Dojo Pro O-katana "Dai-ichi"
May 6, 2012 20:37:06 GMT
Post by Derzis on May 6, 2012 20:37:06 GMT
Introduction
Almost one week ago I had the chance to get this katana from Chris as payment for drawings made for his story dedicated to his girl, Fiona. I handled during training sessions blades between 2.4shaku to 2.8shaku and even if the perfect size for me is 2.5 shaku at 5'10, I wanted an O-kat and the opportunity arrived.
I am on this site for a while but I never bought or I am on Ronin Katana payroll. This is the first one acquired through this forum.
Historical overview
This sword is very close to a japanese replica in this price range.
I didn't have time to measure the sword but I will add the stats from Ronin katana site:
Nagasa: 32 inches from habaki, 33" from Muromachi (most blades measured from Muromachi)
Weight: 3.2 lbs
Tsuka: 12 inches
Point of Balance: 5.5 inches from tsuba
The package came safely and all was very tight inside the box. The sword perfect tight in saya, no rattling what so ever.
Taking out the sword first impression was "great, this is BIG"...
but after inserting it in my obi, I realized that with more sayabiki length is not an insurmountable problem.
I am adding some pictures showing the length comparative between this big boy and my japanese iaito.
What I liked about this sword from the beginning was the shape and length of the tsuka. It's not bulky, is not hammer-handle-like and it's length is not compromising waza training. Here is the tsuka - compared to my iaito
The tsukamaki is very tight, alternate, diamonds varying not too much in size, looking very good for the overall sword's price.
Tsuba is very nice and neat fixed, there is no space between seppa and tsuba or seppa and saya
The blade itself is very honest. No fake hamon, very straight and screams power. To my pleasant surprise, it is not very wide, and even if it is long and on heavy side, it's elegant.
Habaki is centered and fits good
Saya is full rattan, very nicely done.
I didn't dismantled the sword for the moment.
Handling
It's a big and on heavy side sword to use it with one hand, but if you grow some more muscles, you'll like it. It's a bit tip heavy but not uncontrollable and screams for targets. After a couple of swings, I know that it's more than a capable cuter. Agility is a matter of user at the end.
I won't do Pro and Cons because it's not a day-by-day user's katana. If you want something big, with blade presence, good fittings and good overall quality, this is the one.
Almost one week ago I had the chance to get this katana from Chris as payment for drawings made for his story dedicated to his girl, Fiona. I handled during training sessions blades between 2.4shaku to 2.8shaku and even if the perfect size for me is 2.5 shaku at 5'10, I wanted an O-kat and the opportunity arrived.
I am on this site for a while but I never bought or I am on Ronin Katana payroll. This is the first one acquired through this forum.
Historical overview
This sword is very close to a japanese replica in this price range.
I didn't have time to measure the sword but I will add the stats from Ronin katana site:
Nagasa: 32 inches from habaki, 33" from Muromachi (most blades measured from Muromachi)
Weight: 3.2 lbs
Tsuka: 12 inches
Point of Balance: 5.5 inches from tsuba
The package came safely and all was very tight inside the box. The sword perfect tight in saya, no rattling what so ever.
Taking out the sword first impression was "great, this is BIG"...
but after inserting it in my obi, I realized that with more sayabiki length is not an insurmountable problem.
I am adding some pictures showing the length comparative between this big boy and my japanese iaito.
What I liked about this sword from the beginning was the shape and length of the tsuka. It's not bulky, is not hammer-handle-like and it's length is not compromising waza training. Here is the tsuka - compared to my iaito
The tsukamaki is very tight, alternate, diamonds varying not too much in size, looking very good for the overall sword's price.
Tsuba is very nice and neat fixed, there is no space between seppa and tsuba or seppa and saya
The blade itself is very honest. No fake hamon, very straight and screams power. To my pleasant surprise, it is not very wide, and even if it is long and on heavy side, it's elegant.
Habaki is centered and fits good
Saya is full rattan, very nicely done.
I didn't dismantled the sword for the moment.
Handling
It's a big and on heavy side sword to use it with one hand, but if you grow some more muscles, you'll like it. It's a bit tip heavy but not uncontrollable and screams for targets. After a couple of swings, I know that it's more than a capable cuter. Agility is a matter of user at the end.
I won't do Pro and Cons because it's not a day-by-day user's katana. If you want something big, with blade presence, good fittings and good overall quality, this is the one.