My Shura. (Again:) Big Pictures!!
Aug 3, 2007 17:09:40 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2007 17:09:40 GMT
Here it is, the new, improved pictorial review of my Cheness Shura! ;D
Blade
I ordered it from the SBG store, and I arrived two weeks later, coinciding nicely with the delivery of my Oni Forge Bujin Katana from Mark Mowery, so I promptly went down to the post office to pick up my packages.
I hastily tore through the box that was encased in packing tape.
The Shura came in the standard Dragon themed box, which was a nice touch. Once opened, I was presented with a long black shape wrapped in a cotton sword bag.
I removed the bag, and was immediately struck by the weight. This thing was substantial! Not at all like the SLO wall-hanger I had. It had, well, authority.
Here's the vital stats from Cheness-
Blade- 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length- (+ Saya) 42.5"
Blade Dimension- 28" Length, 0.3" Width, 1.25" Height
Sori (Curvature)- 0.7"
Weight- 2 lbs 9 oz (without fuller, which mine is)
Balance Point -6" above tsuba (without fuller)
Tsuka- 11" Wood
Fittings
The fittings were ultimately utilitarian, but I find a certain attractiveness in that. What kind of samurai would want gold plated stuff that would require extra attention anyway?
The Saya is plain black lacquered, and is smooth without fault. It fits very tightly on the habaki, and I'll need to file it down some.
The fittings on the tsuka are all nice and tight. The seppa are copper, and the habaki is brass, but are sturdy. The tsuka ito is black cotton, and could be a little tighter, but is satisfactory.
There are two mekugi, which on mine are quite tight.
The tsuba is a plain black iron "mokko" style, which I like.
The kashira is black iron, and has a blemish where the paint chipped.
I removed the tsuka, and inspected the nakago(tang). It's in good condition, and sports a very good friction fit to the tsuka. I literally had to pound it on and off. The tsuka has a small crack on the inside, which I epoxied, but other then that, it's in great shape.
The only problems with the fittings are the kashira, and the saya fits very tightly, so it'll have to be filed down. Other then that, everything is good. But the real beauty is in the blade.
The blade has a plain tameshigiri polish, which I find attractive in a utilitarian way. The harmon is a straight and acid etched, but is nice nonetheless. The kissaki is cross polished.
The blade is super robust, as I stuck it in a vise, and bent it 40 degrees out of line, but it snapped back true immediately.
The only odd part is a distinct transition on the mune of the blade. It's there on my Oni Forge ko-katana too, but it's perplexing.
The blade is quite sharp, without being brittle, and feels like it can cut through almost anything.
Cutting
I took it to milk jugs, pool noodles, small pop bottles(buddy bottles), and free hanging, rolled, soaked, beach mats(which are surprisingly resilient) and dowels. It sailed through anything and everything with minimal effort. It handles quite well, though mine is a little blade heavy without the fuller.
So, to wrap it all up, I love this sword. It take everything you throw at it, and still beg for more. I heartily recommend this sword to anyone who wants a Japanese style katana that cut almost anything.
Fittings : 3.5/5- Good, but chipped kashira brings it down.
Handling: 4/5- I have no experience and can't comment
Structural Integrity: 6/5- It has to be seen to be believed.
Value For Money: 5/5- It'll last for a long time if properly cared for.
Thanks for reading, I'll have cutting video's up soon, (Damn Interweb!)
Blade
I ordered it from the SBG store, and I arrived two weeks later, coinciding nicely with the delivery of my Oni Forge Bujin Katana from Mark Mowery, so I promptly went down to the post office to pick up my packages.
I hastily tore through the box that was encased in packing tape.
The Shura came in the standard Dragon themed box, which was a nice touch. Once opened, I was presented with a long black shape wrapped in a cotton sword bag.
I removed the bag, and was immediately struck by the weight. This thing was substantial! Not at all like the SLO wall-hanger I had. It had, well, authority.
Here's the vital stats from Cheness-
Blade- 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length- (+ Saya) 42.5"
Blade Dimension- 28" Length, 0.3" Width, 1.25" Height
Sori (Curvature)- 0.7"
Weight- 2 lbs 9 oz (without fuller, which mine is)
Balance Point -6" above tsuba (without fuller)
Tsuka- 11" Wood
Fittings
The fittings were ultimately utilitarian, but I find a certain attractiveness in that. What kind of samurai would want gold plated stuff that would require extra attention anyway?
The Saya is plain black lacquered, and is smooth without fault. It fits very tightly on the habaki, and I'll need to file it down some.
The fittings on the tsuka are all nice and tight. The seppa are copper, and the habaki is brass, but are sturdy. The tsuka ito is black cotton, and could be a little tighter, but is satisfactory.
There are two mekugi, which on mine are quite tight.
The tsuba is a plain black iron "mokko" style, which I like.
The kashira is black iron, and has a blemish where the paint chipped.
I removed the tsuka, and inspected the nakago(tang). It's in good condition, and sports a very good friction fit to the tsuka. I literally had to pound it on and off. The tsuka has a small crack on the inside, which I epoxied, but other then that, it's in great shape.
The only problems with the fittings are the kashira, and the saya fits very tightly, so it'll have to be filed down. Other then that, everything is good. But the real beauty is in the blade.
The blade has a plain tameshigiri polish, which I find attractive in a utilitarian way. The harmon is a straight and acid etched, but is nice nonetheless. The kissaki is cross polished.
The blade is super robust, as I stuck it in a vise, and bent it 40 degrees out of line, but it snapped back true immediately.
The only odd part is a distinct transition on the mune of the blade. It's there on my Oni Forge ko-katana too, but it's perplexing.
The blade is quite sharp, without being brittle, and feels like it can cut through almost anything.
Cutting
I took it to milk jugs, pool noodles, small pop bottles(buddy bottles), and free hanging, rolled, soaked, beach mats(which are surprisingly resilient) and dowels. It sailed through anything and everything with minimal effort. It handles quite well, though mine is a little blade heavy without the fuller.
So, to wrap it all up, I love this sword. It take everything you throw at it, and still beg for more. I heartily recommend this sword to anyone who wants a Japanese style katana that cut almost anything.
Fittings : 3.5/5- Good, but chipped kashira brings it down.
Handling: 4/5- I have no experience and can't comment
Structural Integrity: 6/5- It has to be seen to be believed.
Value For Money: 5/5- It'll last for a long time if properly cared for.
Thanks for reading, I'll have cutting video's up soon, (Damn Interweb!)