As a sort of follow-up to the Hanweii-Windlass debate, I am ordering the Hanweii Edward III sword, which is currently out of stock from any dealer on the Internet (I've got a reserve order in with one of them for when a new batch comes in). I really, really like the look of this sword, much better than the higher rated (and much more expensive) one produced by Arms and Armoury, reviewed on this site. Also you get a very nice looking scabbard free with it; the Arms and Armoury one, they charge $85 extra just for a piece of sewn up leather! Anyway, are there any readers out there who own the Hanweii Edward III sword? Are you happy with it?

Concerning, the Hanweii-Windlass debate, I was surprised by how well-rated the Windlass swords are. I probably don't have the data to answer the original comparison query by Ant because 1) all my Hanweii swords are Oriental (i.e., genuine hand-forged and folded "Japanese" samurai sword replicas), and 2) they're generally 2-3 times more expensive than any of the European swords I've bought from Windlass. Those factors aside, based on my experience of consistency of qaulity over Windlass, I'd have to say Hanweii is the superior maker.

Paul

I have owned the Hanwei Edward III in the past. Its a very nice looking sword, but its not so good on the handling, its sluggish and pretty dead feeling. Compared to the Windlass Arbedo, the Arbedo was a similar sword that handled a lot better. But, I do regret selling the Hanwei Edward III, because it did look very good on my wall!

I have the Hanwei bastard sword waiting here to be picked up by a customer. It's not the Edward sword but I think they share the same characteristics, which is almost no distal taper at all. :| I handled the Edward sword when I was in Taiwan a few years ago and it also shows the same problem.

I have moved this topic to the Historic Arms Talk forum.

Please note the description for this forum:

"Discussions of reproduction and authentic historical arms and armour from various cultures and time periods"

Thank you.

According to someone at CAS Iberia, this model is probably going to be discontinued. So there may not be a next batch, as CASI did not have any stock on hand when I asked except for factory seconds (blemished models).

I have the Hanwei Edward III sword and I like it. I only use it as a wallhanger but it constantly impresses visitors. I think it is very well made considering the $229.95 I paid for it on ebay. I have never had the A&A version on hand to compare it to. I also own the Hanwei Torino Rapier, Basket Hilt Broadsword and Cromwell sword and have found them to all be excellent for the money. I've noticed read reviews where Hanwei gets a bad rap. My personal experience has been that the quality of the Hanwei products have been better than Windlass. I'm sure someone will disagree but please note I said "my personal experience" which is not a blanket condemnation of Windlass.

I have handled the Hanwei Edward III Sword on a few occasions while comparing it with my Arms & Armor Edward III
Sword which I had with me, while at Kult of Athena, where the Hanwei is priced at $229.95 but is on Back Order
http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~PC20...+Sword.htm
I live under a half hour from the store, so I go there about once a month, sometimes just to "shoot the breeze" about our common interest with the owner "Ryan" who is a very nice guy and himself a Roman Captain in a re enactor group with 50 men under him.
My honest straight down the pipe opinion of the difference between these two swords is "Night and Day", but the Hanwei is only $229.95 and comes with a scabbard, while the Arms & Armor is $855.00 and does not come with a scabbard. The Arms & Armor version is 4 fold the cost minus $64.80, but it's also 6 times the Hanwei version in quality.
The Hanwei Edward III Sword makes one's arm want to lower the sword till the tip hits the ground, whereas the
Arms & Armor version feels like an extension of one's arm. By the way, I am an owner of four Hanwei Swords, one of them, the "Lowlander" is best suited and serves in my collection as a wallhanger, it has a rat tail tang which renders an otherwise nice blade to be useless. I also have the following Hanwei's, Sir William Marshall Sword, Cromwell Mortuary Sword and the Godfred Viking Sword, all of which perform very well as cutters, and I've done a lot of cutting with these three swords and I am very happy with them, given the price I have zero complaints with the latter three swords.
However, the Hanwei Edward III Sword that I inspected side by side with my Arms & Armor Sword was a bit warped, which told me there was some uneveness in the tempering of the blade and it felt comparatively dead in my hand.
Although, if one is financially limited and there is just no way one could get away with buying the Arms & Armor version, be it because of a spouse or parent, then the Hanwei version is still a nice buy at the price. It is a nice looking sword it just lacks the life of the Arms & Armor version.

Hope I was of some help!

Bob

As a side note I previously owned the Windlass "Sword of the King" from their Kingdom of heaven movie collection. It appears to have been very closely copied of the Edward III sword. They were so similar that I finally decided to get rid of one.

The Hanwei Edward III is no Albion or A&A, but it has been pretty well recieved considering what it is, and what the price is.

Here is a review by an amatuer on SBG:


http://sbgswordforum.proboards70.com/index.cg...1192220745

The reviewer on SBG calls the hilt "brass-plated steel" and refers to the scabbard fittings as brass-plated. According to email exchanges with CAS Iberia, it's gold-plated.

Hi........I have the Hanwei Edward III and I find it delightful ! I think the weight and balance are fine, but thats for me and everyone's different. I found the the detail to be more accurate, (eg. the grip rings ) as compared to the A&A,..... a matter which I mentioned in a previous post. I believe that A & A saw the post and have since modified their details accordingly. In fairness, I have not had the pleasure of handeling the A&A sword. For me, if I am to buy a replica of any historic sword, that being one used by a figure of history whose original exixts, then I want maximum accuracy. I am not one to marr my blade by doing cutting exercises with it. For me the pleasure is in owning an accurate reproduction of a historic item. So when I want to cut something, I will use a sword for that purpose as I do not have the available budget of King Edward !
Yes, it would be even nicer to have real gold-plated fittings, but theres nothing to stop me having that done if I have the spare cash. Hmmmm....... I remember that I have some Gold Chloride left over from my old commercial Photo - Lab ! .....guess It would be safer to experiment with a belt buckle and leave the plating to the pros, yes ? Anyway, I an very happy with the Hanwei, esp. in value for money. The enameling detail is great and the pommel relic - plate is better too IMHO.
All round, I'm very happy....... see...> :D

Merv,
If you have the Hanwei version, then you have gold-plating on it, at least according to CASI.

Yes Merv, Arms & Armor "Did" correct the placement of the gold bands on the grip. I was in the first boat of the five people to get the new corrected Edward III Sword and they are in fact correct!

Sincerely!

Bob