Hanwei Raptor Series Katana Unokubi Zukuri
The Raptor series, our new line of cutting katanas, has been designed for the cutting practitioner who does not necessarily have access to mats but who wishes to practice and perfect his cutting technique. The blades are forged in 5160 high-carbon steel and specially heat treated to produce very high resilience and greater tolerance of misdirected cuts than a conventional differentially tempered blade. The edge geometry is configured to facilitate the cutting of both soft and semi-hard materials without chipping, allowing the cutter a wide choice of targets.

The Raptor Unokubi-Zukuri (Cormorants Neck) blade design is patterned after the shape of the Naginata, the powerful long-handled weapon popular between the 12th and 14th centuries. Notable for the strongly relieved shinogi-ji and diamond-shaped kissaki, the Unokubi-Zukuri provides excellent balance in a strong cutting blade.

Overall length:  45"
Blade length:  28.5"
Handle length:   13"
Weight:  2lb 12oz

Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Katana Shobu Zukuri:
The Raptor series, our new line of cutting katanas, has been designed for the cutting practitioner who does not necessarily have access to mats but who wishes to practice and perfect his cutting technique. The blades are forged in 5160 high-carbon steel and specially heat treated to produce very high resilience and greater tolerance of misdirected cuts than a conventional differentially tempered blade. The edge geometry is configured to facilitate the cutting of both soft and semi-hard materials without chipping, allowing the cutter a wide choice of targets.

The Raptor Shobu-Zukuri (Iris Leaf) blade has an elegant shape and powerful cutting ability. Notable for the absence of a Yokote transition, this blade design became popular during the Nanbokucho era (1336 ~1392 AD) and its popularity continued into the Muromachi period.

Overall length:  45.5"
Blade length:  29"
Handle length:   13"
Weight:  2lb 12oz

Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Katana Shinogi Zukuri:
The Raptor series, our new line of cutting katanas, has been designed for the cutting practitioner who does not necessarily have access to mats but who wishes to practice and perfect his cutting technique. The blades are forged in 5160 high-carbon steel and specially heat treated to produce very high resilience and greater tolerance of misdirected cuts than a conventional differentially tempered blade. The edge geometry is configured to facilitate the cutting of both soft and semi-hard materials without chipping, allowing the cutter a wide choice of targets.

The Raptor Shobu-Zukuri (Iris Leaf) blade has an elegant shape and powerful cutting ability. Notable for the absence of a Yokote transition, this blade design became popular during the Nanbokucho era (1336 ~1392 AD) and its popularity continued into the Muromachi period.

Overall length:  45.5"
Blade length:  29"
Handle length:   13"
Weight:  2lb 12oz

Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Katana Mohoha Zukuri:
Each katana in the series features a unique blade style, each with its origins in Japanese swordmaking history, providing the cutting practitioner with choices in both aesthetics and handling characteristics. Forged in the Kissaki Moro Ha Zukuri style, the blade design of the Moroha Zukuri Katana is based on a Tachi blade believed to be forged around 800 AD by the smith Amakuni, though many similar blades have been produced in later Japanese history. The style is seen as a link between the old Ken straight swords & the curved Tachi (& later Katana). The style is unusual in having a back edge on the top half of the blade, with fullers starting where this edge finishes and continuing to the hilt. We have deliberately left this edge unsharpened for the benefit of Iaido practitioners used to working with more conventional blade styles.

Blade -Forged from 5160 high-carbon steel, marquenched to an edge hardness of 57HRc.
Tang (Nakago) -Full length, double pegged.
Ferrule (Habaki) –Brass
Handle (Tsuka) -Wood core, genuine rayskin (Same), special non-stretch sueded wrap (Tsuka- ito) for firm grip and wear resistance. Raptor feathers hilt ornaments (Menuki).
Guard (Tsuba) -Traditional blackened iron, Raptor motif. Fitting (Fuchi/Kashira) -Blackened steel, Raptor motif.
Scabbard (Saya) -Wood, non-fingerprinting textured laquer finish.

PRODUCT LENGTH:  38 3/4 INCH
BLADE LENGTH:   26 3/8 INCH
PRODUCT WEIGHT:   2LB 7OZ
Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Katana Nanbokucho:
Each katana in the series features a unique blade style, each with its origins in Japanese swordmaking history, providing the cutting practitioner with choices in both aesthetics and handling characteristics.

The Nanbochuko period in Japanese history (the later part of the 14th. century) encompassed sixty years of internal conflict in Japan, which spawned a demand for more and bigger sword blades than ever produced previously. Blades became longer and wider, sometimes to extremes (the Odachi had its genesis in this period). Named for this period, the Nanbokucho Katana is impressively sized. With a blade length of 30”, a long kissaki and a weight of just under 3 lbs. it is designed for heavy targets. It is, however, surprisingly agile and nimble enough to master double cuts.

PRODUCT LENGTH:  44 7/16 INCH
BLADE LENGTH:   30 INCH
PRODUCT WEIGHT:   2LB 15OZ
Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Wakizashi :
While the Wakizashi and Tanto of the Raptor series provide matching pieces for any of the Raptor katanas, they are in their own right designed as very effective cutting tools. Made in the blade style of James Williams’ personal Nami Ryu swords, these pieces will allow the cutting practitioner to perfect techniques for each of the three weapons, at the same time as they complete an impressive display.

Overall length:  26 3/4"
Blade length:  19"
Handle length:   6 1/2"
Weight:  1lb 8oz
Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Hanwei Raptor Series Tanto :
While the Wakizashi and Tanto of the Raptor series providing matching pieces for any of the Raptor katanas, they are in their own right designed as very effective cutting tools. Made in the blade style of James Williams’ personal Nami Ryu swords, these pieces will allow the cutting practitioner to perfect techniques for each of the three weapons, at the same time as they complete an impressive display.

Raptor Series Construction Details:

Blade -Forged from 5160 high-carbon steel, marquenched to an edge hardness of 57HRc.
Tang (Nakago) -Full length, double pegged.
Ferrule (Habaki) –Brass
Handle (Tsuka) -Wood core, genuine rayskin (Same), special non-stretch sueded wrap (Tsuka- ito) for firm grip and wear resistance. Raptor feathers hilt ornaments (Menuki).
Guard (Tsuba) -Traditional blackened iron, Raptor motif.
Fitting (Fuchi/Kashira) -Blackened steel, Raptor motif.
Scabbard (Saya) -Wood, non-fingerprinting textured laquer finish.

PRODUCT LENGTH:  16 5/8 INCH
BLADE LENGTH:   12 13/16 INCH
PRODUCT WEIGHT:   13 OZ
Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.