Munetoshi Ko Tonbo Wakizashi review
May 22, 2010 23:43:11 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 23:43:11 GMT
Introduction
Hey everyone, posting up yet another review. I figured I would go for the Munetoshi Ko Tonbo wakizashi this time. I bought this sword because I always wanted a wakizashi and the Ko Tonbo caught my eye with a beautiful hamon and a not too bad price tag.
• www.swordnarmory.com/Ko-Tonbo-T10-Samurai-Sword-Wakizashi-p/jh-3202.htm
Initial Impressions
I got my package from SwordnArmory a few days after I ordered it. The Ko Tonbo comes in one of those Chinese wooden sword boxes (waki length) and included a cleaning kit and extra seppa. The Ko Tonbo itself came in a beautiful sword bag, much like the one in the musha review. The hamon on this sword is really beautiful to me, I really wish I could have got you guys better pictures, especially of the whole sword, but we can’t always get everything we want:P
Statistics
Specs taken from SwordnArmory.com
Overall Length: 28.5 "
• Blade: Very Sharp
• Nagasa Length: 19.875 "
• Blade Material: T10
• Tsuka Length: 7.5 "
• Niku: Light
• Blade Thickness @ Habaki: 0.350 "
• Sori: 0.469 "
• Blade Thickness @ Kissaski: 0.285 "
• Kissaki Length: 1.668 "
• Blade Width @ Habaki: 1.263 "
• Blade Construction: Mono Steel
• Blade Width @ Kissaki: 0.853 "
• Hamon: Gunome
• Weight W/O Saya: 1.80 lbs
• Balance Point: 4 "
• Tsuba Material: Steel
• Hardness of Yakiba: 58 HRC
• Ito & Sageo Material: Chemical Fiber
• Fuchi Kashira Material: Steel
• Sword Name: Ko Tonbo
• Mekugi: Single Smoked Bamboo Pin
• Manufacturer: Munetoshi
Components
Overall the components of the sword are very nice. It has a dragonfly theme to it.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade on the Ko Tonbo is very nice. It is razor sharp from the factory and has a beautiful hamon. It doesn’t quite have a “mirror” polish, but it is good enough for me
The Handle/Tsuka
The Ito is wrapped very tightly, the same is authentic ray skin, and the tsuka is very comfortable to grip. I did take the Tsuka apart and it was well constructed with no cracks. (sorry didn’t snap pics at the time) After I removed mine I did need to shim it with a piece of printer paper because It had a little bit of play, but after that very slim shim it was tight as ever.
The Guard/Tsuba
The Tsuba is cleanly cut, with no casting marks or rough edges. It has a dragon fly theme, some may like it, some may not.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Fuchi-Kashira also are of high quality and follow the dragon fly theme. I like them a lot more than some of the more plain fittings.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya fits great, and has a very nice black lacquer job on it.
Handling Characteristics
This is my first wakizashi that I have owned, and it feels very nice to me. I can cut pretty easily one handed with it, and I am starting to favor it over my katana’s. I think my next two purchases will be wakizashis The Ko Tonbo feels very light with one hand, and even lighter with two lol.
Test Cutting
Compared to my lower end musashi’s, this baby cuts like a dream. On water bottles I was able to cut them one handed and cleanly very close to the neck of the bottle. On the half gallon milk jug I went two handed and got a couple of good slices in. This was also my first time cutting milk jugs so it was a fun experience for me. At the end I refilled the bottom of the jug and barely put any power into a thrust at it and it pierced the thicker bottom very easily for the light “jab” I gave it.
Bad spot for the milk jug, the sun makes it so you can't see jack untill the bottle parts hit the floor I'll have to remember that next time
Conclusions
Overall this wakizashi has “Wow’ed” me pretty nicely. It is easily my favorite sword in my collection. I have pure confidence it could probably take on harder targets like tatami or bamboo and come out unharmed.
Pros
- Nice beautiful hamon
- Awesome light weight and great balance
- Nice fittings and tsuka wrap is nice and tight
Cons
- Not the biggest fan of the tsuba, but its not too bad either
- Have some black stuff on top of the mune in one spot, some metal glow would probably take it off though.
- Fittings are pretty tight, but could be a little tighter. Then again this varies from sword to sword.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that I would recommend this sword to anyone looking to getting a nice differentially hardened wakizashi. Midori was great helping me with this purchase, and the Munetoshi line of swords comes with an awesome warranty. Hell I was even offered a replacement sword for my tsuba that I shimmed with a little piece of printer paper to fix it. That’s how much SwordnArmory back their line, they will really make sure you are taken care of. I couldn’t send this sword back though because I love it and a small problem like that is a very easy fix, but im glad to know that if I didn’t want to deal with it, it would easily be taken care of.
This is a great Wakizashi for under the $300 price range, with excellent company support to back it. You really can’t go wrong with the munetoshi line of swords. I even plan on buying the lower end Bonsai wakizashi next just because im so impressed with this company.
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
Hey everyone, posting up yet another review. I figured I would go for the Munetoshi Ko Tonbo wakizashi this time. I bought this sword because I always wanted a wakizashi and the Ko Tonbo caught my eye with a beautiful hamon and a not too bad price tag.
• www.swordnarmory.com/Ko-Tonbo-T10-Samurai-Sword-Wakizashi-p/jh-3202.htm
Initial Impressions
I got my package from SwordnArmory a few days after I ordered it. The Ko Tonbo comes in one of those Chinese wooden sword boxes (waki length) and included a cleaning kit and extra seppa. The Ko Tonbo itself came in a beautiful sword bag, much like the one in the musha review. The hamon on this sword is really beautiful to me, I really wish I could have got you guys better pictures, especially of the whole sword, but we can’t always get everything we want:P
Statistics
Specs taken from SwordnArmory.com
Overall Length: 28.5 "
• Blade: Very Sharp
• Nagasa Length: 19.875 "
• Blade Material: T10
• Tsuka Length: 7.5 "
• Niku: Light
• Blade Thickness @ Habaki: 0.350 "
• Sori: 0.469 "
• Blade Thickness @ Kissaski: 0.285 "
• Kissaki Length: 1.668 "
• Blade Width @ Habaki: 1.263 "
• Blade Construction: Mono Steel
• Blade Width @ Kissaki: 0.853 "
• Hamon: Gunome
• Weight W/O Saya: 1.80 lbs
• Balance Point: 4 "
• Tsuba Material: Steel
• Hardness of Yakiba: 58 HRC
• Ito & Sageo Material: Chemical Fiber
• Fuchi Kashira Material: Steel
• Sword Name: Ko Tonbo
• Mekugi: Single Smoked Bamboo Pin
• Manufacturer: Munetoshi
Components
Overall the components of the sword are very nice. It has a dragonfly theme to it.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade on the Ko Tonbo is very nice. It is razor sharp from the factory and has a beautiful hamon. It doesn’t quite have a “mirror” polish, but it is good enough for me
The Handle/Tsuka
The Ito is wrapped very tightly, the same is authentic ray skin, and the tsuka is very comfortable to grip. I did take the Tsuka apart and it was well constructed with no cracks. (sorry didn’t snap pics at the time) After I removed mine I did need to shim it with a piece of printer paper because It had a little bit of play, but after that very slim shim it was tight as ever.
The Guard/Tsuba
The Tsuba is cleanly cut, with no casting marks or rough edges. It has a dragon fly theme, some may like it, some may not.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Fuchi-Kashira also are of high quality and follow the dragon fly theme. I like them a lot more than some of the more plain fittings.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya fits great, and has a very nice black lacquer job on it.
Handling Characteristics
This is my first wakizashi that I have owned, and it feels very nice to me. I can cut pretty easily one handed with it, and I am starting to favor it over my katana’s. I think my next two purchases will be wakizashis The Ko Tonbo feels very light with one hand, and even lighter with two lol.
Test Cutting
Compared to my lower end musashi’s, this baby cuts like a dream. On water bottles I was able to cut them one handed and cleanly very close to the neck of the bottle. On the half gallon milk jug I went two handed and got a couple of good slices in. This was also my first time cutting milk jugs so it was a fun experience for me. At the end I refilled the bottom of the jug and barely put any power into a thrust at it and it pierced the thicker bottom very easily for the light “jab” I gave it.
Bad spot for the milk jug, the sun makes it so you can't see jack untill the bottle parts hit the floor I'll have to remember that next time
Conclusions
Overall this wakizashi has “Wow’ed” me pretty nicely. It is easily my favorite sword in my collection. I have pure confidence it could probably take on harder targets like tatami or bamboo and come out unharmed.
Pros
- Nice beautiful hamon
- Awesome light weight and great balance
- Nice fittings and tsuka wrap is nice and tight
Cons
- Not the biggest fan of the tsuba, but its not too bad either
- Have some black stuff on top of the mune in one spot, some metal glow would probably take it off though.
- Fittings are pretty tight, but could be a little tighter. Then again this varies from sword to sword.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that I would recommend this sword to anyone looking to getting a nice differentially hardened wakizashi. Midori was great helping me with this purchase, and the Munetoshi line of swords comes with an awesome warranty. Hell I was even offered a replacement sword for my tsuba that I shimmed with a little piece of printer paper to fix it. That’s how much SwordnArmory back their line, they will really make sure you are taken care of. I couldn’t send this sword back though because I love it and a small problem like that is a very easy fix, but im glad to know that if I didn’t want to deal with it, it would easily be taken care of.
This is a great Wakizashi for under the $300 price range, with excellent company support to back it. You really can’t go wrong with the munetoshi line of swords. I even plan on buying the lower end Bonsai wakizashi next just because im so impressed with this company.
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