CUSTOM KAT BY HSTS+test cutting
Mar 20, 2012 8:05:13 GMT
Post by Ewokz on Mar 20, 2012 8:05:13 GMT
Review by Thomas S. / Ewokz
20.03.2012
Austria
Introduction
So, It all started as Ricky/Dadaochen from HSTS posted the thread about a custom katana program in the Manufacturer and Vendors Talk at the end of October 2011. Now it was about people coming up with their own blade designs(voting system). After the final design was chosen, Ricky talked to his forge and they forged and "furnitured" the demo blade and also mine. Why did I get mine early together with Ricky's demo blade? I was going on his nerves and then he wrote, it should be fine, although there would be the risk they are going to do something wrong. I took the chance immediately, didnt even think about there would be something wrong, because I did put much trust in him
Finally my sword arrived sharpened in Feb 2012. Was it worth waiting? Decide on your own by the pictures below.
Historical overview
I would this blade design in the Nambokucho Era because of the 30" inch blade. If someone has an idea, in which era it would fit best -> pm me.
Full Disclosure
My sword with all the extra furniture and the extra polish was priced at 340$(I count this kat as a <300$ sword, because I have chosen the extra “white polish” for it, which was priced at 50$). As Marc wrote in his review of the demo blade: “Even the bare blade is worth the money”. Imo, he’s right. It’s a gorgeous sword for the money I was paying. I wanted a longer katana like this with a longer tsuka, a large O-kissaki and a prominent killer-hamon as I joined this forum. You cant find any production sword, that would fit this blade style with a prominent hamon and not even more for a price like this. It was/is the katana of my dreams and now I can call a duplicate of it my own
Initial Impressions
As I unpacked the sword, I had a wonderful feeling. An unknown feeling I hadn’t got as I received my first katana, the Cheness O-Kat. It’s simple, I waited 4 months for it, I was hundreds of hours online in this forum, and I did put lots of time in creating this blade design, choosing the koshirae, deciding between the high amounts of options and replying the thread. It was an amazing time. In the time of waiting for it, I got ill and was in hospital for about a week. I will suffer from the illness for my whole life. It’s called Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis. So this sword isn’t simply a sword for me. It’s a symbol of a new stage of my life.
Update: I was in hospital the last two weeks because I had a brutal intestinal operation, that’s why I took so long to complete the review.
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length: 30”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 14”
Overall Length: 45”
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3mm
POB (Point of Balance): coming soon.
COP (Center of Percussion): coming soon.
Weight: coming soon.
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
T10, DH, O-Kissaki, Traditional Geometry, white polished with japanese stones(reminds me of the Ronin Elite polish). Sharpened by Ricky(nuff said)
Hamon is a mix of ko-choji/midare is some place. I like how the hamon goes deeper into the blade at the middle of the nagasa length.
The Handle/Tsuka
A long 14” inch tsuka as I like it. Tsuka-Maki is not very clean if you take a closer look to it. It’s a bit big and not very well shaped. But for that price with such a killer blade, you cant have everything perfect . White rayskin with rather big nodes and black japanese silk ito.
The Guard/Tsuba
a simple black round iron tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Simple black zinc/alloy Fuchi/Kashira.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya is laquered black gloss and at the mouth of it, It is wrapped in sanded rayskin. It feels very comfortable compared to a normal saya. Horn fittings at the mouth and at the end onfthe saya. It has a snug fit to the habaki, but doesn’t fit perfectly to the line of the tsuba. (pictures)
Black/white Japanese silk sageo.
Handling Characteristics
It’s a hard part to describe….Some like light, fast blades, some like heavier beefy blades…
The overall balance feels great, although it’s a bit tip heavy, which isn’t a problem for me. Its like a sword should be in my opinion. It feels much more lively compared to my cheness o-kat.
Test Cutting
Will be added…I have to cure now and I am not able to wield swords at the moment. But I promise, it will be added as soon as I’m feeling better.
.
UPDATE:
here's the noob cutting vid!
Consclusion
The custom kats program was an awesome experience and if there's going to be another one some day, I will be in too
Pros
Awesome blade with a much nicer hamon.
Good handling and balance
I love it!
Cons
Bad tsuka job (will be better in the upcoming blades of the custom kats program)
Saya fit is a bit annoying, but forgivable, since it is fixable
Nakago could be more curved to the symmetry of the blade
The Bottom Line
I would recommend Ricky from HSTS to anyone, who wants an awesome blade and a trustful vendor.
I am happy with my purchase and I would do it again.
Altough the katana is going to be customized completely, its really my current jewel.
Review is a bit short right now, will try to add a few things, I forgot. I just got a hour for writing it, because that’s how long my painkillers were on their maximum impact xD
If you want me to add something->write me a pm and I will add it as soon as possible.
Cheers!
20.03.2012
Austria
Introduction
So, It all started as Ricky/Dadaochen from HSTS posted the thread about a custom katana program in the Manufacturer and Vendors Talk at the end of October 2011. Now it was about people coming up with their own blade designs(voting system). After the final design was chosen, Ricky talked to his forge and they forged and "furnitured" the demo blade and also mine. Why did I get mine early together with Ricky's demo blade? I was going on his nerves and then he wrote, it should be fine, although there would be the risk they are going to do something wrong. I took the chance immediately, didnt even think about there would be something wrong, because I did put much trust in him
Finally my sword arrived sharpened in Feb 2012. Was it worth waiting? Decide on your own by the pictures below.
Historical overview
I would this blade design in the Nambokucho Era because of the 30" inch blade. If someone has an idea, in which era it would fit best -> pm me.
Full Disclosure
My sword with all the extra furniture and the extra polish was priced at 340$(I count this kat as a <300$ sword, because I have chosen the extra “white polish” for it, which was priced at 50$). As Marc wrote in his review of the demo blade: “Even the bare blade is worth the money”. Imo, he’s right. It’s a gorgeous sword for the money I was paying. I wanted a longer katana like this with a longer tsuka, a large O-kissaki and a prominent killer-hamon as I joined this forum. You cant find any production sword, that would fit this blade style with a prominent hamon and not even more for a price like this. It was/is the katana of my dreams and now I can call a duplicate of it my own
Initial Impressions
As I unpacked the sword, I had a wonderful feeling. An unknown feeling I hadn’t got as I received my first katana, the Cheness O-Kat. It’s simple, I waited 4 months for it, I was hundreds of hours online in this forum, and I did put lots of time in creating this blade design, choosing the koshirae, deciding between the high amounts of options and replying the thread. It was an amazing time. In the time of waiting for it, I got ill and was in hospital for about a week. I will suffer from the illness for my whole life. It’s called Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis. So this sword isn’t simply a sword for me. It’s a symbol of a new stage of my life.
Update: I was in hospital the last two weeks because I had a brutal intestinal operation, that’s why I took so long to complete the review.
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length: 30”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 14”
Overall Length: 45”
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3mm
POB (Point of Balance): coming soon.
COP (Center of Percussion): coming soon.
Weight: coming soon.
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
T10, DH, O-Kissaki, Traditional Geometry, white polished with japanese stones(reminds me of the Ronin Elite polish). Sharpened by Ricky(nuff said)
Hamon is a mix of ko-choji/midare is some place. I like how the hamon goes deeper into the blade at the middle of the nagasa length.
The Handle/Tsuka
A long 14” inch tsuka as I like it. Tsuka-Maki is not very clean if you take a closer look to it. It’s a bit big and not very well shaped. But for that price with such a killer blade, you cant have everything perfect . White rayskin with rather big nodes and black japanese silk ito.
The Guard/Tsuba
a simple black round iron tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Simple black zinc/alloy Fuchi/Kashira.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya is laquered black gloss and at the mouth of it, It is wrapped in sanded rayskin. It feels very comfortable compared to a normal saya. Horn fittings at the mouth and at the end onfthe saya. It has a snug fit to the habaki, but doesn’t fit perfectly to the line of the tsuba. (pictures)
Black/white Japanese silk sageo.
Handling Characteristics
It’s a hard part to describe….Some like light, fast blades, some like heavier beefy blades…
The overall balance feels great, although it’s a bit tip heavy, which isn’t a problem for me. Its like a sword should be in my opinion. It feels much more lively compared to my cheness o-kat.
Test Cutting
Will be added…I have to cure now and I am not able to wield swords at the moment. But I promise, it will be added as soon as I’m feeling better.
.
UPDATE:
here's the noob cutting vid!
Consclusion
The custom kats program was an awesome experience and if there's going to be another one some day, I will be in too
Pros
Awesome blade with a much nicer hamon.
Good handling and balance
I love it!
Cons
Bad tsuka job (will be better in the upcoming blades of the custom kats program)
Saya fit is a bit annoying, but forgivable, since it is fixable
Nakago could be more curved to the symmetry of the blade
The Bottom Line
I would recommend Ricky from HSTS to anyone, who wants an awesome blade and a trustful vendor.
I am happy with my purchase and I would do it again.
Altough the katana is going to be customized completely, its really my current jewel.
Review is a bit short right now, will try to add a few things, I forgot. I just got a hour for writing it, because that’s how long my painkillers were on their maximum impact xD
If you want me to add something->write me a pm and I will add it as soon as possible.
Cheers!
)
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