full cheness nagasa review with pictures and video
Sept 12, 2007 5:14:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2007 5:14:26 GMT
Keith Simpson in clallam county WA USA here with my first review and first post!
attention humans. please ignore any poor technique/camera work in this review. this is also my first sword, the bulk of my experience being in firearms.
I have always wanted a katana, and figured now was as good as anytime to get one. i liked the slightly longer length of the nagasa for purely aesthetic reasons. im only 5'7 after all.
VITAL STATS (copied from manufacturer webpage)
Name 30" 9260 Spring Steel Katana
Blade 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length (+ Saya) 43.25"
Treatment Full Hand Forged, Through Tempered, Oil Quenched, Hand Polished
Finish Tameshigiri Polish
Blade Dimension 30" Length, 0.3" Width, 1.25" Height
Sori (Curvature) 0.7"
Weight 3 lbs
Tsuba/Fuchi/Kashira Blackened Steel "Classic Crane" Tsuba
Balance Point 6.5" above tsuba
Tsuka/Ho 11" Wood
Tsuka Ito Blue Cotton
Mekugi 2 X Wood (Double Pinned)
Same Real Ray Skin Panel Wrap
Saya 32" Black Glossy Lacquered Medium Hardwood
THE BLADE:
NOTE: in person the hamon is much more subtle. i guess the flash brings it out.
the blade has an even polish with a bo hi (only way available). there are no marks on it, though th ekissaki is roughly hewn, and the habaki has a few marks on it from tools im guessing. the cosmetic hamon is subtle and actually adds to its look as opposed to most cheap ones. it is deceptively sharp, as the tiny blood spot on my finger rings testament, and seems perfectly fine.
THE GRIP
the tsuka is real same panels over a wood core. the ito feels kinda rough but is very tightly tied and a pleasant blue color (though finding a matching wakizashi will be a pain!). the same is the first real same ive touched, it it feels very rough and grippy. the two menuki are solidly held and though obscured by the cord look rather nice. strangely the two mekugi are different materials. the bottom one appears to be brass or some other shiny metal, and the top one appears to be bamboo. this bodes well for solidness IMHO.
POMMEL
the pommel is a plain black cap with the cord going through it. it is some metal (cant tell) with a black matte finish. very solid, but not attractive in any way.
TSUBA (hilt)
it is a pleasant crane pattern that looks very nice, though is slightly roughly cut so if you let your hand rub against it for a while it would be uncomfortable. it is of course very solid.
SCABBARD
the main dissapoitnment on this peice. the lacquer is utilitarian and fine, the sageo cotton actually rfeels nicer than the ito, however the inside is very rough wood. on every draw you get grains sticking to the sword. the fit is nice and tight however, passing the "upside down shake it like an unwanted child" test.
TESTING
the sword at the slightish provocatio makes a lovely sound, i rather like the feel and balance besides it being a bit large for me, and th eone cut ive done with it (EVER done in fact!) was smoth as silk and effortless through a full milk jug. the only thrust test i did was against the cardboard it came in (two layers with tape on it) and it slid right in with one hand applying very moderate force. the tip felt nearly identical to the one on myt KABAR knife strangely enough (though th eKABAR is a beveled edge).
CONCLUSIONYNESS!
historical accuracy: 4/5. all the materials are proper, though the lack of real differential hardening and the brass mekugi bring it down (though the hardening wasnt advertised as differential so i dont really care
fit and finish 4/5. there are some marks on the habaki and the kissaki is rough, but besides that very even and solid with good fit
handling 3.5/5 im a newbie, and this sword is to large for me, nothing on the fault of the sword, this i just wanted something big for some reason
structural integrity 4.5/5 (only reason its not a 5 is because i havnt tortured it really)
value for money 4/5. i got it for 250 shipped from the SBG store (amazing deal) and am happy with it.
soo...... is this review good enough for any voucher goodness? or at least a lil karma. i worked on it for like an hour is all
attention humans. please ignore any poor technique/camera work in this review. this is also my first sword, the bulk of my experience being in firearms.
I have always wanted a katana, and figured now was as good as anytime to get one. i liked the slightly longer length of the nagasa for purely aesthetic reasons. im only 5'7 after all.
VITAL STATS (copied from manufacturer webpage)
Name 30" 9260 Spring Steel Katana
Blade 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length (+ Saya) 43.25"
Treatment Full Hand Forged, Through Tempered, Oil Quenched, Hand Polished
Finish Tameshigiri Polish
Blade Dimension 30" Length, 0.3" Width, 1.25" Height
Sori (Curvature) 0.7"
Weight 3 lbs
Tsuba/Fuchi/Kashira Blackened Steel "Classic Crane" Tsuba
Balance Point 6.5" above tsuba
Tsuka/Ho 11" Wood
Tsuka Ito Blue Cotton
Mekugi 2 X Wood (Double Pinned)
Same Real Ray Skin Panel Wrap
Saya 32" Black Glossy Lacquered Medium Hardwood
THE BLADE:
NOTE: in person the hamon is much more subtle. i guess the flash brings it out.
the blade has an even polish with a bo hi (only way available). there are no marks on it, though th ekissaki is roughly hewn, and the habaki has a few marks on it from tools im guessing. the cosmetic hamon is subtle and actually adds to its look as opposed to most cheap ones. it is deceptively sharp, as the tiny blood spot on my finger rings testament, and seems perfectly fine.
THE GRIP
the tsuka is real same panels over a wood core. the ito feels kinda rough but is very tightly tied and a pleasant blue color (though finding a matching wakizashi will be a pain!). the same is the first real same ive touched, it it feels very rough and grippy. the two menuki are solidly held and though obscured by the cord look rather nice. strangely the two mekugi are different materials. the bottom one appears to be brass or some other shiny metal, and the top one appears to be bamboo. this bodes well for solidness IMHO.
POMMEL
the pommel is a plain black cap with the cord going through it. it is some metal (cant tell) with a black matte finish. very solid, but not attractive in any way.
TSUBA (hilt)
it is a pleasant crane pattern that looks very nice, though is slightly roughly cut so if you let your hand rub against it for a while it would be uncomfortable. it is of course very solid.
SCABBARD
the main dissapoitnment on this peice. the lacquer is utilitarian and fine, the sageo cotton actually rfeels nicer than the ito, however the inside is very rough wood. on every draw you get grains sticking to the sword. the fit is nice and tight however, passing the "upside down shake it like an unwanted child" test.
TESTING
the sword at the slightish provocatio makes a lovely sound, i rather like the feel and balance besides it being a bit large for me, and th eone cut ive done with it (EVER done in fact!) was smoth as silk and effortless through a full milk jug. the only thrust test i did was against the cardboard it came in (two layers with tape on it) and it slid right in with one hand applying very moderate force. the tip felt nearly identical to the one on myt KABAR knife strangely enough (though th eKABAR is a beveled edge).
CONCLUSIONYNESS!
historical accuracy: 4/5. all the materials are proper, though the lack of real differential hardening and the brass mekugi bring it down (though the hardening wasnt advertised as differential so i dont really care
fit and finish 4/5. there are some marks on the habaki and the kissaki is rough, but besides that very even and solid with good fit
handling 3.5/5 im a newbie, and this sword is to large for me, nothing on the fault of the sword, this i just wanted something big for some reason
structural integrity 4.5/5 (only reason its not a 5 is because i havnt tortured it really)
value for money 4/5. i got it for 250 shipped from the SBG store (amazing deal) and am happy with it.
soo...... is this review good enough for any voucher goodness? or at least a lil karma. i worked on it for like an hour is all