Overview
Our sharpening service will provide a good serviceable edge on the blade. The result is typically “very sharp” with a small secondary bevel and a bit of an “apple seed” profile. The resulting edge is somewhat dependent on the particular blade. Some blades will take and hold sharper edges than others and the thickness of the blade will determine how wide the bevel will need to be. We adjust the angle of the edge to suit the specific blade and attempt to get as close to a bevel-less edge as possible without marring the surface of the blade.
The Sharpening Process
The sharpening service is done with a belt sander. The process involves many passes with sanding belts of various grits. The blades are rested between passes to prevent them from becoming hot and damaging their temper. By default we will sharpen as much of the blade as possible including any false edges if appropriate. If you have a different preference, feel free to make that request in the special instructions at check out. We can sharpen only the last half or third of an edge, for example. Our sword sharpening expert has personally sharpened several thousand swords at this point, so will provide you with a professional service.
What the Service is Not
The resulting edge will be “sword sharp” not razor sharp. Our goal is to provide you with a usable edge for cutting practice that will hold up to some use and not require constant re-sharpening. In other words, we intend to provide you with a serviceable weapon, not a personal grooming implement. The service will not provide a completely bevel-less edge. To create that type of edge will necessarily scratch up the blade surface and we lack the machinery and time to provide a full re-polishing of a blade’s surface. A service of that nature would be significantly more expensive as a great deal more time would be required. We do not offer this type of service at this time.
Disclaimer
We make no guarantee that the resulting edge will meet with your expectations. Every blade is different and some will take and hold a sharper edge than others, due to the blade material, heat treatment or geometry. Some customers can also have incorrect assumptions about sword sharpness and improper expectations as a result. All we can say for sure is that the resulting edge will be sharper than the default edge, in most cases, significantly so. We can not provide any refunds for the service once it has been completed, so consider it to be provided “as is”. That being said, if you are unhappy with the product for any reason, we do still allow you to return the item for a full refund, including the sharpening costs under our normal return policy. This does not apply to special sharpening requests, for example if we sharpen something specially for you that does not normally list that option on our site. The vast majority of our customers are happy with the results of the service, so as long as you keep the above mentioned in mind, we are confident you will be pleased with the results as well.
Ray B. –
hanwei chinese oxtail dao broadsword This is a very fast sword, love the handle wrap and th over al style of the sword.The scabble is very nice wood with brass on different locations.Have cut mats,various water bottles ,bamboo 1″ wide where the walls are thin not thick,the sword cuits very well.I also have the other dao sword hanwei puts out which is little heaver with shorter handle.I feel this is on of the best dao swords on the market now.
James Whitworth –
Great Dao (The Laser) I’m so glad Hanwei started making these again. When their forge burnt down I thought I might never get one. But now I have one and I’m so glad.
The first time I handled this blade it was an earlier model a friend had. Right away I knew I had to have one too. The thing was so light and fast and it cut like a laser. When I got mind I was worried that they may have changed a few things over the years but they didn’t.
The blade itself has lots of distal taper and is very light and fast. Also, the blade is stiff but can be flexed a good deal without taking a set. The grip is solid and has a nice cord rap that provides a good grip. The fittings are brass, which look great when polished. My only issue is that the guard will loosen over time because brass is rather soft, even so the hilt will stay solid, as my friend can attest.
Overall this is the best Dao for the money. It cut like a dream and even my girlfriend can handle it with ease.
Jacob D. –
Foray into chinese swords I bought the Hanwei Oxtail Dao and Cold Steel Jian at about the same time. KOA is great at listing stats, so I’ll just discuss qualitative attributes.
Cold Steel makes beefy, sturdy swords. This Dao, by comparison, is a Porsche to the CS Cadillac. The distal taper, short blade, ergonomic handle, and substantial pommel, make this a quick and nimble sword. As the other reviews state, it is very sharp. Blade geometry and sharpness allow this sword to cut through targets as if we’re a much beefier blade. The wood scabbard is beautiful.
The one drawback to all this performance is a sacrifice of hardiness. With the thin edge, hitting something hard will damage the cutting edge. A softwood dowel that is a little further up the middle of a tatami roll than you anticipated, for instance. Since the edge is thin, you would have to do a good deal of blade first aid, because chips and rolled edges go further into the blade.
Would I buy this sword again, absolutely yes. Kult of Athena is great to deal with and this sword is everything it was designed to be. Just be aware of what is appropriate usage for such a design and you’ll be as satisfied as I am with it.
Ian T. –
Great dao! Well balanced and fast. I went with this over the hanwei practical dao because I found the balance superior. Lighter blade and includes an EXCELLENT sheath. All the fittings were very tight and the blade is razor (RAZOR) sharp. Love it, can’t wait to cut with it.
Not a martial artist any more, just a weeb with a sword fetish and a tolerant wife.
Scott –
Disappointed with the fit and finish I am disappointed in the finish of the blade. Maybe I just got a lemon but I would buy the practical hanwei dao and save a little money.
Geno –
Excellent quality for the price This is a fantastic oxtail saber for the price. The blade is nicely sharpened. It’s hefty enough to make powerful slices and light enough to allow for accurate handling. Even dry handling this thing is a ton of fun. This is a sword that feels like it wants to cut just from holding it. While the fittings and scabbard are a little plain, the brass and wood are really nice and make for a very satisfying, utilitarian presentation.
Marvin Nguyen (verified owner) –
Simply amazing. The blade that arrives cuts through targets easily and the slightly oval grip lends itself to good edge alignment, even if you aren’t the most experienced in swinging a sword. The scabbard is also well made and houses the blade nicely and is aesthetically pleasing. The sword is very light, but heavy enough that allows it to be an excellent cutter. The only thing I have found about this blade so far is that the thinner fullers are a bit difficult to clean, but that’s a very minor issue that doesn’t take away from the sword itself. All in all, amazing dao for a a really nice price.
alientude –
Absolutely excellent sword, especially for the low price. Very very sharp, with excellent edge geometry. Nimble, fast, and fun to use. My only complaint is that the grip could be slimmed down by a little bit, but it’s not bad at all.
I have a full video review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V3m_Hvsq1LE
Brady Wells –
One of my personal favorites from Kult of Athena, had it for 3 years and it’s still in great shape. I highly recommend it.
mmacho56 (verified owner) –
This is a great sword for the price point, it far exceeded my expectations. So many swords of this type are extremely flimsy, this one is not. Fit and finish are quite good, and the grip wrapping is tight. I paid for the sharpening service and am very happy with it, it easily cuts paper.