Review: Edo Katana from SOM
Mar 19, 2009 1:56:15 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2009 1:56:15 GMT
Edo Katana Review
by Carlos L (Charliegone, whatever ;D)
Cheap, sharp and somewhat decent? The Edo is it. For a measly 60 dollars you get a good bang and a nice little extra, a kozuka blade. Bought from SOM. I am not sure if anyone else carries it. I tried looking but no luck. So as far as I know, SOM is the only ones that carry it.
www.swordsofmight.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=386
According to SOM's info:
Blade: 28"
Handle: 11"
Overall: 40.5"
Weight: 2.4 Lbs
Made out of carbon steel (most likely 1045)
with Hi
wire brushed hamon (very subtle)
black ito
brown speckle saya w/ kozuka blade
silver colored fittings and kozuka handle (maybe brass? Can't tell)
First Impressions
I originally had order the tan handle w/ black saya from them, but it seems they were out so therefore got instead a the black handle with brown saya. Not much difference other than color (I really liked that tan handle, ehh well). I came packed in a generic box with Samurai Sword written on it. Inside it came Styrofoamed on the edges and in a sword bag. No scratches or imperfections from shipping.
The Blade and Saya:
It boasts a 28" blade made of most likely 1045 steel. It is somewhat heavy for a sword with a hi, a bit heavier than the 29" Zhi sword I reviewed last time. It does have a wire brushed hamon, but it is not badly done like it was on a Masahiro I own (very obvious that it's wire brushed. Yokote, well it is wire brushed. The saya has a nice brown speckled lacquer that is quite tough. I accidentally bumped it on a corner on the wall and it didn't even leave a scratch! The Saya also has a kozuka blade which is actually pretty decent. It does have a horn koiguchi. Sageo? What Sageo, more like cheap shoelace ito.
The Fit and Fittings:
The tsuba, fuchi and kashira are all in a antiqued silver color. I believe they are brass, but it is pretty hard to tell. I personally find it attractive, but not much with black ito and a brown saya. The Menuki is your generic dragon. It has a brass habaki and seppa. It is double pegged meguki . Everything is nice and tight even the ito. The ito is cheap though. It is very cheap in fact, like shoe lace. . Ehhh well. Not much of a biggy anyways, I'm probably going to change the ito to some other color and material. The same is also of low quality. Not very attractive. Other than that the rest is pretty decent.
Cutting:
Ah yes, the fun part. I will tell right now, the blade is pretty darn sharp. Probably a lot sharper than the masahiro I have. It is quite easy to slice through stuff with this one. It is a bit heavy, balance is decent. I usually prefer longer tsukas (like >11" < 13") to kind of even out that heaviness.
Victim 1:
Icetea bottle.
Low calories and antioxidants ain't got nothing on this baby!
Whoa. Pretty darn good. I think I am getting better with my form or maybe it's the higher stand. I did 2 in total.
Victim 2:
Fanta soda bottle.
Don't you wanna, don't you wanna...ehh never mind.
Here's the result.
Next up is the tropicana orange juice jug.
I hate orange juice!
1st cut:
2nd:
3rd and 4th (it cut a very thin tiny part @ the 3rd cut)
Not bad at all. This sword is a real cutter. Unfortunately, I still haven't made a stand for mats yet. So not mats yet.
In conclusion, I think you get a good deal for $60 bucks. The fittings are good with the exception of the ito and same which are not of decent quality. Heck I wouldn't even use it on beater! Other than that the rest is pretty darn good. The blade held up nicely. No loose fittings, nice and tight. Hardly any scuffs on the blade, in all a good blade with ok fittings.
Fit and Finish: 3/5
Historical Accuracy: 3/5
Handling: 3/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall: 3.75/5
by Carlos L (Charliegone, whatever ;D)
Cheap, sharp and somewhat decent? The Edo is it. For a measly 60 dollars you get a good bang and a nice little extra, a kozuka blade. Bought from SOM. I am not sure if anyone else carries it. I tried looking but no luck. So as far as I know, SOM is the only ones that carry it.
www.swordsofmight.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=386
According to SOM's info:
Blade: 28"
Handle: 11"
Overall: 40.5"
Weight: 2.4 Lbs
Made out of carbon steel (most likely 1045)
with Hi
wire brushed hamon (very subtle)
black ito
brown speckle saya w/ kozuka blade
silver colored fittings and kozuka handle (maybe brass? Can't tell)
First Impressions
I originally had order the tan handle w/ black saya from them, but it seems they were out so therefore got instead a the black handle with brown saya. Not much difference other than color (I really liked that tan handle, ehh well). I came packed in a generic box with Samurai Sword written on it. Inside it came Styrofoamed on the edges and in a sword bag. No scratches or imperfections from shipping.
The Blade and Saya:
It boasts a 28" blade made of most likely 1045 steel. It is somewhat heavy for a sword with a hi, a bit heavier than the 29" Zhi sword I reviewed last time. It does have a wire brushed hamon, but it is not badly done like it was on a Masahiro I own (very obvious that it's wire brushed. Yokote, well it is wire brushed. The saya has a nice brown speckled lacquer that is quite tough. I accidentally bumped it on a corner on the wall and it didn't even leave a scratch! The Saya also has a kozuka blade which is actually pretty decent. It does have a horn koiguchi. Sageo? What Sageo, more like cheap shoelace ito.
The Fit and Fittings:
The tsuba, fuchi and kashira are all in a antiqued silver color. I believe they are brass, but it is pretty hard to tell. I personally find it attractive, but not much with black ito and a brown saya. The Menuki is your generic dragon. It has a brass habaki and seppa. It is double pegged meguki . Everything is nice and tight even the ito. The ito is cheap though. It is very cheap in fact, like shoe lace. . Ehhh well. Not much of a biggy anyways, I'm probably going to change the ito to some other color and material. The same is also of low quality. Not very attractive. Other than that the rest is pretty decent.
Cutting:
Ah yes, the fun part. I will tell right now, the blade is pretty darn sharp. Probably a lot sharper than the masahiro I have. It is quite easy to slice through stuff with this one. It is a bit heavy, balance is decent. I usually prefer longer tsukas (like >11" < 13") to kind of even out that heaviness.
Victim 1:
Icetea bottle.
Low calories and antioxidants ain't got nothing on this baby!
Whoa. Pretty darn good. I think I am getting better with my form or maybe it's the higher stand. I did 2 in total.
Victim 2:
Fanta soda bottle.
Don't you wanna, don't you wanna...ehh never mind.
Here's the result.
Next up is the tropicana orange juice jug.
I hate orange juice!
1st cut:
2nd:
3rd and 4th (it cut a very thin tiny part @ the 3rd cut)
Not bad at all. This sword is a real cutter. Unfortunately, I still haven't made a stand for mats yet. So not mats yet.
In conclusion, I think you get a good deal for $60 bucks. The fittings are good with the exception of the ito and same which are not of decent quality. Heck I wouldn't even use it on beater! Other than that the rest is pretty darn good. The blade held up nicely. No loose fittings, nice and tight. Hardly any scuffs on the blade, in all a good blade with ok fittings.
Fit and Finish: 3/5
Historical Accuracy: 3/5
Handling: 3/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall: 3.75/5