Munetoshi Light Cutter. Picture Heavy, Short Cutting Video.
Sept 9, 2011 19:58:11 GMT
Post by Adrian Jordan on Sept 9, 2011 19:58:11 GMT
Hello. I just received the Munetoshi Light Cutter I ordered last week. I was actually still asleep when it came(Swordnarmory uses FedEx, which come pretty early here,) but as usual my dogs went ballistic when the van pulled up and so I was "awake" to accept it. I ordered it from Swordnarmory, the price being $168.98. Shipping on items over $125 is free but since I live in CA I do have to eat the sales tax. End price was $183.77. As usual, the customer service was top-notch. The ship out was delayed slightly due to the holiday weekend as well as the QC rep taking it apart and checking for damage. I'm thankful for that as my sword arrived in great shape, without the dreaded cracked tsuka. It comes with free strapped vinyl bag and spare set of seppa and mekugi.
Discalimer:
I am in no way affiliated with Swordnarmory or Munetoshi. This is the second Munetoshi item I've owned.
SWORD:
It came in the standard double box, with Styrofoam inserts.
The free heavy vinyl outer bag is a great addition.
The blade is in the Shinoji Zukuri style with a counter polished, non geometric yokote. The yokote is not done very well, being a bit more vivid on one side than the other. Feel free to admire my awesome Jammie pants in the top picture.
The hamon is striking and beautiful, though it sometimes dips very close to the edge.
The tsuka has black ito over white samegawa. The same is a bit yellowed for my taste, but not too bad. The ito is cotton. Not bad, but not great. I will be re-wrapping with silk at some point. The wood is delightfully un-cracked, though a bit ugly.
Seppa are a step up from the terrible thin ones on the Munetoshi Take, on par with those on the Ronin Dojo Budget. Fittings are plain, but nice. It has a "double-ring" tsuba as made famous by the legendary Japanese warrior Miyamoto Musashi. The habaki is fairly scuffed but surprisingly is fitted amazingly well.
It has a black saya and black sageo. The saya is fairly well done. No scratches or flaws in the paint. Last few inches are very tight, which I believe means that the last part of the blade is rubbing against the inside. It is a bit difficult to remove.
The Nakago is signed and numbered and has no patina to it. Not the best ever, but done well enough.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
It's a nice, solid sword, but not great by any means. Despite being a "light cutter," it is actually fairly heavy and a little more blade-heavy than I'd like. While it has light niku, the blade is surprisingly robust and has a very nice hamon, though the hamon does get a little closer to the edge than I'd like. The kissaki is not done all that well, and the sori is very light. The tsuka components are plain but adequate. The seppa are nicer than I would have though, and while the habaki is scuffed it is fit better than any of my other swords, including my Kaze and my Kris 26III. The saya is more of the same, not great but solid. The fit is very tight, thought that will change I imagine with a little use, and it has no rattle at all. The blade is also very sharp. The sageo is tied somewhat loose, but is an actual, real sageo, not the usual crappy shoe-string that comes on many lower-tier swords. The overall value of the sword is great. What you get for the price is great.
I'd have to give this sword a B grade, though it gets an A for price-to-value.
I hope you enjoyed this, and if you have any questions or requests just ask. And remember,
OBEY MY DOG! KILL THE MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER!!!
Discalimer:
I am in no way affiliated with Swordnarmory or Munetoshi. This is the second Munetoshi item I've owned.
SWORD:
It came in the standard double box, with Styrofoam inserts.
The free heavy vinyl outer bag is a great addition.
The blade is in the Shinoji Zukuri style with a counter polished, non geometric yokote. The yokote is not done very well, being a bit more vivid on one side than the other. Feel free to admire my awesome Jammie pants in the top picture.
The hamon is striking and beautiful, though it sometimes dips very close to the edge.
The tsuka has black ito over white samegawa. The same is a bit yellowed for my taste, but not too bad. The ito is cotton. Not bad, but not great. I will be re-wrapping with silk at some point. The wood is delightfully un-cracked, though a bit ugly.
Seppa are a step up from the terrible thin ones on the Munetoshi Take, on par with those on the Ronin Dojo Budget. Fittings are plain, but nice. It has a "double-ring" tsuba as made famous by the legendary Japanese warrior Miyamoto Musashi. The habaki is fairly scuffed but surprisingly is fitted amazingly well.
It has a black saya and black sageo. The saya is fairly well done. No scratches or flaws in the paint. Last few inches are very tight, which I believe means that the last part of the blade is rubbing against the inside. It is a bit difficult to remove.
The Nakago is signed and numbered and has no patina to it. Not the best ever, but done well enough.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
It's a nice, solid sword, but not great by any means. Despite being a "light cutter," it is actually fairly heavy and a little more blade-heavy than I'd like. While it has light niku, the blade is surprisingly robust and has a very nice hamon, though the hamon does get a little closer to the edge than I'd like. The kissaki is not done all that well, and the sori is very light. The tsuka components are plain but adequate. The seppa are nicer than I would have though, and while the habaki is scuffed it is fit better than any of my other swords, including my Kaze and my Kris 26III. The saya is more of the same, not great but solid. The fit is very tight, thought that will change I imagine with a little use, and it has no rattle at all. The blade is also very sharp. The sageo is tied somewhat loose, but is an actual, real sageo, not the usual crappy shoe-string that comes on many lower-tier swords. The overall value of the sword is great. What you get for the price is great.
I'd have to give this sword a B grade, though it gets an A for price-to-value.
I hope you enjoyed this, and if you have any questions or requests just ask. And remember,
OBEY MY DOG! KILL THE MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER!!!