Paul Chen Hanwei L6 Praying Mantis Katana

[Rashishi1444]

Gorgeous sword 3

[randomperson110]

if i had the money man , this is my favorite sword .

[6XstringXsamurai]

awesome sword! quick tip from someone in the broadcasting profession: ALWAYS use a tripod with the camera! it will look 10 times more professional!

[neferiusnexus]

Please upload the video in HQ ...I want to see the beautiful Hamon made from forging a blade Soshu-Kitae style :D

[twistedbydsign99]

wish i could afford it

[AlwaysCool5000]

perfect

[withoutbleeding]

There are plastic parts on the handle and sheath?Or

I can not see the materials?

[page6345]

I do not like the theme.

I do not like decorative swords, my preference is plain and functional.

[ihaterobbie123]

@page6345 Yeah, because l6 steel is decorative...

What are you? Someone who swings around a conventional cutter with plain fittings? Then you like decorative swords.

You could fit a katana with plastic ergonomic grips, it would look stupid but it would be functional.

If you don't like decorative swords then don't buy a katana. Traditional fittings aren't as functional as they could be but that's all you'll find them in.

[greencircle86]

Its a nice sword but it has a major flaw. The hamon isnt wide enough. The standard is a little over a quarter inch in width. The reason for this is longevity of the blade, polishing after cutting will wear this blade away to nothing but a soft spine rather fast.

[ihaterobbie123]

@greencircle86

Except that this is revolutionary steel which barely wears at all. People have managed to chip it when they tried hard enough, but apparently polishings are many, many times further apart than with many other steels.

Take good care of an L6 blade and it won't ever let you down...provided you don't live for hundreds of years.

[RebelWrestler45]

@ihaterobbie123 Haha, L6 is a bandsaw tool steel, not new or revolutionary. American bladesmiths have been using it for a long time. It does not have as good of wear resistance as certain high speed tool steels, but it does have great toughness at medium-high hardness and is quite forgiving during heat treat. the drawback to l6 is that it is hard to forge, and eats up grinding belts and stones during pre-heat treat profiling, it also rusts horribly.

[leonidasthe1hippie]

Cant decide between

Paul Chen L6/Bainite Oni Katana

Paul Chen Praying Mantis Katana

or the

Paul Chen Paper Crane Katana

any advice here

[orchidrain015]

Katana like this one doesn't matter anymore once you get a real gendaito in your possession..i've been very fortunate to be blessed with one

[RebelSword]

$1619.90=£970.64....Not bad for a good quality katana.

[zune345]

what kind of steel is l6?

[RoninEnsse]

L6 is a special type of tool steel. Tool steels are specialized steels that are made for different purposes. However, because of the many alloying elements that are used to make them, they are often difficult to forge and/or heat treat. If made correctly though, blades made using tool steel are superior to normal high carbon steel or stainless steel blades. L6 is one of the best, only surpassed by S7.

[pirateboy12]

what is S7? never heard of it?

[RoninEnsse]

S7 is a type of shock resistant tool steel.  I believe S1, S5, and S7 are available from Crucible (a steel company). Daniel Watson, a swordsmith in Driftwood, Texas, owns and runs a forge by the name of Angelsword Forge, and many of his swords are made from S7. His other swords include his own patented Techno-Wootz Damascus steel, which is a metallurgical breakthrough, as it perfectly replicates all of the properties of genuine damascus steel.

[RoninEnsse]

Oh, haha, I didn't realized I already replied to your comment. My mistake! ^_^

[salmonking007]

If you want to know what L6 steel is capable of, run a youtube search for

''l6 bainite video trailer"

The result should be at the top of the list. They claim it is virtually indestructible with extremely good edge retention

Unlike most Paul Chen blades, if this is forged correctly, this katana can stand up to metal on metal impact (most are just designed to cut through Tatami Mats and never encounter heavy impact materials). Other Chen blades crumple under this impact.

[ifdc]

think the praying mantis can cut through pipes?

[salmonking007]

depends on the pipe metal, thickness, and the quality of the L6 of this being forged. Also, it'd take a considerable amount of strength...

[Bookstop1337]

@salmonking007 Do you think traditional swords will be surpassed by modern reproductions with all these advancements? Higher quality steel, better knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy etc.

[salmonking007]

I believe that traditional swords have been surpassed by SERIOUS modern swords. We've retained all the old techniques (the ones that were most effective anyway) and we do have a better understanding of alloys. There's just not that high of a demand for the "ultimate blade" anymore due to firearms. Because of this, swords are now unfortunately subjected to more decorative purposes and can be cheaply mass produced a crap quality; however, there are still some good smiths out there.

[Bookstop1337]

@salmonking007

Very wise.

[salmonking007]

I'm humbled, lol.

[Bookstop1337]

@salmonking007

Dou itashi mashite ^ ^

[docnightfall]

@ifdc

No.

But it should withstand metal-to-metal impacts on the side and spine of the blade such as when it is used to parry or deflect an oncoming blow. The edge is brittle and is not supposed to be used for deflecting strikes or (gasp) cutting through metal. It will chip if it impacts metal or stone.

[BootShark]

The hilt wrapping surprised me. Honestly this is a gorgeous sword.

[blackpanther93]

are u gonna make one on the oni l6 bainite katana? =P

[swordsofmight]

If I can ever keep one in stock long enough ; )

[BackstrokeOfTheWest]

Beautiful sword... Pity $1600 is a bit out of my price range.

[maradrew]

wow new music!

[vikingninja72]

I must find out the name of this music.

what is it? oh, and how much is the sword?

[swordsofmight]

There is no name to the music, it is made for us. The sword is $1619.90

[gonefishingstudios]

@swordsofmight what about the name of the music on your cold steel nodachi video?

[sheanmtaal7]

is it a full wrap ray skin same or just panels?

[ChrisRiley93]

@sheanmtaal7 Panels.

[mahirmahir81]

beautiful katana.