Hanwei Scottish Basket Hilt Backsword Review 

Can we talk about how calming his voice is ? Like dude should be doing voice overs for audible.

You've hit on most all of my impressions. My antiqued version has proven very durable. Keeping the hilt tight is a challenge, and I've found the basket on mine pushes back against tightening the end nut (all my end nuts are chewed up by vise grips by now). One concern for the edge is that the scabbard appears to be fiberglass. You'd probably enjoy picking up a few backsword "forms" (combos) to practice as they're pretty straightforward and work with a variety of weapons.

Thanks for the review. I recently obtained a Hanvei Great Sword of War second-hand. It seems very good. I think Hanwei/LKChen are really upping their game and producing some very accurate swords. Cheers!

The background structure in your tatami cutting clips is really nice! Is that your property? It suits you

I have studied origional Scottish basket hilted swords and they were light as a feather. Not like these clunky pieces of iron that are for sale today.

The faces are meant to resemble "horned beasties" they modeled this off an existent museum specimen original baskets were quite small compared to whats seen typically these days i own the antiqued variant of this sword and appreciate your thorough review process. The backsword was a developmental cousin to swords like the english mortuary and sideswords its caviat being a thick spine and very robust edge geometry the use of this sword is championed within the treatise writings of Donald Mcbane and George silver. The backedge similar to that of a stiletto profile was meant to be sharpened it was a true cut and thrust implement it could deliver opportunistic backedge slices at engagement ranges a spine that was superior for beating away an opposing blade authority in the cut the backedge allowed use of some of the key broadsword mechanics tbis sword wants to lunge and drive itself deep its a creature of speed that gives up very little reach and strength to its counterpart. The backsword was of almsot eqaul popularity to the broadsword "claymore" and existed for some time alongside it it would also continue to hold its own carried by gighland regiment officers well into the advent of rapiers and advanced sabers a backswrod makes some appearance within the roeworth/taylor english military saber system it is in many ways influenced by highland martial tradition. The system this is used in emphasizes a lot of crescent cuts from the wrist hangar gaurds feigns and withdraws with deep lunges it is also very steeped in lineage to dussack/dussagen the ancestor of the saber to its heavy grapple emphasis in which the basket is used to bludgeon at close qaurter is sometimes compare to things seen in eastern saber and messer dueling the highland basket hilts of this variety are unsung icons that stayed popular through the age of gunpowder and piracy the basket is cramped for some requiring less of a handshake grip a tradeoff it is among the most protective designs of its class maybe only rivaled by the schiavona which are gorgeous and very expensive.

As someone who has boxed for years I see a lot missing potential in this weapon to incorporate some brass knucle functionality in the hilt, even just some studs or spikes. Locked up? They won't expect an uppercut from your sword hand

Math do you have sny experience on the cold steel english backsword

as the basket is thin on top, is the blade inset at all or do the shoulders sit on top?

Regarding the inscription in the fuller: Andria Farara was a Scottish sword maker from the 18th Century.

I have the broad sword version. I love it but i took the liner out. Polished the interior of the basket and sanded down. The bar edges making them smooth. On the super heavy pummel. I cut deep vertical grooves into it. Also drilled the under side. Which removed alot of weight. I drilled a hole in the nut to so could tighten it down. All of that shifted the p.o.b about a inch. Which is fine because its supposed to be a slashing sword. I agree the grip needs to be oblong. But also a bit larger in diameter. That is the next on the modification list. That and i am going to make a hollow pummel. My goal is to bring the whole sword under 3 pounds.

the basket hilt is usually a highly cut oriented design

Thanks mate. Excellent review. Strangely, here in England basket hilted swords seem to nearly always get through customs. "It has a basket hilt, can't be for one of those katana wielding nut jobs. Let it through boy's."

I'm still looking for the extremely rare Basket Hilted Katana! All joking aside, my Cut and Thrust sword literally has all the features of this sword, right down to the ray skin handle and exact blade. The guard is almost "rapier like" just thicker and more substantial.

Matt, great video! Always been interested in these swords and now I know. Speaking of, there are a lot a historical reproductions coming from Honshu - broadsword, scimitar, Viking style blade - you should do a review on these to see how they hold up. Keep ‘em coming my friend!

Great video. I want to take the fabric and tassel off as well. When removing the pommel, did you twist the whole pommel assembly or just the nut on the end?

On a side note, recommend Rob Roy. Happy Holidays. ☘️

Yours truly has finally decided to put together some Scottish formal wear, complete with sword(excuse to wear a cross belt). I just want a nice looking maintenance free basket hilt sword- stainless blade and brass hilt. So hard to find cheap. If the basket hilt wasn't shaped like a cereal bowl I'd buy a Scottish Cutlass instead.

Wonderful…..don’t remember well and I’m pretty scatter brain this morning…but that wrist movement, that odd feeling that the swing is not right/complete-seeming a little off, may be directly related to one’s elevation w/ respect to the shoulders rotating…getting a little lower and reaching out, I believe will help with dexterity in targeting and striking….(not sure how to say what I mean)

I love the aesthetics of this and almost bought one after the museum I work at had an exhibition with an historical sword that was very similar. Unfortunately, European swordfighting is not my forte, and after handling one I realised that it was just way too alien for me.

Great review Matt, really cool, different sword here. Could you describe what the liner is made of, or what the consistency is? Is it just a felt-like fabric or is it padding of some kind? Thanks! Always wondered what these swords were like.

Nice enough. If you want to try a different hilt i have seen histroical examples that had a standard cross hilt similar to a west point cadet sword as well as stirrup hilts from calvary saber.

Enjoyed the extra cutting footage edited into this one. Interesting sword, man

Targe is the companion to the sword. Cheers ☘️

Great video! Cheers from Sweden!

Hey Matt, great review, oh but you know this already... Anyway! Aren't, or isn't, Hanwei the brand that makes their products... modular? So you can dissassemble them and, just like you said, switch parts, customize them in some way or other, etc? Yes I know, I could've gotten the wrong brand, been years m'friend, just had that pop in my head when you were showing how neat it was put together, a _"lego sword",_ if you will. Oh and loved the thing. And great catch on the rounded angles at the tang, it's the pressure there, or press-and-release constant activity that eventually could lead to cracks. The same reason why airplane windows are round. I know, it's more complicated than that, but falls close enough. Thanks for the vid man, have a good one!

Can you do a video on how to fix a loose katana (saya rattle)

Andrea Ferrara

Take the lining out? Really? TAKE THE LINING OUT??? That lining is THE reason you want that sword. That is what makes it different and attractive. (take the lining out. sheesh)