COBRA STEEL TACTICAL WAKIZASHI by Windlass
Apr 13, 2012 0:52:54 GMT
Post by Sir Tre on Apr 13, 2012 0:52:54 GMT
Well i took one for the team once again... a while back i purchased a United Black Yoru Doragon Wakizashi, and bought a fine sword for my wife. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=9293 a few folk were contemplating the values of the inexpensive Windlass Cobra Steel Tactical Wakizashi kultofathena.com/product.asp?ite ... +Wakizashi so i decided to try it out. As usual, I prefer to research a purchase first, though, this time just with a phone call to a trusted site KOA. I was informed of aprox specs (none were yet posted), and BS'd for about a week by lookin at the pic and crunching bank numbers. so i finally ordered one and also a CS Gladius machete seen in one of the pics here. (talk about that in another thread).
I ordered Sunday nite, and it came it arrived Thursday. The website is completely accurate.... no frills. But, hey, i buy swords for function and practicality, not looks, or i would have a pile of junk hangin on the wall, as it were.
The sword was packaged in a shipping box w/ the machete. CS machete was in sheath, and sheath of waki and waki itself were loose and separate. There was a tip protecting doodad to keep it from puncturing the box
BLADE; there is a probable concern for potential buyers regarding the marking "made in india"... great news.... it is a sticker.
another concern is geometry. it has a subtle secondary bevel, which at this price is not too shabby.
the pic on website doesn't show the grip assembly. it is full tang and site states integrated. i assume from pics of other blades of similar mfg that there is some sort of pin under all that rubber. also, there was a statement regarding how awkward the grip might be. I found it actually comfortable, despite of the squareness.
I performed a slight flex test on the blade since it is supposed to be HT with 1085 carbon steel. I was satisfied that it is resilient enough for use. The COP appears to be aprox 6" from tip (I will let you know when i do some cutting).
The sheath ( i dare not to call it a saya, as it is leather and resembles a type of saber sheath); is leather sewn at edge side capped with a metal cape and throat. to draw this blade i would definitely draw spine down as a real waki to prevent dulling the edge.
Retail Price: "$64.95"
KOA Price: $59.95
Overall Length: 27 1/4'' Blade: 19 3/4''
Weight: 1 lb 4.2 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 2 1/2''
Thickness: 4.5 mm - 4.3 mm
Width: 31.1 mm
Grip Length: 7 1/2''
Pommel: Integrated
PROS;
very inexpensive, light and fast to handle, made india sticker comes off, FULL TANG, comfortable rubber grip, guard is part of tang, good polish, shipped without being in leather sheath to prevent corrosion, blade tip protection, size and weight is great for close quarters combat.
CONS;
very light (could be tough to cut with), Cobra Steel emblem etched on blade, unknown regarding grip pins, extremely nontraditional for waki, slight sori.
Overall, for $59.95, i sure ain't complaining. :lol:
I will be doing some cutting with it soon and report back.
I ordered Sunday nite, and it came it arrived Thursday. The website is completely accurate.... no frills. But, hey, i buy swords for function and practicality, not looks, or i would have a pile of junk hangin on the wall, as it were.
The sword was packaged in a shipping box w/ the machete. CS machete was in sheath, and sheath of waki and waki itself were loose and separate. There was a tip protecting doodad to keep it from puncturing the box
BLADE; there is a probable concern for potential buyers regarding the marking "made in india"... great news.... it is a sticker.
another concern is geometry. it has a subtle secondary bevel, which at this price is not too shabby.
the pic on website doesn't show the grip assembly. it is full tang and site states integrated. i assume from pics of other blades of similar mfg that there is some sort of pin under all that rubber. also, there was a statement regarding how awkward the grip might be. I found it actually comfortable, despite of the squareness.
I performed a slight flex test on the blade since it is supposed to be HT with 1085 carbon steel. I was satisfied that it is resilient enough for use. The COP appears to be aprox 6" from tip (I will let you know when i do some cutting).
The sheath ( i dare not to call it a saya, as it is leather and resembles a type of saber sheath); is leather sewn at edge side capped with a metal cape and throat. to draw this blade i would definitely draw spine down as a real waki to prevent dulling the edge.
Retail Price: "$64.95"
KOA Price: $59.95
Overall Length: 27 1/4'' Blade: 19 3/4''
Weight: 1 lb 4.2 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 2 1/2''
Thickness: 4.5 mm - 4.3 mm
Width: 31.1 mm
Grip Length: 7 1/2''
Pommel: Integrated
PROS;
very inexpensive, light and fast to handle, made india sticker comes off, FULL TANG, comfortable rubber grip, guard is part of tang, good polish, shipped without being in leather sheath to prevent corrosion, blade tip protection, size and weight is great for close quarters combat.
CONS;
very light (could be tough to cut with), Cobra Steel emblem etched on blade, unknown regarding grip pins, extremely nontraditional for waki, slight sori.
Overall, for $59.95, i sure ain't complaining. :lol:
I will be doing some cutting with it soon and report back.