion Hanwei's bone handled rapier
Rapiers came with a wide assortment of bladeand main gauche are a good pair and excellent
shapes, the single similar factor being theirvalue. These are functional weapons and I
longer length. Earlier rapiers had widerbelieve that a period gentleman would have
blades and over time they became thinner withbeen proud to own and use them.



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