Oni Forge Hannya Series - Kage & Kenshi Katana
Jul 1, 2007 15:06:13 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2007 15:06:13 GMT
A few weeks ago, I arrived at home to the largest box of swords that I had ever seen waiting for me on my step. As you can tell by the box, it was sitting in the rain for a bit but the contents inside were only slightly damp. What were the contents? This box contained 10 more boxes, each with an Oni Forge katana from their Hannya series. The ten katana were a mixture of Oni Forge's Kenshi, Kage with 11" tsuba called the Jinen-I configuration (Kage 11), and Kage with 14" tsuba called the Bujin configuration (Kage 14). That is about 9 more than I need, ten more than I need if you ask my wife, and 8 more if I can sneak it by her . I will have some for sale in the future but more on that later, on to the review. And yes, as in my past reviews of the Cheness Kaze and Hanwei Forge Practical Pro katana, this one is heavy with photos.
Each katana was shipped in it's own cloth bag and typical display box, black with red dragons and yellow lining. I unpacked one of each style for inspection and review. All three had a generous coating of protective oil on them. The oil collected a lot of sawdust from the inside of the saya. Now that I think about it, I should have shaken the sheathed katana a bit collecting as much of the sawdust as possible and removing it on the first draw to avoid potential issues in the future.
According to Oni Forge:
The katana I got are all of 1060 steel. These are indeed quality katana for the budget minded.
The photo above shows all three katana laid out together (and labeled) so you can see the differences in geometries. The Kenshi at the top is a "standard" katana with 28.5" nagasa (blade) and 11" tsuka(handle). Full specifications for the Kenshi from Oni Forge can be found on their website. The Kage 11 in the middle is a ko or chisa (short) katana as it would be called by Cheness or Cold Steel respectively. It has a 21.5" nagasa but still retains a full sized 11" tsuka. Oni Forge calls this katana their Jinen Configuration. The Kage 14 at the bottom of the photo has the same 21.5" blade but has a lengthened 14" Tsuka. This is the Bujin configuration of the Kage katana. Again, full specifications for the Kage can be seen on the website. The one spec, not given on the website is the sori (curvature) of the katana. As you can see in the photo, both Kage katana have a greater curvature than the Kenshi. Actually, sori of the Kenshi and Kage measure the same of 7/8" but the Kage has a tighter radius due to the fact it is 7 inches shorter.
Kenshi
As mentioned before, the Kenshi is a "standard" sized katana. The tsuka is wrapped with black cotton ito over white samekawa panels. The ito looks nice and uniform however it is a bit on the loose side. The menuki slips a bit under the ito with little pressure. I honestly don't remember the ito being this loose a few weeks ago when I first handled them. They have not been used for any cutting, mainly handled during the photography. Maybe the ito was freshly done and has stretched a bit on its own if that is possible.
The fuchi (collar) and kashira (butt cap) are simple and nicely done. They appear to be painted black and are the same on all three models. I can't quite make out what the menuki are.
The Kenshi weighs 2 lbs 5 oz. This is only three ounces less than my Cheness Kaze but feels much lighter. My guess is that the difference is the point of balance. The point of balance on the Kaze is 6 inches from the tsuba while the Kenshi is only 5 inches. The reduce weight is also due to the Kenshi's bohi (groove). I have only read of the tachikaze (whooshing sound) as this is my first katana with a bohi. I took one swing and the "whoosh" put a smile on my face. That would be the sole reason for me to keep this katana.
Kage 11
The Jinen configuration of the Kage katana is a shortened sword with a standard length tsuka. The saya is also standard in length. As my preference, I would like a saya sized to the blade. I do understand the purpose of a short sword in a full sized saya creates an element of surprise in the time it takes to draw the unexpected short blade. I don't plan on surprising anyone. Perhaps shortening the saya will be a project for me some day. I don't know where she is but I am sure my wife just sighed and said, "Oh great, another flippin project" This type of ko katana has been the only other sword I have really considered purchasing. The tsuka is wrapped in black ito over black samé. The tsukamaki is much tighter than on the Kenshi with very little movement. I think the black on black looks nice. The tsuba of the Kage katana is different from Kenshi, a square Kunihiro design rather than the round Namako tsuba. A slight bit of movement in the tsuba is present. There is no rattling or anything, it just rotates a little.
Oni Forge describes the Hannya Series blades as:
I am not really sure what this is but it was crawling on the log when I was taking photos of the Kage 11. It could be a baby praying mantis but I am not 100% positive. It was less than 1/4" in length.
Kage 14
The Bujin Configuration of the Kage katana has a shortened blade at 21.5 inches and has an extended tsuka of 14 inches. Compared to the 2 pound 1 ounce Kage 11, the Kage 14 is a bit heavier at 2 pounds 3.5 ounces due to the lengthened tsuka. The extra weight in the tsuka shifts the point of balance closer to the tsuba making it feel incredibly light and agile. Point of balance is 2.5 inches from the tsuka while the POB is 4 inches on the Kage 11.
When I first handled the Kage 14, my initial thought was that the tsuka was smaller than other two. The fuchi being loose also led me to believe the tsuka was small. I figured the only way to tell for sure was to disassemble all three katana. All three tsuka were very tight on the nakago. There were a lot of shavings, both wood and metal, in the tsuka. I wondered if the tsuka were cut a little small and forced on.
Inspecting the tsuka of both Kage katana confirmed the tsuka on the Kage 14 was indeed smaller. It was not by much but it was enough that I could feel it when gripping the tsuka.
The nakago (tang) of the Kenshi and Kage 11 are the same size in length, width, and thickness. The nakago of the Kage 14 is longer, but not as wide. I imagine the nakago is narrower to cut down on the weight. This may also be the reason for the tsuka being thinner as well. The standard sized fuchi on the undersized tsuka is the reason for the looseness. The habaki (blade collar) is also loose on the nakago of the tsuka 14. The space around the nakago can be seen in the photo.
The habaki rotates a bit on the nakago. It slid off easily without the use of tools.
Another reason I wonder if the tsuka opening was undersized and forced on the nakago is because there are cracks in the tsuka. The tsuka from the Kenshi and Kage 11 had cracks at the mune (back) corners of the opening. The cracks appear to be only about 1/4" long and stopped before reaching the ito.
Aside from a few looseness issues, I would say the Hannya series of katana from Oni Forge would be an excellent choice for someone looking for a functional katana in the sub $200 price range. In reality, what company hasn't gotten some heat for their fittings on katana in this price level? The katana I purchased were:
Based on my small test sample of three katana out of ten, I would make the following conclusions:
Well, I believe that concludes this review session of Oni Forge's Hannya series' Kage and Kenshi katana. Feel free to fire away with comments, photo requests, and review critiques if you choose.
Each katana was shipped in it's own cloth bag and typical display box, black with red dragons and yellow lining. I unpacked one of each style for inspection and review. All three had a generous coating of protective oil on them. The oil collected a lot of sawdust from the inside of the saya. Now that I think about it, I should have shaken the sheathed katana a bit collecting as much of the sawdust as possible and removing it on the first draw to avoid potential issues in the future.
According to Oni Forge:
The Hannya series is Oni Forge's new standard line, with beautiful hand-finished blades and traditional fittings on all models. Despite the high-end look, the Hannya series is priced to be within reach of any modest budget. Hannya blades are available in AISI 1060 or folded steel with etched hamon. Each is hand mounted by a team of craftsmen under our design and quality specifications.
The katana I got are all of 1060 steel. These are indeed quality katana for the budget minded.
The photo above shows all three katana laid out together (and labeled) so you can see the differences in geometries. The Kenshi at the top is a "standard" katana with 28.5" nagasa (blade) and 11" tsuka(handle). Full specifications for the Kenshi from Oni Forge can be found on their website. The Kage 11 in the middle is a ko or chisa (short) katana as it would be called by Cheness or Cold Steel respectively. It has a 21.5" nagasa but still retains a full sized 11" tsuka. Oni Forge calls this katana their Jinen Configuration. The Kage 14 at the bottom of the photo has the same 21.5" blade but has a lengthened 14" Tsuka. This is the Bujin configuration of the Kage katana. Again, full specifications for the Kage can be seen on the website. The one spec, not given on the website is the sori (curvature) of the katana. As you can see in the photo, both Kage katana have a greater curvature than the Kenshi. Actually, sori of the Kenshi and Kage measure the same of 7/8" but the Kage has a tighter radius due to the fact it is 7 inches shorter.
Kenshi
As mentioned before, the Kenshi is a "standard" sized katana. The tsuka is wrapped with black cotton ito over white samekawa panels. The ito looks nice and uniform however it is a bit on the loose side. The menuki slips a bit under the ito with little pressure. I honestly don't remember the ito being this loose a few weeks ago when I first handled them. They have not been used for any cutting, mainly handled during the photography. Maybe the ito was freshly done and has stretched a bit on its own if that is possible.
The fuchi (collar) and kashira (butt cap) are simple and nicely done. They appear to be painted black and are the same on all three models. I can't quite make out what the menuki are.
The Kenshi weighs 2 lbs 5 oz. This is only three ounces less than my Cheness Kaze but feels much lighter. My guess is that the difference is the point of balance. The point of balance on the Kaze is 6 inches from the tsuba while the Kenshi is only 5 inches. The reduce weight is also due to the Kenshi's bohi (groove). I have only read of the tachikaze (whooshing sound) as this is my first katana with a bohi. I took one swing and the "whoosh" put a smile on my face. That would be the sole reason for me to keep this katana.
Kage 11
The Jinen configuration of the Kage katana is a shortened sword with a standard length tsuka. The saya is also standard in length. As my preference, I would like a saya sized to the blade. I do understand the purpose of a short sword in a full sized saya creates an element of surprise in the time it takes to draw the unexpected short blade. I don't plan on surprising anyone. Perhaps shortening the saya will be a project for me some day. I don't know where she is but I am sure my wife just sighed and said, "Oh great, another flippin project" This type of ko katana has been the only other sword I have really considered purchasing. The tsuka is wrapped in black ito over black samé. The tsukamaki is much tighter than on the Kenshi with very little movement. I think the black on black looks nice. The tsuba of the Kage katana is different from Kenshi, a square Kunihiro design rather than the round Namako tsuba. A slight bit of movement in the tsuba is present. There is no rattling or anything, it just rotates a little.
Oni Forge describes the Hannya Series blades as:
precision milled from 1060 carbon steel, sharpened by hand with a traditional flat-grind edge and through tempered for durability. It's tough enough for routine practice including cutting.
I took some cutting video but don't think I will post them yet. I may do more cutting to see about getting some better video but will have to wait until I have more targets. | The blade has a plain finish but it does look nice. Instead of being highly polished, the finish has a brushed look to it. The sugu (straight) hamon (temper line) is artificial. I don't really care for the straight pattern. My initial thought is that I would rather it not be there at all. Who knows, maybe it will grow on me the more I look at it. There were a couple of small stains on the blades. I briefly rubbed one with some fine steel wool but I think it will take a bit more work to remove, assuming they are just surface stains, that is. The blades have that scary sharp feeling. The Kage 11 made short work of a pair of water filled milk jugs. Multiple cuts on the one-gallon containers were no problem for the Oni Forge katana. The one-inch strips and rings of plastic fell to the ground while the bottom never moved on the cutting stand. I used this katana for cutting because this is the one I will be keeping. During the cutting, I started to feel a flexing of some sort in the tsuka. I couldn't hear it but I felt vibrations like something was creaking. I don't know if it is the tsuka or the nakago moving in the tsuka. Note: The disassembly photos that follow in the review were taken prior to the cutting session. Therefore, that disassembly did not uncover the cause of the vibrations. |
I am not really sure what this is but it was crawling on the log when I was taking photos of the Kage 11. It could be a baby praying mantis but I am not 100% positive. It was less than 1/4" in length.
Kage 14
The Bujin Configuration of the Kage katana has a shortened blade at 21.5 inches and has an extended tsuka of 14 inches. Compared to the 2 pound 1 ounce Kage 11, the Kage 14 is a bit heavier at 2 pounds 3.5 ounces due to the lengthened tsuka. The extra weight in the tsuka shifts the point of balance closer to the tsuba making it feel incredibly light and agile. Point of balance is 2.5 inches from the tsuka while the POB is 4 inches on the Kage 11.
The tsuka is wrapped in brown ito over black samé. It is tight like on the Kage 11 with very little movement. I am beginning to think that any color ito will look good over black samé. Although, the ito was tight, the fittings are a bit loose. It is not just the tsuba but the fuchi is loose on the tsuka core as well. | There is a visible seam in the saya about 3/8" from the mouth. It appears to be a capped with a koiguchi (mouth fitting). I assume this is made from buffalo horn since Oni Forge sells the material on it's website. Yeah, I could have taken more of a close up but I was feeling artsy and wanted to include the sun flare in the photo. |
As you can tell by the black ito, this is actually the kashira on the Kage 11 but it is the same on all three katana. I would guess the koshirae is the same on the entire Hannya series. | The Kage 14 also has the same square Kunihiro tsuba that the Kage 11 has. All three katana have notched copper seppa (spacers). The copper looks nice but I am not sure I care for the color next to the brass habaki (blade collar). |
When I first handled the Kage 14, my initial thought was that the tsuka was smaller than other two. The fuchi being loose also led me to believe the tsuka was small. I figured the only way to tell for sure was to disassemble all three katana. All three tsuka were very tight on the nakago. There were a lot of shavings, both wood and metal, in the tsuka. I wondered if the tsuka were cut a little small and forced on.
Inspecting the tsuka of both Kage katana confirmed the tsuka on the Kage 14 was indeed smaller. It was not by much but it was enough that I could feel it when gripping the tsuka.
The nakago (tang) of the Kenshi and Kage 11 are the same size in length, width, and thickness. The nakago of the Kage 14 is longer, but not as wide. I imagine the nakago is narrower to cut down on the weight. This may also be the reason for the tsuka being thinner as well. The standard sized fuchi on the undersized tsuka is the reason for the looseness. The habaki (blade collar) is also loose on the nakago of the tsuka 14. The space around the nakago can be seen in the photo.
The habaki rotates a bit on the nakago. It slid off easily without the use of tools.
I added a spacer to the inside of the fuchi. I cut the spacer out of a bicycle tire inner tube. This cut down the movement but perhaps a 1/4" wide strip of Gorilla Tape around the end of the tsuka once or twice will tighten up the fit of the fuchi. |
Another reason I wonder if the tsuka opening was undersized and forced on the nakago is because there are cracks in the tsuka. The tsuka from the Kenshi and Kage 11 had cracks at the mune (back) corners of the opening. The cracks appear to be only about 1/4" long and stopped before reaching the ito.
Aside from a few looseness issues, I would say the Hannya series of katana from Oni Forge would be an excellent choice for someone looking for a functional katana in the sub $200 price range. In reality, what company hasn't gotten some heat for their fittings on katana in this price level? The katana I purchased were:
4 of the Kenshi
3 of the Kage in Jinen Configuration (Kage 11)
3 of the Kage in Bujin Configuration (Kage 14)
Based on my small test sample of three katana out of ten, I would make the following conclusions:
●Overall value of the Oni Forge's Hannya series is excellent.
●Excellent balance and feel.
●Blades are scary sharp and cut like a laser (through milk jugs anyhow).
●Koshirae are appealing and nicely finished.
●Tsuba may be a bit loose on the Kage models, especially on the Bujin configuration.
●Fuchi may be loose on Bujin configuration of the Kage Katana. This may not be fair to assume since only one was inspected.
●Tsuka are tight to the nakago. Standard sized tsuka should be checked for cracking.
●Saya finish is excellent and the fit is decent. There is a bit of rattling when shaken and I would prefer a tighter fit for my type of use (display with occasional cutting).
●Tsukamaki is uniform and tight. It would not be fair to assume the loose ito on the reviewed Kenshi to be standard for the model line since only one was reviewed.
Well, I believe that concludes this review session of Oni Forge's Hannya series' Kage and Kenshi katana. Feel free to fire away with comments, photo requests, and review critiques if you choose.