There was a time when I once thought of two blades as essential for the "martial artist."  The balisong I considered, in my youthful exuberance, the must-have sidearm of the modern-day samurai.  This implied, at least to me, that the modern traditionalist warrior's "assault weapon" would have to be the "samurai sword" – the Japanese katana.  The first set of swords I ever owned  – more appropriately termed sword-like objects –  were gaudy aluminum decorator models with some sort of horrible orange finish.  I didn't know any better and it would be some time before I realized that all the stainless steel Highlander: The Series katanas in the world did not constitute viable weaponry.

Over the years I've not lost my taste for balisongs or for swords, but I've learned to keep these things in perspective.  Thus it was with great anticipation tempered with realism that I drove to my Kung Fu school one night to pick up an item I'd ordered through my teacher.  After excruciating weeks of backorders and shipping delays, my Hanwei katana had finally arrived.

The author and his Hanwei Practical Katana – a reliable, effective weapon.

I must state at the outset that I am not primarily a student or stylist of the Japanese sword.  I am a pragmatist when it comes to weapons;  I believe in seeing the commonality in all weapons of like type and I use them accordingly without regard to tradition or lineage.  Of the weapon arts in which I've dabbled or actively studied, the one in which I have the most experience is FMA (Kali).  I don't believe sword work need be any more complicated than getting the pointy end in the other man, provided your body mechanics are sound and you understand how to move the weapon to employ its cutting edge and to block with its flat.  I hope those of you who are traditionalist budoka  focusing on the sword will forgive me my expedience and my pragmatism;  I mean no disrespect and I certainly make no claims to being one of you.

The Hanwei Practical Katana ships with this nice cloth bag to protect the sword.

I will also state up front that as of this writing, I have tested my Hanwei katana for five months, cutting a variety of contemporary (non-traditional) media such as cardboard, plastic, and light scrub outdoors.  The sword has not failed me and has suffered no visible damage.  It's my understanding that some demanding users have found the handle wrap of the sword less than durable enough for their needs, but I have had no difficulties with mine (and would simply have searched out the proper techniques for rewrapping it if I had).  I have wielded the sword in solo practice and found it the right blade for me at this time – the right blend of size, balance, and – yes, I'll say it – style for me.  Perhaps it is fitting that I, who study a Chinese martial art, would choose a Japanese-style sword made in China.

The blade and scabbard sitting on the purple sword bag.

What this sword is not is an expensive traditional blade.  It is a no-frills weapon intended to look like what most people think of when they think of a "samurai sword."  I'm not going to bother with traditional terminology here, because those who know their katanas will not be impressed and those who do not will find the references needlessly confusing.  For our purposes, a blade is a  blade, a guard is a guard, and a scabbard is a scabbard.

The blade has a "deep" feel and showed a few scuff marks out of the box.

Fit and finish of the sword are consistent with a functional but affordable import blade of this type.  The blade's temper line is visible and the steel itself has the depth and grain* that sets good steel apart from cheap, poorly heat-treated junk (or, for that matter, the stainless blades of decorator swords).  Mine shows more than a few small scuffs and blemishes that it had out of the box. 

Practical Katana (bottom in photo and in inset) has what I would
call "depth" and "grain" not found on cheap junk sword (top) – though
I am using these terms to describe quite subjectively the "visual feel"
of the metal and not in the metallurgical or technical senses.

The rest of the fittings are similarly workmanlike;  the brass collar is smooth but a little scuffed, the plain metal guard has a rough, rugged, uneven finish, and the pebbled "rayskin" under the handle wrap is a little ragged around the pins.  The copper-colored metal flowers under the wrap I find quite attractive in their contrast with the handle.  The metal fittings at the top and bottom of the handle are similar in appearance to the guard.

The handle of the Practical Katana is actually quite attractive.

The scabbard is nicely finished and fits the sword snugly – not too tightly, not too loosely.  I am happy with the draw.  The nub to which is mounted a length of flat nylon cord is lined with cheap plastic colored to look like brass;  these can be plucked out and will fall out on their own.

Brass-colored plastic liner (lower left) will fall out on its own at times.

I was present when Phil made that cut and was impressed with how smooth and clean his technique was.  [Not long afterward] I handed someone my sword and asked [him] to do the same cut Phil did. Now mind you... this guy is known for his ability with knives, sticks and machetes... but his cut was not as good as Phil's. 

Now, yes, I'm indulging myself in some self-congratulation, but to be honest this little kwoon anecdote would not have gone in my favor with a lesser sword.  The Practical Katana was nicely sharp out of the box and has proven to be a very functional blade.

I am pleased with my purchase of this Hanwei product.  My needs are not those of traditionalist Japanese swordsmen, but neither are they undemanding.  For the cost, this is a decent, functional sword whose value meets its price in my eyes.