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Post by masahiro560 on May 9, 2011 12:19:52 GMT
That Nakago -shamelessly salivating- If only their customer service went well for me Beautiful swords you have there, they need to step up their game in terms of fittings
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2011 19:01:57 GMT
I am sorely tempted to get a bare blade from them next time as a project sword.
I do have to say that I had no problems with their customer service. Perhaps they are improving in that area. The ship time still has me floored.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2011 0:31:42 GMT
I keep noticing some small details I feel are worth sharing for this review. The fully disassembled high sori sword: Close-up of the Fuchi. Looks like brass, but at least it was filed down to make a smooth fit. The Tsuba: The Habaki: A slightly better photo of the Nakago: The The Koiguchi from the saya of both katana. The bull horn is shaped to match the mouth of the saya, a nice touch. Okay! I promise I am done! (Oh wait... cutting test still to come....)
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Post by Vue on May 12, 2011 6:43:12 GMT
Great pics and thanks for sharing with us Propaganda!!
One question though, could you please snap a close up pic of the hamon termination point at the hamachi area for me? It could be just me but that hamon termination on the pic of the nakago seems very odd.
Cheers,
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2011 8:26:36 GMT
The photo I took was at a higher resolution than the web uploads, so here is a 100% crop of that area. I can take another photo tomorrow, if there is a particular angle or element you want to see. Here is a reference photo of a TORYO NAGAMICHI Katana c.1854 showing the same area: yakiba.com/Kat_NagaMichi_CUO_merge.jpg
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Post by masahiro560 on May 12, 2011 9:25:14 GMT
That looks saiha Although the absence of mizukage is contradicting. that is one odd way of terminating the hamon
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2011 10:23:15 GMT
What is odd about it? I'm curious. Just trying to educate myself here. Oh, and will post some other views. I think there are some reflections which are obscuring things. (And you two have peaked my curiosity.)
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Post by Vue on May 12, 2011 10:29:52 GMT
Thanks for close up Propraganda!!! The photo's confirms what I was thinking, usually most hamon terminates pass the Hamachi area but some schools prefer to terminates before the hamachi....like the ichimoji school if memory serves :?
The problem with terminating the hamon at the hamachi like Huawei is that that particular area is prone to a lot of stress, I've seen quite a few broken swords which snap at that exact area. Please be careful and check thoroughly prior to and after cutting sessions.
The sword in the link looks to be very tired and properly has been polished quite a few times and therefore properly not the best example of a good termination of a hamon.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2011 10:59:28 GMT
Thanks for the explanation. I will post photos showing both sides and a true closeup vs. the 100% crop. Thankfully the sword is rather thick with no bo-hi, which should add to its strength. I will, however keep a close eye on it as you recommend. And I learned something new, thank you. It has been a fun adventure educating myself about katana and this forum and its members have been key in that regard.
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Post by masahiro560 on May 12, 2011 12:54:37 GMT
The ichimonji does that, Some Ichimonji smiths in the juyo bunkazai do have that style of termination By bizen ichimonji Hiroshi www.emuseum.jp/detail/100479/000 ... os=9&num=6 But I beg to differ, the other kokuho and juyo bunkazai swords do not terminate that way www.emuseum.jp/result?mode=simpl ... onji&pos=9 www.emuseum.jp/detail/100465/000 ... os=9&num=2 www.emuseum.jp/detail/100466/001 ... e¢ury= www.emuseum.jp/detail/100514/000 ... os=9&num=5 Now I'm in no way ever handled an ichimonji nihonto (In my dreams ) Other than that, I don't think that's a flaw. Some nihonto (especially in koto era) have hamon that start about an inch from the habaki, Ubuha and fumbari compensates for that Propaganda, is the edge near the habaki blunt? If it is then you've got nothing to worry about Sometimes in nihonto, this might be suspected for sai-ha, it usually comes with mizukage, something nihonto lovers don't want on their precious nihonto.
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Post by Vue on May 12, 2011 13:22:26 GMT
No I don't consider it a flaw either Mashahiro, but it's something to keep in mind and it really should be a part of regular maintenance /inspection ... most people overlook these details as it's not something that is brought up often in discussions.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2011 4:34:31 GMT
Yes Masahiro, a little more than 5cm is blunt near the habaki. The rest of the blade, however, is razor sharp.
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Post by Vue on May 13, 2011 7:36:53 GMT
That's good!! and that's how a proper polish should be. The ubuha should be blunt, you wouldn't want to split open your koiguchi during noto now would you and maybe even a few fingers to go with that :lol: The fumbari and Ubuha is dead giveaway if a blade has seen too many polishes or has been shortened 'mumei', most production swords don't have the proper fumbari or any at all but I guess most people don't really mind those things.....well they should .... I know I do Overall I think you have a fine blade with an adequate polish, great deal i'd say.
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Post by joeydac on May 13, 2011 14:23:09 GMT
i just bought a sword from them id like to add that there customer service was bar none they helped me completely customize my sword with the fittings i wanted a full same wrap and i changed the ito color and the saya of my choice and it was still under 300$ dollars including shipping cost there building my sword from scratch and i should be recieving it in early june i think there my new favorite sword buying site for katanas
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2011 23:06:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 13:46:37 GMT
Photo of the Ubuha; the unsharpened edge near the Habaki. (And devilishly hard to photograph with my so-so camera.)
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Post by Crimsoned on May 15, 2011 6:49:57 GMT
I just put an order for one of their katana's. Pretty straight forward: Glossy black saya with samegawa wrap Black ito (alternating, I hope) Full same wrap, black his "i" Fittings, tsuba i, menuki i, fuchi kashira i
We shall see how it goes, can't wait!
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2011 20:23:06 GMT
I put in an order for a huawei sword at the end of april I kept my order pretty basic but with a custom hamon Details I sent them as follows... - Hand forged Clay Tempered T10, Water Quenched, DH, Hand Mirror Polished Full Length - Tameshigiri polish, visible natural prominent hamon - Shinogi-Zukuri with a defined geometric yokote. - Hamon: Notare Midare if possible - bo-hi - Tsuba: J - Menuki: G - Saya: H - full wrap on the Tsuka with the Rikko style - Ito: alternating, black mercerized cotton"" It took a month to get somewhere and they kept saying it would be done in a few days, but I finally got a notice that they shipped it today. I can't wait to see how well they did.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2011 22:45:07 GMT
Very nice looking pair there Propaganda. I greatly look forward to see them in action. Love the Hamon and the fittings are tasteful. Time for a destructive test, jokes haha...I think I may go for a t10 blade on next sword, especially with such nice hamon, just be good if the whole hamon was the same lighter shade of the 'hamon line' for want of a better word. Great photos too. Very good review +1 karma
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2011 23:01:03 GMT
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