Swordsman and Archer

This is the page for our high quality Japanese reproductions. 

Paul Chen -Tsunami Wakizashi- SOLD

Paul Chen -Bamboo Snake set- SOLD

Orchid Katana and Wakizashi- SOLD

 This is a used and modified Paul Chen "tsunami" style wakizashi. I bought it from a seller who often remounts blades such as this, and does a pretty good job. He had this one mounted as aiguchi (no tsuba), but I liked a tsuba for iai practice. (It does have two nakago ana, so it can still be mounted as aikuchi if you'd prefer.) So I added a nice, old, brass tsuba, probably an edo piece, which I cleaned up just a bit. The fuchi and kashira were replaced with silver pieces, the fuchi being one of Fred Lohman's solid silver ones that I don't believe he makes anymore. I used the sword extensively for iai and tameshigiri (primarily on bamboo!), and It remained virtually unscathed. It has been sharpened well, and polished to some degree. Please judge by photos. Sword, and all furniture, are tightly fitted. Comes with sword bag. Saya is deeply lacquered black and also has a new silver colored imported Japanese sageo. Quality samegawa and tight black cotton tsuka maki. Steel is hand forged, differentially tempered, Sweedish K120C powdered steel. I think nagasa is 20 inches, but I'll have to measure it to be sure. Brand new, the sword was approximately $500 or so, plus another several hundred put into the fittings.

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 This is the "Bamboo Snake" daisho ("long and short", meaning both katana and wakizashi). BRAND NEW. Tags still attached. (removed for photos) Swords are numbered. I believe 140 katana were made and only 60 of the wakizashi. If my numbers are off, its not by much. They are rather rare, especially finding the pair together, and a great addition to the collection of any Paul Chen/Cas Iberia blade collector.(or sword collector of any type).

Each comes with quality silk sword bag, tags still intact. Theme is a tree snake amongst the bamboo, Solid steel (not polished) tsuba and fittings. Saya is deeply lacquered black, with black buffalo horn kurigata and koiguchi. Quality samegawa and green cotton tsuka maki. One piece construction habaki. Steel is handforged and folded Sweedish K120C powdered steel, with prominent hamon and hada. These swords are in absolutely brand new, pristine condition. Never used to cut, or even for kata for that matter. Nagasa of katana is 28 and 1/2 inches, the wakizashi 22" (again, I'll have to check, but it's between 20" and 22" for sure). These are beautifully elegant and slender blades, with "slender" not to imply skinny or weak, They are very strong, just slightly more narrow than other styles, tapering to under 1 inch wide at the yokote. Hada and hamon are extremely prominent. This blade is of the same forged and folded construction with which the other high end blades of Paul Chen are made. They retail for anywhere from $1500 to $2000 plus for katana, and $1000 to $1500 or so for wakizashi. So, a set of like quality and construction Paul Chen blades (The "Orchid" blades seem very similar to me") would retail for at least $2500, give or take. I am asking approximately half of what retail price would be. But they are not even available, as the forge made only very limited quantity.  

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This is the "Orchid" katana, one of the finest swords offered by CAS Iberia, from the Hanwei forge of Paul Chen. Nagasa 28", tsuka 11.5". Orchid and butterfly theme on iron tsuba and fittings, with silver, brass, and copper inlay. Saya is deeply lacquered blue, with black buffalo horn kurigata and koiguchi. Quality samegawa and cotton tsuka maki. One piece construction habaki. Steel is hand-forged and folded Swedish K120C powdered steel, with prominent hamon and hada. This sword is in absolutely brand new, pristine condition. Never used to cut, or even for kata for that matter. I got a great deal on this sword, so I am able to start the bidding ridiculously low. Brand new (as per the 2007 CAS Hanwei catalogue), the retail price is $1599 plus tax and shipping and handling. That would be at least $1650 total!!!!! I am offering the same exact piece, also brand new, for LESS THAN 1/2 RETAIL PRICE as a starting bid. If for no other reason, I'm sure it can be bought as a small investment, which can almost certainly be resold again if necessary, probably for a profit. Point being, it will hold most of its value if it is taken care of properly. However, it really is a fine sword to train with, both kata and tameshigiri. Definitely a high end blade from the Hanwei collection. It handles well, being amazingly light for a blade with no bo-hi. Would cut well also.                                                                                                                                                                             

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