Musashi Zetsurin White
May 14, 2010 2:10:28 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2010 2:10:28 GMT
Introduction
Today I am reviewing the Musashi Zetsurin , purchased from swordNarmory.com for $45, the same price as the Musashi WWII gunto I recently reviewed (link can be found at bottom of the page to this review) www.swordnarmory.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SS-087WT
I purchased this katana because It was give a pretty positive review by Paul on the SBG website, and I also wanted a fully white Katana. It was also interesting to have a “tsuba-less” katana, more like a shirasaya but with an Ito wrap.
So once again please bear with me through my horrible pictures
Historical overview
I’m not sure if this sword is very historical. I suppose the Shirasaya could have been used after you weren’t aloud to carry swords, and someone may be smart enough to wrap it for some grip, then again that would kind of defeat the purpose of using a shirasaya to hide your sword
Initial Impressions
Sword came nicely packed as always from SNA, came in your typical Musashi sword box, protected by Styrofoam blocks, and in a black sword bag. No complaints here.
Statistics
Statistics taken from website.
• Overall Length:39.25 "
• Blade Material:High Carbon Steel (Note: probably 1045?)
• Blade Length:28.25 "
• Blade:Razor Sharp (note: not very sharp )
• Handle Length:10.75 "
• Tanto Length:8.25 "
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade of the Zetsurin has a wirebrushed hamon. I really am not fond of these types of hamon as they look too fake to me. I prefer no hamon over it. The blade is nicely polished, but it is VERY rough over the wirebrushed hamon. While the blade is not blunt, it also isn’t very sharp either(or at least the one I got). My Musashi WWII gunto is sharper than my Zetsurin. Along the bo-hi (“bloodgroove?”) there are bumps in the blade you can see in the light and you can also phsycially feel them if you run your finger down the blade. Also near the Habaki the blade is almost flat.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is not 100% white like most pictures make it out to be. It is more of a dirty off white, I wouldn’t expect it to stay white either with much use. The Ito is semi tight, but I can still move it somewhat. The same is fake black plastic and very shiny. It is however very solid.
The Guard/Tsuba
This sword does not have a tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Koshirae of the blade are actually pretty nice. I’m not sure of the material but they have a nice design that sets them apart from most plain looking fittings.
The Scabbard/Saya
I have to say I was disappointed in the Saya. Colorwise it is snow white and does not go too well with the off white Ito. I’m not sure how the other saya’s are, but mine feels and looks like its more “painty” then lacquered. The saya has a built in spot for the included kozuk, but it is pretty rough and the kozuka does not sit flush in it. I have found this helpful however to draw the sword from the saya, using the kozuka in place of the tsuba. My saya is pretty tight, but the sword rattles slightly in it and feels bulky.
If nothing else, the Saego does match the color of the Ito.
The kozuka
The kozuka is pretty nice but it comes unsharpened. It does not sit in the Saya flush, but as stated previously this helps to draw the sword in place of the tsuba. I think with a little bit of dremeling if you wanted to you could make the kozuka fit flush and repaint that area of the saya.
Handling Characteristics
The sword handles pretty nicely, feels much better than my Musashi WWII Gunto.
Test Cutting
I found this sword to not be as sharp as my Musashi WWII Gunto. I didn’t take any pictures of the bottles I cut, but they were not clean at all and pretty rough. Again this could be my technique, but using the same technique and sharper swords I can easily clean cut bottles so I’m chalking it down to the blade sharpness.
Conclusions
It’s a nice sword for the price. Nice koshire, tsuba-less sword, and bo-hi for all those swooshing noises . Overall for the price I really can’t complain too much, all I can say is I’m really surprised my WWII Gunto out cut this sword.
Pros
- Tsuba-less
- All white
- Bo-hi
Cons
- Off white Ito
- Wirebrushed hamon
- Bumps in the bo-hi?
-Not very sharp
The Bottom Line
Well my bottom line on this sword is that: If you want to cut with a Shirasaya, buy this because your way better off with having a wrap at least for safety reasons. I believe the saya comes in 3 different colors, and if I could do it again I would buy the black saya version. I am disappointed in the sharpness of this blade and the visible bumps in the bo-hi, but then again that could just be luck of the draw. I don’t think my sword really compares to the one Paul had in his review on the SBG site, so it did not live up to my expectations.
Reviews to come:
Munetoshi Kigan
Hanwei NinjaTo
Musashi Bamboo warrior
Hanwei ~2004 practical katana
Celbii's Reviews:
Munetoshi Ko Tonbo Wakizashi
/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=16426
Musashi WWII Gunto Replcia
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=16209
Musashi Zetsurin
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=16270
Today I am reviewing the Musashi Zetsurin , purchased from swordNarmory.com for $45, the same price as the Musashi WWII gunto I recently reviewed (link can be found at bottom of the page to this review) www.swordnarmory.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SS-087WT
I purchased this katana because It was give a pretty positive review by Paul on the SBG website, and I also wanted a fully white Katana. It was also interesting to have a “tsuba-less” katana, more like a shirasaya but with an Ito wrap.
So once again please bear with me through my horrible pictures
Historical overview
I’m not sure if this sword is very historical. I suppose the Shirasaya could have been used after you weren’t aloud to carry swords, and someone may be smart enough to wrap it for some grip, then again that would kind of defeat the purpose of using a shirasaya to hide your sword
Initial Impressions
Sword came nicely packed as always from SNA, came in your typical Musashi sword box, protected by Styrofoam blocks, and in a black sword bag. No complaints here.
Statistics
Statistics taken from website.
• Overall Length:39.25 "
• Blade Material:High Carbon Steel (Note: probably 1045?)
• Blade Length:28.25 "
• Blade:Razor Sharp (note: not very sharp )
• Handle Length:10.75 "
• Tanto Length:8.25 "
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade of the Zetsurin has a wirebrushed hamon. I really am not fond of these types of hamon as they look too fake to me. I prefer no hamon over it. The blade is nicely polished, but it is VERY rough over the wirebrushed hamon. While the blade is not blunt, it also isn’t very sharp either(or at least the one I got). My Musashi WWII gunto is sharper than my Zetsurin. Along the bo-hi (“bloodgroove?”) there are bumps in the blade you can see in the light and you can also phsycially feel them if you run your finger down the blade. Also near the Habaki the blade is almost flat.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is not 100% white like most pictures make it out to be. It is more of a dirty off white, I wouldn’t expect it to stay white either with much use. The Ito is semi tight, but I can still move it somewhat. The same is fake black plastic and very shiny. It is however very solid.
The Guard/Tsuba
This sword does not have a tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Koshirae of the blade are actually pretty nice. I’m not sure of the material but they have a nice design that sets them apart from most plain looking fittings.
The Scabbard/Saya
I have to say I was disappointed in the Saya. Colorwise it is snow white and does not go too well with the off white Ito. I’m not sure how the other saya’s are, but mine feels and looks like its more “painty” then lacquered. The saya has a built in spot for the included kozuk, but it is pretty rough and the kozuka does not sit flush in it. I have found this helpful however to draw the sword from the saya, using the kozuka in place of the tsuba. My saya is pretty tight, but the sword rattles slightly in it and feels bulky.
If nothing else, the Saego does match the color of the Ito.
The kozuka
The kozuka is pretty nice but it comes unsharpened. It does not sit in the Saya flush, but as stated previously this helps to draw the sword in place of the tsuba. I think with a little bit of dremeling if you wanted to you could make the kozuka fit flush and repaint that area of the saya.
Handling Characteristics
The sword handles pretty nicely, feels much better than my Musashi WWII Gunto.
Test Cutting
I found this sword to not be as sharp as my Musashi WWII Gunto. I didn’t take any pictures of the bottles I cut, but they were not clean at all and pretty rough. Again this could be my technique, but using the same technique and sharper swords I can easily clean cut bottles so I’m chalking it down to the blade sharpness.
Conclusions
It’s a nice sword for the price. Nice koshire, tsuba-less sword, and bo-hi for all those swooshing noises . Overall for the price I really can’t complain too much, all I can say is I’m really surprised my WWII Gunto out cut this sword.
Pros
- Tsuba-less
- All white
- Bo-hi
Cons
- Off white Ito
- Wirebrushed hamon
- Bumps in the bo-hi?
-Not very sharp
The Bottom Line
Well my bottom line on this sword is that: If you want to cut with a Shirasaya, buy this because your way better off with having a wrap at least for safety reasons. I believe the saya comes in 3 different colors, and if I could do it again I would buy the black saya version. I am disappointed in the sharpness of this blade and the visible bumps in the bo-hi, but then again that could just be luck of the draw. I don’t think my sword really compares to the one Paul had in his review on the SBG site, so it did not live up to my expectations.
Reviews to come:
Munetoshi Kigan
Hanwei NinjaTo
Musashi Bamboo warrior
Hanwei ~2004 practical katana
Celbii's Reviews:
Munetoshi Ko Tonbo Wakizashi
/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=16426
Musashi WWII Gunto Replcia
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=16209
Musashi Zetsurin
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=16270