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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 12, 2007 2:39:21 GMT
Musashi Pro Series Poison Ivy musashiswords.com    Created by master smiths from the forge of Sword Artisan Chris Zhou. The steel is entirely hand forged, working out impurities and evenly distributing the carbon for a consistent hardness. The steel is then quenched in water to improve it's overall durability and strength. The Katana feature genuine ray skin handle in cotton braided cord wrap. The saya has a beautiful black lacquered finish while the fittings are done in black with tones of gold. The Tusba was blackened then polished to create a contrast, highlighting it's natural alloy making this sword pleasing to practitioners and collectors alike. Sword measures 43" inches with the scabbard and 41" inches without. The handle 11" inches with a 29.5" blade. When I unpacked this sword, I knew it was going to be a nice upgrade from my $60 Hiro by Musashi. Right away you see a quality upgrade from the lower end of the Musashi line. For the longest time I just kept this baby on the wall, enjoying the fact she was untouched. But I couldn't resist...   DESIGN, FIT & FINISHThe design is definitely unique, and everything is tight with nothing loose. My only complaint would be that the wrap (and ray skin) didn't go all the way up, and it left a little wood exposed as seen in the pictures. The BladeThe blade is 29.5", and approximately 1.5" longer than the bottom series. The balance point is a little farther forward, but it feels quick and balanced. The fittings are much tighter, and when you run a thin rag up and down the blade you don't feel the bumps like you do in the cheaper series. The hamon is very natural looking, and a pleasure to look at. The GripThe tightly wrapped grip with cotton cord wrap, instead of a cheap wrap is much more assuring when gripped for use. It feels durable, and isn't loose. Musashi puts a lot of effort into their swords, and for the price you can't get any better. TESTINGCuttingI did a variety of bottle cuts from small hard plastic bottles, to flimsy milk jugs. To no disappointment, it cut with ease. I experimented with rolled up newspaper (several inches thick), and free hung it from a tree. I attempted to cut into the bottom half, and a experienced a foul jarring. I half expected to look down and see a bent katana, but nothing. The newspaper cut clean roughly 3/4's of the way through, but because it was free hanging the force of the impact sent is swinging away. So I tried a couple more, and I got the same effect. The blade came out fine with no evidence of foul play. Nice! After cleaning the blade up with all the cutting I did (including a minor test to destruction), the only evidence of use is the blade has a few light buff scratches from the plastic, and the grip wrap looks a little used. No nicks, chips bends, sets, or otherwise ill effects. Excellent!      Edited for your viewing enjoyment... CONCLUSIONIf you're looking to step up to the next level, this one will make you feel like you went up even further. Nice to look at, nice to handle, and very dependable. I like having a sword that has proven toughness, which is part of getting to know a new sword. I would definitely buy one of these, over having three of the low end swords. Having said that, I even feel this sword would be a bargain at the $300 price. I would definitely own another Musashi. RATINGSHistorical Accuracy: I'm no expert here, so I leave this field alone Fit and Finish: 4/5 (-1 for the wrap & skin coming up short) Handling: 4/5 (I would prefer the weight more towards the handle, but it is in it's own a very balanced sword) Structural Integrity: 5/5 (After a long round of cutting with some heavy hits, and a thorough inspection, everything is right as rain. Value for Money: 5/5 (GO BUY THIS NOW) OVERALL: 4.75/5 (Excellent) |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2007 4:16:30 GMT
Very nice. It's good to see another review of one of the Zheng Wu Musashis. Aside from the same/ito coming up a tad short, it's a truly beautiful sword. +1 for the fantastic pics.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2007 6:42:34 GMT
VERY COOL PICS! +1
Those kats do offer great value for it's dollar amount. If you don't mind I would like to add your review to the MusashiSwords website.
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Post by admin on Oct 12, 2007 10:08:10 GMT
Hey, nice stuff Matrix! Gotta love those swords, definitely great bang for the $$$. On a side note - don't ya hate it when the paper blows in the wind like that! But great cuts, so far the only sub US$300's I have seen that can cut paper like that are the Musashi Zheng Wus and the Cheness Kaze. +30 review points and a karma for a very nicely presented review (though, and this is pretty tounge in cheek, but those white background wreak havok on my tan colored background when I bring this review across to SBG...   It's all Shootermikes fault though, he started it... hehe). P.S. You should contact me soon to cash in those review points. They only go up to 100 'member... |
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 12, 2007 13:17:10 GMT
VERY COOL PICS! +1 Those kats do offer great value for it's dollar amount. If you don't mind I would like to add your review to the MusashiSwords website. Thanks, and go for it. |
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 12, 2007 13:18:43 GMT
Hey, nice stuff Matrix! Gotta love those swords, definitely great bang for the $$$. On a side note - don't ya hate it when the paper blows in the wind like that! But great cuts, so far the only sub US$300's I have seen that can cut paper like that are the Musashi Zheng Wus and the Cheness Kaze. +30 review points and a karma for a very nicely presented review (though, and this is pretty tounge in cheek, but those white background wreak havok on my tan colored background when I bring this review across to SBG... It's all Shootermikes fault though, he started it... hehe). P.S. You should contact me soon to cash in those review points. They only go up to 100 'member... Thank you, and I'll try and not do anymore white background. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2007 13:41:26 GMT
Thank You, Matrix. You appear to have received one of the nicer instances of the swords in this class. +1 karma for making good on your promise of so many weeks ago. Let me be constructively critical. Your review strikes me in some ways as ad copy for the sword distributor/seller. Where's the dirt? The reason why I ask is that I just received a second Musashi Elite Wind Katana from Trueswords. So, now I have two Elite Wind Katana for evaluation. I'm definitely going to return one, possibly both. I'm holding on to both for a day or so while I determine if I'm going to take the time to document (photographically) what I consider to be the stark differences between two instances of the same sword. So, stay tuned for some images and not necessarily a formal review contrasting these swords. I do appreciate Evan Johnson(of Trueswords)'s willingness to work with me to get an instance of this sword I find acceptable. I don't think my requirements are unreasonable: (1) sound blade (no pitting/corrosion), (2) well-executed boshi and kissaki, (2) trued fittings (blade orthonogal to the tsuba, kashira (buttcap), collar (fuchi) matching the swept lines of the tsuka (handle) [no ungainly discontinuities], (4) reasonably tight tsuka ito wrap, (5) ergonomic tsuka shape [hand filling, not pencil thin] (6) reasonably regular wrap and (7) sword/saya fit must be tight with effort to reveal a rattle. Now, some of these are quite subjective, but (1) (2) (3) and (4) can be easily ascertained. (5) depends on one's handsize and (6) may make an unfavorable initial impression, but may soften in time, and some may enjoy a saya tightening project (7). Some may consider these to be unreasonable expectations for a sword in this class ($160-$180), but if Musashi wants to kick it up, they're going to have to deliver, in my estimation, in these areas. I consider my Cheness Shura ($240) and Delux Iaito ($190) clearly superior in all categories except (2). One of the Winds has a clearly superior boshi/kissaki, the other was more like the Cheness with its distinctively visible file work. The two perspectives I would have liked seeing in this review are closeups of the boshi/kissaki and a view in the plane of the tsuba gazing at the mune or ha. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2007 18:39:07 GMT
i've actually managed to do the "freehanging-paper-cut" with both the Oni Forge Bujin Kage and the Hanwei Kung Fu Practical Broadsword. I thought it would be impossible to do it with a sword that didn't have "kaze" sharpness, i think it has much more to do with tecnique than sharpness.
cause i've havent really been able to cut paper with any of the swords when i hold the paper on one hand and the sword in the other...
Anyway, nice review, and very nice pics!
Do you live next to a highway by any chance? it sounds like it in the video.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 12, 2007 21:09:16 GMT
Thank You, Matrix. You appear to have received one of the nicer instances of the swords in this class. +1 karma for making good on your promise of so many weeks ago. Let me be constructively critical. Your review strikes me in some ways as ad copy for the sword distributor/seller. Where's the dirt? The reason why I ask is that I just received a second Musashi Elite Wind Katana from Trueswords. So, now I have two Elite Wind Katana for evaluation. I'm definitely going to return one, possibly both. I'm holding on to both for a day or so while I determine if I'm going to take the time to document (photographically) what I consider to be the stark differences between two instances of the same sword. So, stay tuned for some images and not necessarily a formal review contrasting these swords. I do appreciate Evan Johnson(of Trueswords)'s willingness to work with me to get an instance of this sword I find acceptable. I don't think my requirements are unreasonable: (1) sound blade (no pitting/corrosion), (2) well-executed boshi and kissaki, (2) trued fittings (blade orthonogal to the tsuba, kashira (buttcap), collar (fuchi) matching the swept lines of the tsuka (handle) [no ungainly discontinuities], (4) reasonably tight tsuka ito wrap, (5) ergonomic tsuka shape [hand filling, not pencil thin] (6) reasonably regular wrap and (7) sword/saya fit must be tight with effort to reveal a rattle. Now, some of these are quite subjective, but (1) (2) (3) and (4) can be easily ascertained. (5) depends on one's handsize and (6) may make an unfavorable initial impression, but may soften in time, and some may enjoy a saya tightening project (7). Some may consider these to be unreasonable expectations for a sword in this class ($160-$180), but if Musashi wants to kick it up, they're going to have to deliver, in my estimation, in these areas. I consider my Cheness Shura ($240) and Delux Iaito ($190) clearly superior in all categories except (2). One of the Winds has a clearly superior boshi/kissaki, the other was more like the Cheness with its distinctively visible file work. The two perspectives I would have liked seeing in this review are closeups of the boshi/kissaki and a view in the plane of the tsuba gazing at the mune or ha. I guess for a guy with my expectations I found a really good bargain for $140 dollars. Can you truly say this isn't worth $140? I see your arguments, but (and this goes back to the other thread about review points) everything is subject to opinion and self-expectation. I truly didn't find anything unacceptable about this sword except for the wrap & ray skin shortness. Though, looking over your list I don't recall having any of those issues, either. |
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 12, 2007 21:13:17 GMT
i've actually managed to do the "freehanging-paper-cut" with both the Oni Forge Bujin Kage and the Hanwei Kung Fu Practical Broadsword. I thought it would be impossible to do it with a sword that didn't have "kaze" sharpness, i think it has much more to do with tecnique than sharpness. cause i've havent really been able to cut paper with any of the swords when i hold the paper on one hand and the sword in the other... Anyway, nice review, and very nice pics! Do you live next to a highway by any chance? it sounds like it in the video. Yes, my backyard is right up against the sound wall of a freeway  On the newspaper roll, it was quite thick, probably 4 inches wide and not soaked. I have video of it, I should post it. Maybe it had a little to do with technique, but it sure felt brutal. I know if the lower half were supported it would cut right through it. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2007 22:27:51 GMT
Do all the Poison Ivy katanas have a tsuba like that? This is the style pictured on Musashi Swords, but the product description text indicates that the tsubas are no longer made as pictured. True Swords shows a bronze or alloy tsuba without any colored enameling.
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Post by YlliwCir on Oct 13, 2007 10:10:40 GMT
Matrix, good review and excellent photography, I need a new camera but when I think of buying one, I think "that could be a sword" LOL. Maybe I buy the wife one for christmas and borrow it. Anyhoo, a karma for you.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 13, 2007 21:40:23 GMT
Thanks for the karma everyone.
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Post by swordreaper on Oct 14, 2007 5:23:40 GMT
Loooks like you bite your lips before and after you cut a bottle... Anyway cool photos and vids
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 17:58:52 GMT
Great review Matrix And nice pics looks like you got all wet in one of them. I recently ordered a Musashi Sea Dragon Katana hope its as nice.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 20:05:32 GMT
Beautiful. I bought their 500 dollar wind katana and it far outranks any of the other sword company's swords. The prices of their swords should be at least twice of what they're sold for.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 16, 2007 4:25:21 GMT
If the price were double they would have much more competition in comparison value.
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It's all Shootermikes fault though, he started it... hehe).
