Kill Bill 'Hattori Hanzo' sword replicas

[Weequay]

There are very few pieces from modern films that I would like to own, but im becoming alittle obsessed with the Katanas used by Bill, Bud, and the Bride in Kill Bill.

Ive had a look around the net, and there are various ones from pretty cheap to supposedly hand forged which cost a little more.l

Im wondering who mkes the most accurate replica?

Or am I going to have to have a go at forging one my self?...

Thanks
weeqauy

 

[Weequay]

Or any BR screen caps of the sword hanso makes for the Bride would be much appreciated

Thanks
weequay

 

[Darth Maul]

I have the 3 $125 dollar swords from this site. Swords of Might | Real Samurai Swords | Battle Ready Medieval Swords - Search

They are made by Masahiro, and the quality is decent for the price. Much better then the typical wall hangers. I'd put the craftsmanship up with the Paul Chen PPK that I have. I have never tried cutting anything with these, I use my pointgallery Highlander katana's for that, but as display pieces they are more then adequate.

There have, the Bride sword, Bill's sword and Budd's also. The engraving on Budd's is great. I've also dealt with that site pretty often, and never had any issues.

 

[mtrixman]

I was wondering the same

 

[DanielS]

Many years ago, I went to Poland with my mother and brother and I was in the middle of my 'Japan-is-the-best-thing-ever' phase. There we went to a japanese exhibition where I bought a 'very' cheap katana, I think I paid like $80 for it (but in zlotys(?). Now that I look closer it is very, very similar to the Hanzo sword. Such a coinsidense!
If you want I can take some pictures of it and post in this thread, if you want to try and make one
/D

 

[Endoskeleton]

The Bride sword I have is one that is limited to 100 pieces - made by Dimishi Gelfanishi. No. 1 is listed on eBay right now for a whoppin' $3750. Excellent craftsmanship but as far as accuracy, it does not come close. I've searched far and wide... and none of the replicas out there are accurate. The Masahiro blades that Darth Maul mentioned are quite nice and is the best pieces to pick up at a decent price. If you decide to forge one, when finished - I want you to tell me with no ego, this is your finest sword I hope someday there will be an accurate replica because... I have vermin to kill The attached pic shows some nice details.

 

[Weequay]

The Bride sword I have is one that is limited to 100 pieces - made by Dimishi Gelfanishi. No. 1 is listed on eBay right now for a whoppin' $3750. Excellent craftsmanship but as far as accuracy, it does not come close. I've searched far and wide... and none of the replicas out there are accurate. The Masahiro blades that Darth Maul mentioned are quite nice and is the best pieces to pick up at a decent price. If you decide to forge one, when finished - I want you to tell me with no ego, this is your finest sword I hope someday there will be an accurate replica because... I have vermin to kill The attached pic shows some nice details.

Thanks you for the replies guys. I appreciate it.

It does seem there could be a market for a better made, more accurate sword. I will take a close look into it...

I could be happy with a cheaper sword, but my fear is that there are so many that even if I spend 200 rather than 50, I could end up being sent a very cheap one.

It is my ex girlfriends 30th bday soon, and I would love to get her a high quality brides sword engraved with a message.

Endoskeleton: Can you give me a quick list of what makes these sword innacurate? I dont have BR screencaps, but will study closely tonight.

First off seems to be the lion on the real sword is off-set. On the rplicas it is central?

Be warned Endo: If I should forge a sword, and I should meet you on your journey...you yourself shall be cut....

:cool

Weequay

 

[dz4180]

I'm in Okinawa now and I look at the swords when I hit the right stores. Anything pops up I'll shout...

 

[dz4180]

It just hit me on the logo on the blade...if I'm right that is a Shi-Sa (Lion Dog). Normally seen on rooftops they are supposed guardians of the residents from evil spirits (an idea said to have come from a blend of Chinese and Japanese religions). The open mouth one represents a male getting rid of evil spirits, and the female is closed mouth holding happiness. Would like to know if there is something on the other side of the blade. Also, the stores I have seen so far they sell (don't know the name) hand protectors (?) that sit at the base of the blade/top of the handle. Come in all different sorts of designs so if someone had that angle of a shot to bring together a close replica, that would be a Lumbergh greaaaaat!

 

[Jennigirl]

Trueswords.com sells the same masahiro swords for 49 - $79 +10 shipping.

 

[Weequay]

It just hit me on the logo on the blade...if I'm right that is a Shi-Sa (Lion Dog). Normally seen on rooftops they are supposed guardians of the residents from evil spirits (an idea said to have come from a blend of Chinese and Japanese religions). The open mouth one represents a male getting rid of evil spirits, and the female is closed mouth holding happiness. Would like to know if there is something on the other side of the blade. Also, the stores I have seen so far they sell (don't know the name) hand protectors (?) that sit at the base of the blade/top of the handle. Come in all different sorts of designs so if someone had that angle of a shot to bring together a close replica, that would be a Lumbergh greaaaaat!

Hi mate, there is nothing on the other side as far as I know.

You can see this whne Hazo is presenting the sword to beatrix.

The part you are refering to is called the Tsuba, and there seem seem to be some variation between makers of this replica.

Theres a good chance im going to take a crack at this.

Thanks
weequay

 

[wolf]

I would avoid anything in the $40 -$100 price bracket if you plan to swing it around , even for a bit of fun. Many cheap swords have a very short tang inside the handle, possibly only glued in or a plastic peg used, the wrapping is going to be vinyl and loosely wrapped, quite possibly the scabbard will be resin and the blade will be so thin that they actually bend under their own weight .
Making your own blade is not the best idea either, the Paul Chen stuff all suffers from the same fault and that is the handle to sword angle is too straight, ignoring koshi zori, tori sori etc, I am not talking about this.
The original movie version is an Iaito[ training sword] made of alloy with an etched hamon[wavy line] temper style effect, they are very blunt and light. There may be a Japanese Iaito manufacturer making copies, they will be around $200 , the binding is always well done, real same under the binding and wooden scabbard, even if it is not sharp will be the nicest looking version. Avoid cheap.

 

[parfaitelumiere]

I'm not sure about the original movie version.
I remember of close ups of the sword,and hamon looked real.
Maybe(surely!) there is a stunt version "iaito"with alloy blade and fake hamon.
I think for a good replica of a kill bill blade,the main thing would be a real hamon,like on a real japanese sword,this would be the most difficult part to obtain,other elements are easier to reproduce,tsuba and other parts would just be molding or engraving work,the shishi is engraving work too.
I know a swordsmith who is capable to do suck a blade.
Other way is to work from a paul chn katana,but all the blade needs to be polished again.
Would be funny to make a replica!
The tsukaito seems to be made from leather on the photo.
What is interesting is that it looks like a real japanese weapon,and it's not often seen on screen.
You can see how weapons look fake in Highlander,especially"japaneses" weapons...
Did someone see the wrong picture on kill bill one,the actress on yellow background,especially the hand,the blade is turned at 90° of the handle...

here:

here are pics of some blade I made:

1/4 scaled waki,real hada,real hamon,all detachable parts from bronze,silver and gold,two parts lacquered saya.

1/1 scaled tanto blade and habaki,hira zukuri,other side is shinogi zukuri.
Steel is 1075,fake mei and patina

 

[cayman shen]

I can't understand why there are no accurate versions of this sword? Even cheap quality? How hard can it be to place detail A in spot B? There's a ton of reference. It's not an obscure prop (ANY of them, actually. Tons of reference. Sigh.)

 

[Weequay]

I can't understand why there are no accurate versions of this sword? Even cheap quality? How hard can it be to place detail A in spot B? There's a ton of reference. It's not an obscure prop (ANY of them, actually. Tons of reference. Sigh.)

Caymen Shen, can you please link to me to as much ref as possible for the originals please?

I must not be looking in the right place, as the best ive found is the pic Endo kindly posted above.

I am about to purchse the Bluray of Kill bill 1 then set about sourcing screen grab software.

Please let me know mate
weequay

 

[Weequay]

I would avoid anything in the $40 -$100 price bracket if you plan to swing it around , even for a bit of fun. Many cheap swords have a very short tang inside the handle, possibly only glued in or a plastic peg used, the wrapping is going to be vinyl and loosely wrapped, quite possibly the scabbard will be resin and the blade will be so thin that they actually bend under their own weight .
Making your own blade is not the best idea either, the Paul Chen stuff all suffers from the same fault and that is the handle to sword angle is too straight, ignoring koshi zori, tori sori etc, I am not talking about this.
The original movie version is an Iaito[ training sword] made of alloy with an etched hamon[wavy line] temper style effect, they are very blunt and light. There may be a Japanese Iaito manufacturer making copies, they will be around $200 , the binding is always well done, real same under the binding and wooden scabbard, even if it is not sharp will be the nicest looking version. Avoid cheap.

Thanks for the reply.

Wheh I get the BR garb Im after, I should be able to start superimposing blades, or at least matching dimensions to find the most suitable donor.

I can also attemt to match Zori (curve) too as close as possible.

As you say, blade angle is sonething else to look at too.

I would settle for these things to be simple close rather than perfect as long as I get a well made blade with real Hamon.

It is in the other details where I tyhink a closer match should be sought.

Thanks
weequay

 

[Weequay]

I'm not sure about the original movie version.
I remember of close ups of the sword,and hamon looked real.
Maybe(surely!) there is a stunt version "iaito"with alloy blade and fake hamon.
I think for a good replica of a kill bill blade,the main thing would be a real hamon,like on a real japanese sword,this would be the most difficult part to obtain,other elements are easier to reproduce,tsuba and other parts would just be molding or engraving work,the shishi is engraving work too.
I know a swordsmith who is capable to do suck a blade.
Other way is to work from a paul chn katana,but all the blade needs to be polished again.
Would be funny to make a replica!
The tsukaito seems to be made from leather on the photo.
What is interesting is that it looks like a real japanese weapon,and it's not often seen on screen.
You can see how weapons look fake in Highlander,especially"japaneses" weapons...
Did someone see the wrong picture on kill bill one,the actress on yellow background,especially the hand,the blade is turned at 90° of the handle...

here:

here are pics of some blade I made:

1/4 scaled waki,real hada,real hamon,all detachable parts from bronze,silver and gold,two parts lacquered saya.

1/1 scaled tanto blade and habaki,hira zukuri,other side is shinogi zukuri.
Steel is 1075,fake mei and patina

Very nicley made mate!! have you done any full size Katanas?

As you say the Paul Chen blades would probably be my first port of call in order to get a decent quality hand forged sharp blade.

The problem here is that the engraving on the blade would need to be done on the finished blade (as opposed to how it would have been done, with the engraving taking place while the blade was hot)


How would this affect the sword? Would it be difficult to engrave?

Thanks
weequay

 

[KenKenobi2]

It just hit me on the logo on the blade...if I'm right that is a Shi-Sa (Lion Dog). Normally seen on rooftops they are supposed guardians of the residents from evil spirits (an idea said to have come from a blend of Chinese and Japanese religions). The open mouth one represents a male getting rid of evil spirits, and the female is closed mouth holding happiness. Would like to know if there is something on the other side of the blade. Also, the stores I have seen so far they sell (don't know the name) hand protectors (?) that sit at the base of the blade/top of the handle. Come in all different sorts of designs so if someone had that angle of a shot to bring together a close replica, that would be a Lumbergh greaaaaat!

Do a little looking into something called the Kuji No In, you can learn about the symbolism. Neat.

 

[parfaitelumiere]

For the blade itself:

You can see some polishing on a new engraved blade on the book"art and design in modern custom fixed-blade knives"from David Darom
There is a Tanto blade from Yoshindo Yoshihara,with steps from froging to the finished blade.
The steps are:
forge
rough shape with a hand tool(rasp or plane)
clay application for selective temperline
temper heating ti red and temper in water.
very rough polishing to give the good shape
engraving,hole,sign
polishing to obtain cutting and final shine.

Would mean from a Paul chen blade,needs to be engraved end re-polished(I remember to have seen one,polishing and general shap were not terrific)

I have polished some short blades,and given shape to a 63cm blade from a "rough after tempering" piece of metal.
I'm not good enough,and I miss tools for the very good finish with stones only.
The smith I know is able to obtain a average polish and shape,and I must be able to do the engraving,I would have to try before.
If you live in USA you can find some guys who are able to do good work:

Scott Slobodian
Don Polzien
Michael Bell

and probably some other guys,some are expensive,other are less...

If you use some 1075 or 1095 steel,the job is easy,and results are good(nice temperline)
If you know lengh and curvature of the blade it would not be too difficult.

But you need good pics of the original prop and parts(tsuba,and other)to create a really matching prop.

For the parts:

Seems on the pic of original part:

Bronze fushi kashira and menuki with gold inlay
Gold filled habaki and seppa.
Bronze(?) tsuba.

Bronze is a special alloy,with a small gold percentage,but standart bronze can give a bluish-black patina too.

The most difficult will be the menuki,and gold inlay.
It may be possible to make castings with sculpted wax,work on the metal results,and "I don't know how" apply gold plating on some parts(maybe current and hidden parts?)
For habaki and seppa,just make a gold plating instead of gold filling.
It would help to save money,and to make several similar items.

I don't know if there could be a business here,but I know other guys who could make the parts...including me.

 

[wolf]

I remember watching Kill Bill and one particular view as when Uma pulls the sword slowly out . It is an obvious Iaito , the "edge" is dull as well. Most cheap Japanese swords have an etched hamon which can look quite good but it is the grain in the metal which is prized among sword collectors, the Kill Bill is blank of anything. There probably was better versions throughout the movie, so any collectable made or bought will be left wanting. I doubt making a sword and fittings will be cost effective but would be pretty cool to do. The experts only do one aspect each, swordsmith, polisher,scabbard maker,fittings maker,wrapping etc are all each a difficult skill to get right.
The sky is the limit when it comes to buying Japanese Swords, good luck.