CAS Iberia (Hanwei) Shinto Katana Sober Review

[@Wolf_Mechanic]

you truly do give the best sword reviews.

[@oombi04]

Your reviews are wonderful man, Thank you for lending us your time to do so. Really appreciate it :) Peace

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+Chas Osborn Thanks

[@lliameasterbrook6634]

Had my T 10 shinto since 2003. It's still a beast. I used to worry about the blade's thinness, but it's never been an issue in practice. I don't "abuse" it, but I do set it to purpose. Great sword.

[@josephl.cinematographerpho4976]

FANTASTIC SWORD REVIEW MATTHEW..You honestly have THE best sword review channel online...your knowledge, impeccable detail, good quality throughout is ununrivaled....No im not trying to be a brown nose...lol...im serious....Good Job Matt..🍻

[@josefranciscoramirez4438]

You deserve much more subs, your reviews are simply the best. Finally find a serious video where don't mock about weabos and katana

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I appreciate that but subs were never the goal. I have fun with the hobby and enjoy the community.

[@vishnudas3328]

@@Matthew_Jensen thats why you are so good at it, you are real

[@nikkorf64]

Thank-you for the Review! Interesting way of putting it, in that part of the cost for a new Shinto, is in some ways paying for the Hanwei name/reputation. That's always my big hangup with buying any of the expensive Hanwei's... Is it worth the money? Especially because I would buy new from KoA. Side note: The facial expressions at 3:02 and 3:15 were priceless!

[@grifscustomlightsabers3925]

Just browsing and ran across this. I had the first run shinto from paul chen. Hate to say that i was stupid back then and destroyed the blade. I did save the tsuba fuchi kashira set. Waiting for that right sword to put it on.

[@paulkim6866]

I put the magnet on my tsuba and it didn't stick. My magnet must not be working...or maybe my iron is broken--just like Matt's magnet and iron :) . I love these reviews!

[@CountOrlok22]

I own a few Hanwei - love them all - and the one issue I have with their whole line as a brand is the claim that they are iron tsuba and kashira, because none of my Hanwei tsuba and kashira are magnetic. I know for a fact that the tsuba on the Bushido is copper, and I suspect the tsuba on the PPK Elite is some kind of lightweight alloy.

[@danel3792]

Just be curious , would those Tusba be made with stainless steel ? Some stainless steel are not magnetic.

[@d_jedi1]

great video. I have an old shinto shirasaya that I remounted. never have done any cutting with it, though.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+Richard Wells Thanks. I am glad you liked it. I am getting this shinto cleaned up a bit. We will see how it comes out

[@MrChrist741]

This kind of review is kindda fun... Keep up the good work 🤘🤘

[@vishnudas3328]

just bought one today £619 with tax and delivery, didnt watch your review before hand. i think you are right about it being a little overpriced, but im damn excited to try a lighter cutter for a change, my other cutting sword is the saviour by dragon king which is absolutely ace for my big hands and im 6"2, so yeah, tanx for a great review, as always

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I really enjoyed the shinto. If you like it then the orchid might be worth looking at. Hope you enjoy yours.

[@zoesdada8923]

Hanwei makes the best production swords in my book.

[@Intrepid_Explorer]

My own Shinto is one of my favorite blades: I love how it's light and easily maneuverable, even though I personally like beefier blades more. Just wondering, have you ever had a problem with the ito on any of your Shinto? Mine's tight, though there's a fairly significant gap on both the top and bottom of the ito that suggests the ito could have been slid up during itomaki and another whole diamond could have comfortable fit. (I suck at explaining, I know.)

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+Roa Ciel I have not had a lot of trouble with the ito. None of the ones I had previously had ito that was notably loose. The gaps and such are something that has happened on a lot of hanwei. The ito does not always cover up the area near the kashira or fuchi correctly.

[@KF1]

I didn't know this before, but there is such a thing as non-magnetic steel. Surgical steel, like 316L (if I remember correctly), is only very weakly magnetic. Not saying they actually used that, just sayin it's possible. Great review, btw. That's a very nice sword. Appreciate all the high quality photos and cutting vid

[@Matthew_Jensen]

This was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long ago

[@KF1]

@@Matthew_Jensen lol the timeless and eternal spirit of dawn.. or something.

[@rons3634]

Wow. Great review. I've gotta check out more videos from this guy. I'm looking to buy my first katana to add to my sword collection and it's kinda tough to decide. Looking for a 'classic looking katana', and I mean classic from a layman's point of view. Not going to do much cutting with it but I'd like to be able to if I want. $400 - $700 is my price range. Don't want cheap stuff where everything is glued together, but I'm not going to break the bank either. Was looking at Paul Chen's Practical Katana line, but there are so many that it was confusing and frustrating. So far, the Shinto is looking good ($574 at Kult of Athena), but if anyone out there has suggestions of swords I should be looking at, I'd appreciate it. Note: The Kult of Athena Shinto is PC1001 and the one on the Hanwei website is SH1001. They seem to have slightly different specs, most notably the weights.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

The bamboo mat is in that ballpark, it is a personal favorite. The shinto is good too, very light and fun to move. Hope that helps.

[@rons3634]

@@Matthew_Jensen Think I'm going with the Shinto. I wouldn't have known about that sword if I hadn't seen your video. So, you get some credit if I wind up liking the sword. I've also decided that if I don't like it that it's all your fault. Just kidding (mostly). lol

[@malinyamato2291]

thanks for a great honest review..... I just received my bamboo mat Hanwei, but I am a female and its too heavy....I want to carry two swords, katana and wakizashi and I am planning to send the bamboo mat back and buy both Shintos instead.... I want to cut things, not branches. I am OK or are there better alternatives? Regards... subscribed and look forward fore more of your vids.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

The Hanwei Orchid and Hanwei Meijin are also on the lighter side. The other that comes to mind is the Motohara LMC, it looks large but it is rather light but it would set you back quite a bit more. Another light sword I tested recently was a Zsey katana with a bohi. It was around $900 but very light.

[@skane-yi8kc]

Great in-depth review on a popular Hanwei. Very good editing too, what filters are you using for the old film effect? Is that premiere pro / aftereffects stock filters?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+s. kane I have premiere elements. Its an effect called old film.

[@skane-yi8kc]

+Matthew Jensen (Funny Sword Reviews) Thanks, that's a cool effect, I'll check it out!

[@Unknown-yg2xr]

Great review. What is the last song used?

[@stevenmatthew4566]

Matt would you say that the Hanwei Shinto would be a great first katana ? I am looking for best overall quality , something that would hold up and not have cheap fitting, with an excellent quality blade. Something around that price point of $6-1100 tops. Not sure if something might be better choice? thanks, love the videos

[@Matthew_Jensen]

The shinto is a good blade but you are near motohara territory. Maybe check with evolution blades and see what they might offer.

[@nmwninja]

i like dragons. the facial expressions at 3 minutes were hilarious the fitting s on mine aren't magnetic either i love the hamon and the tsuka at 9:38 funny typo " shito" i love how this sword feels just like my iaito in balance. I didn't find it to be a great cutter when I tried to cut tatami with it.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+mosinmama yes... typo..... I did not think it was a great cutter but it did the job for me. I did not do any triple rolls or anything though.

[@chinsakusan7292]

I have a 25th Anniversary Shinto is the anyway to fix the discoloration on the silver?

[@michaeldecuffa8762]

Isn't iron ferro magnetic?! I'm not sure anymore ...I dont know what I know now ...

[@TheKessi1000]

I am a fellow owner of the Silver 25th anniversary Shinto as well. Only 250 were ever made (mainly due to the CAS warehouse burning down). I have number 181. Which number is yours?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I sold it a while ago. I don't recall the number but I thought it was in the 200's

[@TheKessi1000]

@@Matthew_Jensen You actually had number 247. You can see it in the video towards the end when your holding it (its on the back of the sword). The Shinto is my favorite sword from Hanwei. I also really like the Tactical Katana a lot.

[@THE-MAD-TECHIE]

I bought mine several years ago for ~$370, I have yet to find a sword that I felt was as good of value for that price, I would today willingly pay $500 but that is about my max.

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

Its like $500 now smh lol

[@RCGJR_]

Are hamons required on a katana, i live in canada and was looking at reliks.com and saw a $780 katana which looks beautiful, but doesn’t have any hamon patterns, can someone with katana knowledge educate me. Thanks.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

they are not required.. traditional blades had them but you can have a fine sword without a hamon. The question is, do you require one?

[@fritzx7040]

Hello Mr. Jensen, I am looking for a light sword (katana) that is practical and somehow of quality. Actually the Shinto from Hanwei is the only light swoed I could find (in a price range from 300 - 800€). The Katana here in Europe are even more expensive than in the US (the Shinto goes for 800 up to 1200 Euro...). Any ideas for a sword that is of good quality, light (under or max. 1KG) and available in Europe ?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

The market in europ is a mystery to me. I am not sure what is available or what the price structure looks like. Shinto and Orchid are nice from hanwei. The other idea would be to up the price and go with a custom. Pavel Bolf and Michael Sabatiear are in the EU. They might have something for under 3k.. maybe.

[@fritzx7040]

Thank you!

[@dobitel9]

I have two of them. Purchased about 5 -6 years ago. They were said to made of 1060 or 1065 steel. Nice light swords that are my trick cutters. They do bend on hard targets, but I can straighten them out easy enough. I bought them as shirasaya and have them remounted on Japanese fittings. I have other Hanwei swords including the Orchid, but these are my favorites.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+dobitel9 Do you think that the shinto and the orchid feel similar?

[@dobitel9]

+Matthew Jensen (Funny Sword Reviews) . Not quite, weight and blade length are the same, even balance point is 1/4" apart, but the Shinto seems to feel faster in my hands than the Orchid. Could be the tsukas are different, I made my tsukas a little bigger for a more comfortable grip. I'll attach a link to some photos here later.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+dobitel9 Same length, weight, and .25" difference in pob is very close. I thought they felt similar in my head but I did not have both of them in hand while doing the voice over. I was going off of memory in part. I am glad I am not that far off base.

[@zoesdada8923]

Dude no sword should bend and stay bent. If it does it has not been heat treated properly.

[@88997799]

Zoes Dada when it breaks and a large chunk of blade flies off he will finally understand that fact. Hopefully he doesn’t hurt or kill someone or something when it happens.

[@erikbrock5444]

Have you stripped any of them down? I'm curious about how the nakago compare.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

different sizes and shapes but most have similar attention to detail. A signature, rough file markings, and burs around the mekuki ana

[@erikbrock5444]

@@Matthew_Jensen roughly how far into the handle does it go in recent generations?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

there are often between 2 and 4 inches from the end of the kashira

[@michaelfranco5191]

what is the strongest toughest Katana with hamon or without hamon you recommend

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+michael franco I like the bamboo mat personally.. it has heald up well for me.. toughest would probably be one of those overbuilt ones but I don't know if they have the same refinement of as other katana.. There is not one best answer.

[@carstenbodinus2657]

I too prefer a dolly-aito for my dough-joe. :)

[@igorzaleski806]

What about niku in this sword? Is it big or not?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

No niku on the newer ones. The older ones varied a bit more. Most of them had some niku

[@igorzaleski806]

@@Matthew_Jensen Thanks

[@TheEvdavis7]

Will you ever sell this one ?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

It got sold a while back

[@fallenstudent1103]

the sword is nice but a bit to short for my taste.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

+Aldito Hernandez Its fun to tinker with a short blade from time to time.

[@taichihead42]

Yr full of it mate. Stop talking and start demonstrating. I own a Shinto and my handle has developed side to side play. I used the sword everyday for one year and it I only practiced forms. I dont talk about a weapon I use it. I dont hang it on the wall, look at it and kiss it good night, I use it. All I see is a bunch of guys who own swords and do fuck all with them.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I do a bit of cutting about 5 mins into it but there is a lot of talking Talking about swords is what most of my videos are, if that not something that interests you then I would not recommend them.

[@stakesjessica]

Geraldine Geraldine right