My Custom Hanwei Bamboo Mat Katana (CAS Iberia Samurai Sword)

[@Wolf_Mechanic]

You're remounted Bamboo Mat Katana is gorgeous man you have excellent taste in aesthetics. Seeing what you did to your sword makes me want to remount one of my swords.

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

man i love how this one looks and a bunch of the more recent swords youve put videos up of are as well. getting me so hyped for once my shoulders healed up to get another project going. still torn between spending the money on a new nihonto bare blade or getting a higher end production blade and starting from scratch with the fittings. btw thank you for all the great resources on finding fittings and higher end blades like barrets and all the reviews.

[@traceydeanrainey]

I've done one custom katana and it turned out great but it was really frustrating at times. I like your work . I also got Fred Loaman stuff and it was pretty good stuff.

[@bern1228]

Glad you updated this video on your sword. I just got to it and it addresses quite well the items I need to know about getting a blade customized or personalized. Appreciate you noting the size of items, the difference for production swords for proper fit, etc. These help avoid the frustrations and pitfalls involved in getting things right. I've had the same notion of getting a good solid blade and get it fitted so that it feels just right to me. Thanks again.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Glad it helped!

[@aaron-4062]

Having a rack of swords in your house is pretty cool. Though I'm satisfied with having just one on a stand, next to some of the items I use to sharpen and grease it. Makes it the highlight of the room.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Most of the bits I have on the rack are for sale. I don't keep them all. It does look good though. Its a nice background.

[@traceydeanrainey]

I've orders a bunch of stuff from Fred Lohman in Portland and it's been good each time, I built my own katana and it was fun and frustrating !! Each time they turned out really well.

[@Cloudfencer]

Your bamboo mat is gorgeous and inspires me to get my own and remount it. However, I’m also torn between this and the Magnificent Chu Jian I practice with both Chinese and Japanese styles of swords but I only want one. One is lighter in the hand and in the wallet, the other more heftier on the wallet and in the hands. I just keep watching your videos on both swords to help me get an idea of what to expect.

[@kristopheralonge2813]

I just bought one of these from Kult of Athena the other day! I'm not sure how I'm going to customize it yet, but you couldn't have picked a better time to put out this video! I have a discontinued Hanwei Winter Bamboo tsuba (the original iron one before they switched to the crappy alloy model) and am thinking of incorporating that in the project. Tsuba Image: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3a/ae/dc/3aaedc6fbba1c50436629a2f5ebef0e0.jpg

[@kristopheralonge2813]

Fantastic video as usual, man!

[@DrBB-pc2ji]

could you make a instructional video showing how did you make changes and assembly process? I'd love to see it and learn from it

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I had the work done by a pro. I am not handy that way.

[@robertmccarter8010]

This video gave me a "sword epiphany". I've been doing it all wrong. I buy swords that I like the look of and that seem to be "the best" and then, regardless of whether or not I prefer the handling of it, I force myself to use it over and over. Why not, right? I spent a lot of hard earned money on it and I "want" to like it more than the other "lesser" swords I own. But how the sword handles and feels is much more important. Sure, you get used to a blade after awhile and feel more comfortable with it. Not to mention you need to try different types to really learn what you prefer. But when you get that blade that's "just right" from the moment you take your first swing, then you have found the "best sword". It may not be the best sword for everyone but it is for you. If you hate the fittings or theme, replace them or just learn to love them. Great video! It helped me find the next step in this fun hobby. Gonna search for the sword to take to my grave. Maybe even even have it redone when I do! You will sell a 10,000 dollar katana that someone may only dream to have (they think), yet this is the one you won't part with. Why? Because it feels right at home when you pick it up! Why didn't I realize this sooner!

[@Matthew_Jensen]

You got it right. It is indeed a good idea... I think many look at upgrading a less expensive blade as a bad investment. The idea that you are going to spend as much money "pimping" the sword as you would simply buying one that is supposedly better is a tough thing to wrap your head around. Anyway, glad the video helped, happy sword hunting!

[@razrknife]

Where did you get the tsuba? I love that look.

[@thebusey4514]

Thanks for the info and links!

[@erichusayn]

So, if somebody were to purchase a katana from you that "the man in black" worked on, is his/her identity disclosure included in the purchase price?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

you don't have to buy one for me to tell you. Just send an email. He prefers to remain out of the public eye but I can still tell you in a private message.

[@erichusayn]

ahhhh... good to know. I guess your videos just make him sound more mysterious and elusive than he really is.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

LOL, the mysteriousness is something of my doing. On one hand I want to share who did the work and to give the man credit while on the other hand, I want to respect his desire to remain out of public. I figure the "mysterious man in black" is a fitting name.

[@erichusayn]

Gotchya. I noticed that quite a few of the craftspeople that do that kind of thing have an insanely long wait if they're even taking orders/commissions at all...

[@Thomasari]

i love it the tsuka is perfekt...

[@rogerportillo8904]

hey matt, you helped me pick my first katana it was between the lion dog and the bamboo matt i went for the bamboo and its a awsome sword, thanks for your advice, i feel its not so sharp though, i only tried cutting bottles but it just smacks them away i must be doing it wrong, its a expensive sword with a good steel i feel i shouldnt have dificulties cutting, i dont know i guess i just need to learn how to cut, well thanks for all your insight

[@Matthew_Jensen]

You might also have a dud. You can try and ping CAS Iberia about it. Sometimes blades go out crazy sharp and sometimes not so sharp. I don't think this sword was ever crazy sharp but it has a decent edge.

[@rogerportillo8904]

+Matthew Jensen (Funny Sword Reviews) dammit, what would your advice be on sharpening it on wet stones, im told a katana like this shouldnt be sharpened because it ruins the hammon and it scratches it, im really mad i love this katana, but i dont want a dull blade

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I would see what your options are for an exchange first. If it is not an option then there are a few folks that do sharpening privately but I would try my luck with another blade first if it is an option.

[@striker45cal]

Just out of curiosity who/where did you send your katana out to for mounting and where did you purchase your tsuka? My Skyjiro has a cracked Tsuka and I'd like to have it replaced and re-wrapped with the Tsunami ito.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

The person I use does not liked to be called out by name so we refer to him as the man in black. If you send me a PM I can provide you with the details but out of respect for his wishes, I don't put the info out... at least not when I am sober enough to remember he does not like it. Anyway, there was no place to buy the tsuka, it has to be hand made and carved to shape.. The fuchi/kashire ect were purchased from hyper-cafe, tsuba was an ebay purchase from areksan777. Ito was fred lohman tsunami ito. the rest was done up by the man in black.

[@striker45cal]

Sent you a pm but not sure if it went through. If you don't mind e-mailing me at [e-mail] I would appreciate it. I am working on several sword projects at the moment and when finished wouldn't mind sharing the results with you and get your opinion on them.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I sent you a reply to your PM.

[@KiiDKali]

Yo!! Do you live in Minnesota?! I live in Minnesota myself and I live in Eden prairie

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I am in MN

[@KiiDKali]

Matthew Jensen Thats awesome!! Would you by any chance have a Katana that you would sell me?

[@KiiDKali]

Katanas are one of my favorite swords! But I do not have any swords yet. It’s something I’ve always wanted though.

[@mmsolo5107]

I'm debating between two Hanwei katanas. The Kaeru (frog) and the Orchid. What's your opinion on both and do you have a video review on either?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I prefer the orchid but they are different things.. It depends on the situation but in most I would prefer the orchid.

[@mmsolo5107]

Orchid's a better cutter and more durable? I really like the whole frog theme but more focused on sword application than cosmetics.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

orchid is lighter and faster in the hands. Feels better as in more lively and controllable. The frog was less impressive in the hand. Not terrible but not good. It might make a better cutter but not by much. It also depends on what you are cutting, neither seem geared toward tatami for example... Durability wise the frog is thicker so I would guess it would hold up better. The orchid is a light thin blade so there are some resilience questions when cutting tatami or bamboo.

[@mmsolo5107]

Good information and thanks for your help. So many Katanas out there it can be overwhelming for a beginner like myself.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

hope it helps. Good luck in the search

[@carlosduclaud9562]

hi again, can i ask you how did you polish your bamboo mat ?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I used mothers mag metal polish or flintz to clean it a few times but I have never polished it other than that.

[@waynec9923]

Done MJER for many many years now I have had a few swords over time and find Hanwei and Paul Chen swords to be of extremely awful quality and useless for training purposes I have had a Tozando iaito since 2013 and use it 3 to 4 times a week for a two hour long session each time, and find it to be an outstanding sword to use ,and of excellent build quality I still have my Hanwei and Paul Chen swords as wall hangers and sadly that is all the are good for If you want a wall hanger then buy a Hanwei or Paul Chen , if you want a sword to use save yourself time and money and buy a Tozando iaito or shinken

[@fallenstudent1103]

If i did Japanese martial arts I would probably use the Hanwei Lion dog.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I found that one to be a bit on the heavy side. Some people like that though. The wind and thunder is also a heavy one and that is in the same kind of boat.

[@katanacustoms9532]

Great video Matthew...so funny i have remouted a PK whit new tsuka, samegawa, japanese cotton ito and Hyper Cafe fuchi, kashira, menuikis...and LOL same issue whit Hyper Cafe...nice prodcts but there customer service is the opposite ;-) . You can check my PK on SBG i go by elcachito...do all the work my self. Best regards Gustavo from Sweden

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Would you rather have a PPK that had custom work or a $1000 sword from Hanwei?

[@katanacustoms9532]

PK or PPK that is custom fitted for shore before a 1000usd Hanwei. I really dont like there tsukas they are to big. The one thats on my PK is 25cm or 10" and more traditional shape,

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I think a lot of people pass that option by without a thought. I think its a solid option especially if you are a practitioner.

[@katanacustoms9532]

Sadly yes...the PK and PPK blade are good inuf then a really nice remount and you have a great katana.

[@TheNEOONE1]

Up for sale?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

LOL, you didn't watch all the way did you. No, this is one of the few that is not for sale.

[@rogerportillo8904]

lol he said he taking it to the grave with him, he not selling it lls

[@TheNEOONE1]

+Matthew Jensen (Funny Sword Reviews) I havn't watched any of it yet.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

All good. Yeah, this is one of the few that is not up for sale. Its my favorite sword for whatever reason. Anyway, this video shows where I got the stuff. It is conceivable for you to have your own made.

[@TheNEOONE1]

+Matthew Jensen (Funny Sword Reviews) It's a nice design. I always check your vids anyway when I get the chance. Thanks for the response.

[@-ShinshojiRyuhoho]

Uploading sword videos to KZbin

[@flubby18]

I don't own a Hanwei katana. But after reading some of the forum comments, I don't think I ever will. It seems their low end katanas have a very weak tang, almost rat tail. Any company that makes something that weak as part of their line is not serious about protecting their customers from danger. When purchasing or making a katana, safety is the highest priority. It has to be considered that the least experience will try the most dangerous things with it. In addition I found a bamboo katana on their website priced at $495. I just purchased the exact same sword for $49. That is a massive rip off. If any of you have anything you might add here, please do so. As I said, I don't own one and cannot do tests or reviews, but this information I have seen turns me completely off of them as a company. Rod Norman

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I have not experienced rat tail tangs with Hanwei swords personally. I have had some of their old swords and new ones, all of them have very acceptable size tangs.. The japanese term for it is nakago, and there are some expectations about the nakago that most manufacturers miss. Hanwei gets closer than most. The size is decent, the file marks are good, the signatures look nice.. All in all the nakago or tang has been one of the most appealing things about hanwei swords... at least as it relates to other factories from china. I have not had many of their euro blades apart so if your experiences is with those it might be different. The ones I have seen have been fine but I have had less experience with those. As for the bamboo mat katana for $49, can you share a link? Sometimes the swords give the impression of looking the same but after closer inspection there are differences that justify the cost. Would be interesting to see.

[@flubby18]

Thank you for responding. If you noted in my comment I said that I have not purchased anything from them. However I found a remark in the forums that disturbed me. Here is the link. www.aikiweb.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-7815.html There are differences in the two bamboo swords but nothing that would justify the difference in price. Modern steels are far superior to the earliest traditional methods of making Japanese steel. The folding was not for edge holding but was to drive out impurities, something we no longer have in the modern 1045 and 1065 steel blades. The 1095 is too stiff and brittle for a sword blade. Differentially hardened is traditional as well as the traditional hamon formed by the use of clay hardening, but again, tests done on the two have proven that there is no real appreciable difference in the hardness vs flexibility that the differentially hardened or laminated blades are meant to provide. The work put into a sword to make it in the traditional method justifies some increase in cost but not as a difference between $100 and $750. The two in construction are the same. The pushbutton release is a dangerous addition. The training one undergoes in the use of the katana requires consistency in construction. I feel the price is not justified at all. Mine arrived solid, without any rattle or slip between parts, which I had expected. Although not polished to a mirror finish, it still is a fine steel. I simply wish they had not bothered with the fake hamon. I meant it as a training bokken with the saya on but it turns out to be a fine weapon as well. I was impressed. It should have been crap and I ordered it to use as a comparison with several other custom swords I have on order now. www.trueswords.com/Shinwa---Bamboo-Stick-Shirasaya-Sword-w--Push-Button-Release www.paulchenhanweiswords.com/bamboo-katana.aspx I make swords and knives and have worked with forgers on some of the blades I use. A test done with several types of swords proved that the cutting is a combination of the sharpness and the technique used. Again the purpose of a bo-hi is to provide the whistle during training to insure that the stroke is perfect and consistent. Any variation in the soud means the blade is not slicing perfectly true. Tests were done with different steels and then with a handmade orc blade made of tool steel and unhardened or tempered. They all cut perfectly. The difference is in the length of time the edge remains sharp. Again, I have not tested them, but as I said, based on the reviews I have seen on the cheaper line, I would not trust them. Some have even asked how Paul Chen could have licensed his name to these products. (I refrain from using the tradition terms since so few people know what I am talking about.)

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Its hard for me to argue about the bamboo katana.. The bamboo mat is a bit different. I do see a lot of similarities between the Hanwei babmoo and the one Shinwa is making. The photos are not quite clear enough to show though, and I don't have a hanwei bamboo to compare it to. As for the pricing difference, hanwei msrp is often high but they sell from many other dealers for much less. I think it might be because they ahve a good name in the industry and people are willing to pay the cost. I think if people see value is subjective. You would not be the first one to think its not worth the extra money. Value is somewhat subjective and depends on what part you find valuable.

[@flubby18]

My post was to request experience that might shed some light on why these criticisms are being posted. As I said, I have no experience with them. But I see warning signs and I'm hoping someone might explain why these are showing up. I don't see them for any other company. I pointed out the safety concerns. Although price is relative, meaning some people think an item is worth the money, I think most people do a lot of shopping. My concern is, of course, over the cheaper line of Hanwei blades. A company is measured by their cheapest items. If they are producing unsafe products that is a real concern. As I said, the pushbutton release is an unsafe feature as is any cheaply made katana. The inexperienced are most likely to buy them and they would also be the most likely to try some of the demonstration tests shown on KZbin. Even experienced owners have cut themselves severely attempting to pull the blade out quickly.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Your point about safety is an important one. Rat tail tangs are not safe or at least they are much less safe when put into a blade design that is not intended for something like that. That said, I have not had experiences with Hanwei being rat tail tangs. It seems like the comment in that thread you posted was a comparison to Last Legend blades. They had very thick tangs and Hanwei pieces are a bit smaller. Still I have taken apart their practical blades from that period in time and found them to have a sufficient tang. I would not use "rat tail" as a word to describe any product from hanwei that I have personally seen and that includes their early practical (cheap) pieces. They may have also made swords intended only for display. I don't know if they do or dont but any of their swords that they sell for use have had a big enough tang and it was often well shaped. There are plenty of other things I could complain about on the swords, they are not perfect but I have not personally seen them have that flaw in the hundred or so blades from them I have taken apart. As for folks doing some of the testing they see on youtube... thats another topic. As a person that does cutting on videos here people have told me that I might influence someone to do something stupid. I hope everyone uses good judgment but I can't insure they will. Swords are dangerous and bad things can happen. Its a risk you assume when you use something that can hurt you. I think the danger with swords is implied personally but others disagree. I think the most dangerous thing about the swords now is that people don't know they can break in half and turn into a helicopter of death.