Handmade Sword Practical Bamboo Wakizashi
Aug 29, 2010 4:34:11 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2010 4:34:11 GMT
This is my first review so go easy on me if I miss anything. Thanks.
I'll post better pictures later in the week. In these pics the top sword is the one im talking about.
So I was looking for a cheap wakizashi to practice tsukamaki on and saya lacquering, something under 50 dollars nothing fancy. I found a blade from Handmade Swords (purchased directly from them) that had a crack in the saya so it was 50% off ( I paid 39.99 + shipping). I had low expectations. When the sword arrived in a week I was surprised with what I got.
Wakizashi-5 by Derek St, on Flickr
That purple thing is a cardboard tube duct tape saya for a bokken
Wakizashi-8 by Derek St, on Flickr
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a sword bag that was held suspended in a tube by foam. The tube was in a box. Very secure shipping packaging. I ordered it on a Saturday it arrived on the following Friday so shipping was quick enough for me. When I first held it I was surprised at the size of it. It’s on the large scale for a wakizashi. I unsheathed the blade it was covered in the standard oil goop. I did a once over of the saya and was confused where is this crack that reduced the price by 50% up by the mouth of the saya on the mune side was the tiniest of cracks and on the back side there was a “patch” that was lacquered over so it was almost unnoticeable. The patch was a very small thin strip of tape.
"the Patch" it looks worse then it is
Wakizashi-3 by Derek St, on Flickr
Website Statistics:
Blade Thickness: 0.3"
Blade Length (with Habaki): 20.9"
Handle Length: 9.4"
Overall Length (with Saya): 32.9"
Weight (with Saya): 2 lb 3 oz
Weight (without Saya): 1 lb 13 oz
Wakizashi-6 by Derek St, on Flickr
Wakizashi-7 by Derek St, on Flickr
My Statistics:
Blade/Nagasa Length: 21”
Blade width : 1 1/8th at habaki 7/8th at the tip
Bo-Hi: 19”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 9 3/8th”
Overall Length: 33”
Guard/Tsuba Width: shy under 2/8
Sori: if I had to guess maybe 2/8s
POB (Point of Balance): 3 3/8ths”
Weight: I have no scale. But I have no reason to doubt the makers specified weight.
Components:
The Blade/Nagasa and The Tang/ Nakago
1045 steel
The blade is longer then what I prefer for a wakizashi but it is still not too long. It has a beefy spine and a nice presence. Hamon is etched but not super prominent which is fine as I plan on acid etching it myself. The bo-hi is relatively even and does a nice job lightening the blade, as I would imagine this blade being a little bit to heavy if it were absent. The tang has smiths name and serial number 0029 on it. The tangs thickness is not uniform there is a slightly thicker part close to the habaki which gives the tsuka a TIGHT fit.
Wakizashi-2 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Handle/Tsuka
Ito (black cotton) is tight but not immovable, which is not a problem as I plan on undoing it and replacing it with purple ito. The knots are well tied. The core seems to be very well made not cracked or blemished at all. The same while real is low grade and panels (not surprising). Menuki are dragons holding balls (something of a downside for me as I detest dragons) but they are being replaced with baku monsters. There are two mekugi pins. The tsuka is longer then what I would like for a wakizashi I’d rather have something more one handed, infact I wouldn’t not call this Ko-Katana.
Wakizashi-1 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Guard/Tsuba and The Habaki
Well made with nice details, fits snuggly on the blade. Made of brass that’s blackened. On the tsuka side bamboo on the blade side it’s a bit plain however there are some small birds and that’s about it. Habaki is nothing-special fits well with no problems, seppa are thin cheap cogs.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Very nice casting, lovely design, fits well no movement at all. Made of brass that’s blackened. Kashira depicts the sun with line-clouds and a crane on the side along with some leafs.
Wakizashi-4 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Scabbard/Saya
Black Piano Lacquered Saya one small crack/scratch mune side of saya throat, a patch on scabbard that’s almost invisible due to it being lacquered over. Besides that nice construction nice fit to the habaki. Slightly narrows right before saya opening, which irks me but for the price it is not a big deal at all. I will be removing the lacquer so when I do that I will sand it flush before re-lacquering it purple and green. Sageo is the ito it was tied in a tight presentation knot (which I promptly untied and tied the way I tie all ito-sageo)
Handling Characteristics
Though it has a tsuka large enough for both hands the blade doesn’t feel like its got enough heft for the use of both. One handed and it feels a bit light but its still got enough blade presence to be satisfying, perhaps if the P.O.B was a little bit more forward.
Test Cutting: Have not had a chance to cut with this guy yet I’m waiting for my landlords to be out of town…
Pros
- Price 50% off
- Fuchi/ Kashira and Tsuba nice casting
- Everything has a nice tight fit
Cons
- More Ko-Katana then Wakizashi (not a huge con mostly me being picky)
- Dragons!
- Sageo is ito
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword at full price (about 80 us dollars) even better if you can find it cheaper. It seems like a good sword to wet your feet on for customizing its not too expensive. Can't tell how well it cuts but I'll update when i get a chance.
I'll post better pictures later in the week. In these pics the top sword is the one im talking about.
So I was looking for a cheap wakizashi to practice tsukamaki on and saya lacquering, something under 50 dollars nothing fancy. I found a blade from Handmade Swords (purchased directly from them) that had a crack in the saya so it was 50% off ( I paid 39.99 + shipping). I had low expectations. When the sword arrived in a week I was surprised with what I got.
Wakizashi-5 by Derek St, on Flickr
That purple thing is a cardboard tube duct tape saya for a bokken
Wakizashi-8 by Derek St, on Flickr
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a sword bag that was held suspended in a tube by foam. The tube was in a box. Very secure shipping packaging. I ordered it on a Saturday it arrived on the following Friday so shipping was quick enough for me. When I first held it I was surprised at the size of it. It’s on the large scale for a wakizashi. I unsheathed the blade it was covered in the standard oil goop. I did a once over of the saya and was confused where is this crack that reduced the price by 50% up by the mouth of the saya on the mune side was the tiniest of cracks and on the back side there was a “patch” that was lacquered over so it was almost unnoticeable. The patch was a very small thin strip of tape.
"the Patch" it looks worse then it is
Wakizashi-3 by Derek St, on Flickr
Website Statistics:
Blade Thickness: 0.3"
Blade Length (with Habaki): 20.9"
Handle Length: 9.4"
Overall Length (with Saya): 32.9"
Weight (with Saya): 2 lb 3 oz
Weight (without Saya): 1 lb 13 oz
Wakizashi-6 by Derek St, on Flickr
Wakizashi-7 by Derek St, on Flickr
My Statistics:
Blade/Nagasa Length: 21”
Blade width : 1 1/8th at habaki 7/8th at the tip
Bo-Hi: 19”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 9 3/8th”
Overall Length: 33”
Guard/Tsuba Width: shy under 2/8
Sori: if I had to guess maybe 2/8s
POB (Point of Balance): 3 3/8ths”
Weight: I have no scale. But I have no reason to doubt the makers specified weight.
Components:
The Blade/Nagasa and The Tang/ Nakago
1045 steel
The blade is longer then what I prefer for a wakizashi but it is still not too long. It has a beefy spine and a nice presence. Hamon is etched but not super prominent which is fine as I plan on acid etching it myself. The bo-hi is relatively even and does a nice job lightening the blade, as I would imagine this blade being a little bit to heavy if it were absent. The tang has smiths name and serial number 0029 on it. The tangs thickness is not uniform there is a slightly thicker part close to the habaki which gives the tsuka a TIGHT fit.
Wakizashi-2 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Handle/Tsuka
Ito (black cotton) is tight but not immovable, which is not a problem as I plan on undoing it and replacing it with purple ito. The knots are well tied. The core seems to be very well made not cracked or blemished at all. The same while real is low grade and panels (not surprising). Menuki are dragons holding balls (something of a downside for me as I detest dragons) but they are being replaced with baku monsters. There are two mekugi pins. The tsuka is longer then what I would like for a wakizashi I’d rather have something more one handed, infact I wouldn’t not call this Ko-Katana.
Wakizashi-1 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Guard/Tsuba and The Habaki
Well made with nice details, fits snuggly on the blade. Made of brass that’s blackened. On the tsuka side bamboo on the blade side it’s a bit plain however there are some small birds and that’s about it. Habaki is nothing-special fits well with no problems, seppa are thin cheap cogs.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Very nice casting, lovely design, fits well no movement at all. Made of brass that’s blackened. Kashira depicts the sun with line-clouds and a crane on the side along with some leafs.
Wakizashi-4 by Derek St, on Flickr
The Scabbard/Saya
Black Piano Lacquered Saya one small crack/scratch mune side of saya throat, a patch on scabbard that’s almost invisible due to it being lacquered over. Besides that nice construction nice fit to the habaki. Slightly narrows right before saya opening, which irks me but for the price it is not a big deal at all. I will be removing the lacquer so when I do that I will sand it flush before re-lacquering it purple and green. Sageo is the ito it was tied in a tight presentation knot (which I promptly untied and tied the way I tie all ito-sageo)
Handling Characteristics
Though it has a tsuka large enough for both hands the blade doesn’t feel like its got enough heft for the use of both. One handed and it feels a bit light but its still got enough blade presence to be satisfying, perhaps if the P.O.B was a little bit more forward.
Test Cutting: Have not had a chance to cut with this guy yet I’m waiting for my landlords to be out of town…
Pros
- Price 50% off
- Fuchi/ Kashira and Tsuba nice casting
- Everything has a nice tight fit
Cons
- More Ko-Katana then Wakizashi (not a huge con mostly me being picky)
- Dragons!
- Sageo is ito
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword at full price (about 80 us dollars) even better if you can find it cheaper. It seems like a good sword to wet your feet on for customizing its not too expensive. Can't tell how well it cuts but I'll update when i get a chance.