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Paul Chen-Cas Hanwei Swords

Hanwei

Hanwei, created by Paul Chen, has become the largest selling brand of both decorative and functional Japanese swords today. Paul Chen Hanwei Swords cover all areas of the market, where their swords range anywhere from $100-2,000 and up. Their swords are extremely popular, and almost everyone who is in the sword collecting industry owns at least one.

Interestingly, the Hanwei name came from the Dalian Forge in China where Chen produced his work. It is said that Paul Chen began making swords when he was eight years old.

Paul Chen

Many consumers turn to the Paul Chen and Hanwei brand because of the sword making ability of Paul Chen. After he initially studied the techniques of both Chinese and Japanese masters, Chen assembled a team of expert sword smiths capable of forging, polishing, heat-treating, and furnishing quality blades. His team reflects his passion for sword making done right, seeing as Chen is a perfectionist and is always striving to make his Hanwei swords more beautiful and durable.

His swords have a gained a lot of respect over the years because of their reasonable prices and high quality. Chen, who grew up in Taiwan, always had a passion for swords and knives. He took his passion to move to Dalian, China, which is known as the “Steel City” of northern China. Even with the criticism that he has received from extreme sword enthusiasts on his forging process, Chen’s Hanwei samurai swords are regarded as state of the art around the world, and they offer both the collector and martial artist the opportunity to own a great sword.

Hanwei Katana

Paul Chen’s katana are particularly known for their cutting ability. For instance, his Practical Series Katana features a fixed handle to keep the blade secure. The Practical Series is the most economical katana that Paul Chen offers, featuring differentially hardened blades and fittings that are designed for years of use. Some of his blades have matching wakizashi, while others do not. The katana are typically more popular that wakizashi as they are the full length blade.

His katana are made of various high carbon steels, which is dependent on the series of sword you want. The katana are forged with techniques designed to improve the grain orientation and further strengthen each sword that is made. Also, the claying techniques that Chen uses in making his swords make them almost impossible to break in competition or cutting exercises. Yet, Chen has gained criticism by some for the forging process of his swords. The katanas are initially polished by a machine, but the final polishing process is done by his team of sword smiths.

Many consider his Practical Plus katana an economically reasonable training blade. The blade is forged using many traditional techniques, including the use of anvils and hammers and a final polish by hand. These methods ensure that your Practical Plus katana not only looks beautiful, but can also stand up to the rigors of training. As an excellent beginner sword, this katana is a great place to begin to learn the practice of martial arts and to use in cutting competitions. This sword is consistently reviewed well for its price and quality.

How to Spot a Fake?

To ensure that you are not purchasing a fake Paul Chen Hanwei sword, you can buy your sword directly from the United States distributor Swords of The East. We have the best prices and buy factory direct getting you the best quality swords at the lowest prices. On their site, you can find Paul Chen’s quality and affordable katanas. 

It is much cheaper to buy from Swords Of The East rather than Hanwei directly, as they offer the exact same swords at deep discounts. Shipping is faster, and free too.


Caring for Your Paul Chen Sword

The quality and functionality of your Paul Chen sword can only be achieved through maintenance. Even though this does not require much work, keeping up with the maintenance of your sword helps to improve its longevity. It does not matter if you are using your sword as a decoration piece or to practice Kenjutsu or Tameshigiri. Remember that your sword serves as a piece of art and as a symbol that requires respect and care. In order for your blade to last, it needs to be maintained.

As long as you are storing your blade indoors, in a climate controlled area. with air conditioning, your sword will be fine. If you left it in a hot garage for a long time unsheated it could be a problem. The saya or sheath of the blade does protect it from most all issues. 

The first thing you should always do after you are done using your sword is to place it in its scabbard or saya. Your scabbard is made to protect your blade from long exposure to air, which can corrode it. You should also know that your scabbard helps to keep your blade from reshaping. But, if none of the reasons above are convincing enough, you should put your katana in its scabbard as a safety precaution. If nothing else, leaving an unsheathed blade out in the open after use could cause a very preventable injury to occur. You should know that samurai swords are very dangerous weapons and can easily injure or kill someone if they are not handled properly. Thus, it is better to be safe than sorry, so put your sword away after each use.

One thing that you will want to avoid as much as possible with your Paul Chen katana blade is touching it frequently. If you did not know already, your hands produce oils that could ruin your blade if you touch it frequently, so do not touch your blade unless it is absolutely necessary. Keep your hand-to-blade contact to a minimum, and when you do touch it, clean it with oil afterward. You can use a natural or synthetic oil to clean your blade. Some natural oils that you could use include mineral, clove, and camellia. When it comes to synthetics, silicone oil in a spray bottle will do the job.  Remember to oil your Paul Chen blade once a month to keep it in good and working condition.

Now that you know the basics on caring for your Paul Chen sword, you should know some ways that you can damage or break it. First off, you shouldn’t try to cut extremely hard objects with it. Do not try and cut down large tree trunks or branches with your Paul Chen sword. Your sword was not designed to handle these types of cutting tasks. To cut down large trees, you should use an axe instead. Your Paul Chen sword should be able to perform both light and medium type cuts.

Sharpening Your Blade

When it comes to sharpening your Paul Chen samurai sword, it is best to leave this task to the professionals. By doing some research, you should be able to find a professional in your area who is certified and knows how to sharpen your Paul Chen blade properly when you think it is no longer sharp enough to complete typical cutting tasks. But many people in the sword world really enjoy sharpening their own blades. With a little practice, you can master the art of sword sharpening in no time. All you need is a simply sharpening stone to get started. 

Displaying Your Sword

If you decide to display your Paul Chen samurai sword over a horizontal stand, make sure that the edge of your blade is facing up. This is very important, because doing so will prevent your blade from becoming damaged inside its scabbard. Yet, when it comes to deciding which direction to display your sword’s handle, this decision is up to you. This choice is more of a matter of preference rather than correctness, so do what you like best.

A Look Back

It is important to repeat that your Paul Chen samurai sword is a very dangerous weapon. You should know how to handle your sword responsibly to prevent an unexpected severe injury or even death from occurring. It is also important to note that you should really make sure that before you purchase your Paul Chen samurai sword, do your research and buy from a reputable vendor like Swords Of The East. Finally, make sure that you keep up with the maintenance of your blade in order to make it last a lifetime.

A Paul Chen Cas Hanwei sword will last for generations if you respect it. It can become a family heirloom that is passed down through the generations.