Munetoshi T-8 Lion Dog
May 17, 2011 23:39:16 GMT
Post by johnwalter on May 17, 2011 23:39:16 GMT
Intro
This is the katana I won in the April UBC contest.Donated by Swordnarmory,arranged thru Marc Lecompte,our new president.
Historical overview
Pretty much the standard production copy shinogi zukuri.Nothing new here.
Full disclosure
As stated this was a contest prize and didnt cost me a dime.Contest winners usually pay shipping but I was contacted by Greg and asked if I would be interested in doing a review in exchange for him covering the shipping cost,this is a new offering from Munetoshi and needed exposure.Since I had planned to review it anyways,I said sure.Fear not,this will not influence this review in any way.
Expectations
Hey what you expect from an item is a big deal to most right?Well I currently own 2 Bushido beaters and the Nisshoku from Munetoshi and have handled others from their line of kats.Those cheap beaters continue to amaze me every time I take one to the bamboo grove.The Nisshoku is one of my favorites.So I expected the same good stuff here.I also expected the usual black on white that I have become very bored with.
Initial impression
The Lion Dog arrived about 6 business day after I gave Greg my address.It came in a cardboard box within a box,nothing different there.It was held in the usual black cotton bag.Now when I opened the bag,guess what?No black on white.The most beautiful shade of cranberry red ito on black same,my two favorite colors.Greg must have red(get it?red) my mind because I made no special request.
Stats
as listed by SnA
•Overall Length:39.5 "
•Blade:Very Sharp
•Nagasa Length:27.5 "
•Blade Material:Through Hardened T8
•Tsuka Length:11 "
•Niku:Light
•Sori:0.7 "
•Kissaki Length:1.704
•Blade Width @ Habaki:1.253 "
•Blade Construction:Mono Steel
•Blade Width @ Kissaki:0.858 "
•Hamon:None
•Weight W/O Saya:2.55 lbs
•Balance Point:4.25 "
•Tsuba Material:Steel
•Hardness:58 HRC
•Ito & Sageo Material:Chemical Fiber
•Fuchigashira Material:Copper
•Sword Name:Lion Dog
•Mekugi:Smoked Bamboo Double Mekugi
•Condition:Brand New
•Manufacturer:Munetoshi
I have found these to be pretty spot on except pob on mine is closer to 5"
Stats like this should vary somewhat from piece to piece being handmade.
Components
Steel and copper as stated by the site.Real samegawa, nicely woven chemical fiber ito, not cheap looking.
Blade T-8 steel,TH.
Tsuka
The tsuka appears to be well made with no cracks,shimming or other damage.Real samegawa lacquered black.Cranberry red ito,alternating and tight.Nicely done using hishigame.Both omote and ura knots are neatly done.I could be wrong but this tsuka does not appear to be made by the same hands that made the tsukas on my earlier gen Munetoshi's.I like their shape better,not that I dislike this one.It is quite a bit fatter from ura to omote but nowhere near an "axehandle".Very nice feel from mune to ha.It has some waisting and curve to it and is overall comfortable, I would just prefer it be a little more streamlined.The mekugi are smoked bamboo and the menuki are small Lion Dog( Foo Dog) And were really hard to get a good pic of,sorry.I like them though.
Blade
Nothing special here.Nicely done with good lines,T-8 steel through hardened to a spring temper.Paper cutting razor sharp all the way to about 1" from the habaki.Cross polished yokote,with a fairly nicely done fukura.Just under 3/4" sori.
Tsuba
Blackened steel,simple and tastefully done.I actually like it better than the Hanwei Lion Dog.
Fuchi/kashira
Very nice!Antiqued and again I like these much better than the Hanwei Lion Dog.They have good detail and are very nicely done.
Saya
Typical black and clearcoat with the same ito material for a sageo in cranberry red.Not the best carving in the koiguchi but tight to the habaki.The blade fit to saya, believe it or not,absolutely no rattle at all.As perfect as it can be.The black has to go,personal prefence.
Handling
After putting this kat thru several Toyama Ryu kata,it handles very nicely.Good balance.Quick and lively without sacrificing to much blade presence.Doubles are what this thing likes.After 300 consecutive kesagiri,my old elbows felt ok.The kat performs nukitsuke very well and almost jumps from the saya.
Test cutting
I apologize for no video but the camera is be a little finicky.I thought I had capured the mat cutting but apparently the camera had other ideas.I guess you have to trust me when I say,it cuts very well.While I believe cutting ability is more to the cutter if the blade is sharp,this one is razor sharp and the bottles and couple of mats proved no contest.
Conclusion
Well done Munetoshi.I like this one.The Nisshoku is still my favorite of what I have handled from this company,but this is a good piece.
Pros
Three choices of color scheme
relatively inexpensive
tastefully done fittings
proper fit to saya
nice balance
Cons
tameshigiri polish could be a little more even
tsuka is little on the fat side omote to ura
I am at a point where I would rather see a geometric yokote or none at all(personal preference)
Bottom Line
Had I payed for it,I would be happy with it.The color choices make it a very good option for those who are tired of the same old black on white and who have no desire to redo a kat themselves.
s960.photobucket.com/albums/ae81 ... ion%20Dog/
www.swordnarmory.com/SearchResul ... i+Lion+Dog
This is the katana I won in the April UBC contest.Donated by Swordnarmory,arranged thru Marc Lecompte,our new president.
Historical overview
Pretty much the standard production copy shinogi zukuri.Nothing new here.
Full disclosure
As stated this was a contest prize and didnt cost me a dime.Contest winners usually pay shipping but I was contacted by Greg and asked if I would be interested in doing a review in exchange for him covering the shipping cost,this is a new offering from Munetoshi and needed exposure.Since I had planned to review it anyways,I said sure.Fear not,this will not influence this review in any way.
Expectations
Hey what you expect from an item is a big deal to most right?Well I currently own 2 Bushido beaters and the Nisshoku from Munetoshi and have handled others from their line of kats.Those cheap beaters continue to amaze me every time I take one to the bamboo grove.The Nisshoku is one of my favorites.So I expected the same good stuff here.I also expected the usual black on white that I have become very bored with.
Initial impression
The Lion Dog arrived about 6 business day after I gave Greg my address.It came in a cardboard box within a box,nothing different there.It was held in the usual black cotton bag.Now when I opened the bag,guess what?No black on white.The most beautiful shade of cranberry red ito on black same,my two favorite colors.Greg must have red(get it?red) my mind because I made no special request.
Stats
as listed by SnA
•Overall Length:39.5 "
•Blade:Very Sharp
•Nagasa Length:27.5 "
•Blade Material:Through Hardened T8
•Tsuka Length:11 "
•Niku:Light
•Sori:0.7 "
•Kissaki Length:1.704
•Blade Width @ Habaki:1.253 "
•Blade Construction:Mono Steel
•Blade Width @ Kissaki:0.858 "
•Hamon:None
•Weight W/O Saya:2.55 lbs
•Balance Point:4.25 "
•Tsuba Material:Steel
•Hardness:58 HRC
•Ito & Sageo Material:Chemical Fiber
•Fuchigashira Material:Copper
•Sword Name:Lion Dog
•Mekugi:Smoked Bamboo Double Mekugi
•Condition:Brand New
•Manufacturer:Munetoshi
I have found these to be pretty spot on except pob on mine is closer to 5"
Stats like this should vary somewhat from piece to piece being handmade.
Components
Steel and copper as stated by the site.Real samegawa, nicely woven chemical fiber ito, not cheap looking.
Blade T-8 steel,TH.
Tsuka
The tsuka appears to be well made with no cracks,shimming or other damage.Real samegawa lacquered black.Cranberry red ito,alternating and tight.Nicely done using hishigame.Both omote and ura knots are neatly done.I could be wrong but this tsuka does not appear to be made by the same hands that made the tsukas on my earlier gen Munetoshi's.I like their shape better,not that I dislike this one.It is quite a bit fatter from ura to omote but nowhere near an "axehandle".Very nice feel from mune to ha.It has some waisting and curve to it and is overall comfortable, I would just prefer it be a little more streamlined.The mekugi are smoked bamboo and the menuki are small Lion Dog( Foo Dog) And were really hard to get a good pic of,sorry.I like them though.
Blade
Nothing special here.Nicely done with good lines,T-8 steel through hardened to a spring temper.Paper cutting razor sharp all the way to about 1" from the habaki.Cross polished yokote,with a fairly nicely done fukura.Just under 3/4" sori.
Tsuba
Blackened steel,simple and tastefully done.I actually like it better than the Hanwei Lion Dog.
Fuchi/kashira
Very nice!Antiqued and again I like these much better than the Hanwei Lion Dog.They have good detail and are very nicely done.
Saya
Typical black and clearcoat with the same ito material for a sageo in cranberry red.Not the best carving in the koiguchi but tight to the habaki.The blade fit to saya, believe it or not,absolutely no rattle at all.As perfect as it can be.The black has to go,personal prefence.
Handling
After putting this kat thru several Toyama Ryu kata,it handles very nicely.Good balance.Quick and lively without sacrificing to much blade presence.Doubles are what this thing likes.After 300 consecutive kesagiri,my old elbows felt ok.The kat performs nukitsuke very well and almost jumps from the saya.
Test cutting
I apologize for no video but the camera is be a little finicky.I thought I had capured the mat cutting but apparently the camera had other ideas.I guess you have to trust me when I say,it cuts very well.While I believe cutting ability is more to the cutter if the blade is sharp,this one is razor sharp and the bottles and couple of mats proved no contest.
Conclusion
Well done Munetoshi.I like this one.The Nisshoku is still my favorite of what I have handled from this company,but this is a good piece.
Pros
Three choices of color scheme
relatively inexpensive
tastefully done fittings
proper fit to saya
nice balance
Cons
tameshigiri polish could be a little more even
tsuka is little on the fat side omote to ura
I am at a point where I would rather see a geometric yokote or none at all(personal preference)
Bottom Line
Had I payed for it,I would be happy with it.The color choices make it a very good option for those who are tired of the same old black on white and who have no desire to redo a kat themselves.
s960.photobucket.com/albums/ae81 ... ion%20Dog/
www.swordnarmory.com/SearchResul ... i+Lion+Dog