Review: 06/2012 G-1000 Fire Blade (Titanium)
Jul 4, 2012 15:41:45 GMT
Post by Bluntsword on Jul 4, 2012 15:41:45 GMT
Review: 06/2012 G-1000 Fire Blade (Titanium Infused)
After two months of researching and looking for that unique but useable katana I finally bought a G-1000.
But a bit of history, firstly I'm located in the nanny state (VIC, Australia) and down here swords are a banned weapon to own a sword we need a weapons permit from the chief commissioner (not easy to get), lucky for me due to other reasons (I'm covered by GIC exemption) I'm legally allowed to possess swords. But I can't import them, in VIC you must A) have a weapons permit and you must B) apply to the commissioner to update your weapons permit (on permit you specify how many swords you have) and C) have to apply for a import permit which if granted you give to customs to allow you to clear your sword. So the only way I can get a sword is buy one from an Australian distributor (hence my very very very limited choices).
So 2 months has lapse and about 4hours straight of research and soul searching online reading everything I can find about the G-1000 this is what I found:
Pro:
- Paul Southrens review on this sword makes it seem awesome.
- That's it I haven't found anything else good about this sword, besides people saying it's sooooo cool.
Con:
-1 guy saying he bought 2 of these swords and they were both blunt.
-2 guys saying they bought this sword and it has a FAKE hamon and it was drawn on (1 of the guys has uploaded pics to back his story, and after seeing the pics I believe him).
-1 of the guys who said it has a fake hamon also said the titanium dissolved after he cut acidic fruit.
- and a whole heap of people saying don't get it for what not etc......
Even after all that I still wanted the G-1000, why because my choices were very limited and the sword was what i was after. I wanted a unique sword that looks damn cool and can be used for light cutting if needed. After constantly looking at the GG ebay site, I had the chance to bid for a G-1000 so I jumped at the chance and I won it at AU$245.00 (delivered).
After payment cleared it arrived the next day via Toll Courier, Unboxing the cardboard box you discover the soft (but solid) wood case the sword comes in, lifting the lid off you have:
1x maintenance kit/stand (comes standard with all G series)
1x certificate (just a gimmick, my cert says the sword was made in 2009. I know for a fact it's a 2012 batch)
1x silk sword bag
1x G-1000 katana
Features
-High Carbon Steel blade with Red titanium infusion
-Full Tang Construction
-Clay Tempered wave Hamon Hardened to approx. 60HRC
-Cotton wrapped handle with genuine rayskin
-Powder coated quality wood scabbard
-Twin Pegs through the Handle and Tang for extra strength
Specifications
Overall Length: 40”
Blade Length: 29”
Handle Length: 11”
Weight: 1.4kg
NOW FULL REVIEW
First glimpse the sword as a whole looks really good and good quality, but as you look closely you tend to find little things that isn't just quite right in a sword that RRP AU$590.00, I'll review in sections each part in detail, 1 at a time.
Saya: The saya is egg textured matt black, just the way I like it. The piano black get's on my nerves as I have to constantly clean finger prints off and if rubbed too hard it'll scratch the surface (eg. my other two swords saya's). When sheathed the sword is nice and tight. The finish is good quality and has a display knot, the sageo is tied tight.
Fittings: The main theme is flowers
Fuchi and kashira has flower motif on both. The motifs are 3D flowers/vines and has an appealing look to them but they lack the finer details, and attention these parts deserve. Menuki is also acceptable quality but honestly I have no idea what it is, if you know please tell me.
Seppa/Habaki: Standard design you get from almost all swords from China, seppa is the cog wheel design (which looks cheap) while the habaki is the standard type you get on 90% of swords, nothing special of note.
Tsuba: My G-1000 has a new tsuba design, practically the same as the one Paul reviewed but the flowers are different and none of them are painted gold. There was flash left over from the casting process, they annoyed me enough to sit there for 5min hacking it away with a file. But the design of the tsuba is quite nice for what it is, same as fuchi/kashira it's lacking in finer detail.
Tsuka as a whole: has light brown colour ito tightly wrapped around white rayskin, double pegged. Everything fits nice and snug no gaps between any of the tsuka parts the way it should be. When gripping the tsuka I was taught to wring it and twist my hands in ways so my index knuckles are on top of the tsuka and inline with the mune, after doing that the tsuka feels comfortable and strong in my hands. All in all a Nihonto fit and finish is 10/10, Thaitsuki is 8-9/10, this tsuka I give 4.5-5/10.
The BLADE:
From the certificate it states that it's a 1075 carbon steel (Paul's review says 1060), it's a blood red colour which kinda looks harlequin depending on the light angle there's a few different shades of red on the blade, due to the differential hardening. Best way to describe it is imagine a sword with a real hamon the colours are white cloud hamon on grey/silver background, this sword is black/dark red cloud hamon on light red/blood red backround.
There's a bohi which lightens the blade, the bohi is nicely cut and follows the blade curvature perfectly from habaki through to tip. This blade is 100% DH and has a beautiful hamon (thank goodness, it wasn't drawn on, like what others have said), the hamon is very prominent and visually strong all the way along the blade on both sides.
Below images look orange, I took the pics in direct sunlight to show the hamon. The real life colour is blood red & dry blood red NOT orange.
The edge is very sharp straight out of the box (thank goodness for that, was worried it was blunt) same sharpness along entire edge. From trying to analyze the blade using a piece of paper with lines on it looking, seeing the reflection of the lines on the blade if the relection is a straight line intercepting as a perfect V then there's no niku but if the reflection is a U than there's some niku but from what I can see. On this blade there's practically zero niku, therefore we can't polish or re-hone the edge as it will make the geometry smaller.
Now titanium infused my butt, from what I can tell (guesstimate) it's laminated and forge welded on (which than makes the red colour from rust). This ti layer is extremely thin, found this out when I dismantled the sword just to see if it was only blade coated but alas it's the whole piece blade/tang and all. Now the reason I Know the ti coating is really thin is that when they (manufacturer) hammered the tsuka metal parts onto the nakago it has scrapped the coating of ti off.
Usage: Suburi-Tanren Gata/Battoho/Tameshigiri
At first as a sword it's a tiny bit blade heavier than what I'm used to. The G-1000 POB is 6" my shinken I normally use is 5" that 1" difference does make a difference (for me) after doing suburi 40 swings (kesagiri than kiriage than yoko back to kesa ect...) trust me I can feel it. Using it for kata is no probs though, as you don't do as many swings and you always noto after a kata. Cutting, well for cutting it cuts extremely well. I have killed countless water bottles (light targets) trying to rob my house entering my property via the back yard, I have even killed countless 4mm thick paper tubes (light-medium targets) 2meters long as well, they all died instantly when the blade cut through them easily and effortlessly. I didn't feel any resistance in any of the cuts after each strike and fatality, I hastily checked to see if there was any damage to my ti coating but nothing so I guess it's holding up pretty good so far. Now that I'm getting used to it In my hands it feels balanced.
CONCLUSION:
PRICE: Well RRP AU$590.00 (not worth it) but as of 07/2012 they sell brand new from GG for AU$390.00, plus if you receive email newsletter from them you receive a further 10% off (hint hint sign up - buy something, get the 10% discount- then cancel newsletter), so AU$351.00 but when you get if for under AU$300.00 from auction on the GG Ebay site it's so worth while.
Design/intended User: Now what was GG thinking when they made this sword there's heaps of DH/high carbon steel/full tang/twin peg swords from China for sale these days, alot of people are right in that there are better cutting swords out there. But the main thing is this sword is all of the above specs plus it has been made to be unique and how did they do that they added ti and made the blade red (even though it's all just a gimmick). Just the novelty of owning a sword like this is really something. Honestly I would give up the wood box and all the free extras just to have better design seppas and a unique habaki.
I have given you the most details I can give you regarding this particular sword, I am very happy and thrilled with my purchase, I got a special/different/unique sword that I can use for light cutting every now & then and it's going to be one of my favorite swords in my growing collection for a long time.
I hope this review and pics helps anyone in future making up their minds regarding this sword.
WELL IT"S A LOVE IT OR HATE IT SWORD
Photoshoot
Below Swords: G-1000 from GG Ebay, Aranami from Warsword QLD & Musashi from GG Ebay
After two months of researching and looking for that unique but useable katana I finally bought a G-1000.
But a bit of history, firstly I'm located in the nanny state (VIC, Australia) and down here swords are a banned weapon to own a sword we need a weapons permit from the chief commissioner (not easy to get), lucky for me due to other reasons (I'm covered by GIC exemption) I'm legally allowed to possess swords. But I can't import them, in VIC you must A) have a weapons permit and you must B) apply to the commissioner to update your weapons permit (on permit you specify how many swords you have) and C) have to apply for a import permit which if granted you give to customs to allow you to clear your sword. So the only way I can get a sword is buy one from an Australian distributor (hence my very very very limited choices).
So 2 months has lapse and about 4hours straight of research and soul searching online reading everything I can find about the G-1000 this is what I found:
Pro:
- Paul Southrens review on this sword makes it seem awesome.
- That's it I haven't found anything else good about this sword, besides people saying it's sooooo cool.
Con:
-1 guy saying he bought 2 of these swords and they were both blunt.
-2 guys saying they bought this sword and it has a FAKE hamon and it was drawn on (1 of the guys has uploaded pics to back his story, and after seeing the pics I believe him).
-1 of the guys who said it has a fake hamon also said the titanium dissolved after he cut acidic fruit.
- and a whole heap of people saying don't get it for what not etc......
Even after all that I still wanted the G-1000, why because my choices were very limited and the sword was what i was after. I wanted a unique sword that looks damn cool and can be used for light cutting if needed. After constantly looking at the GG ebay site, I had the chance to bid for a G-1000 so I jumped at the chance and I won it at AU$245.00 (delivered).
After payment cleared it arrived the next day via Toll Courier, Unboxing the cardboard box you discover the soft (but solid) wood case the sword comes in, lifting the lid off you have:
1x maintenance kit/stand (comes standard with all G series)
1x certificate (just a gimmick, my cert says the sword was made in 2009. I know for a fact it's a 2012 batch)
1x silk sword bag
1x G-1000 katana
Features
-High Carbon Steel blade with Red titanium infusion
-Full Tang Construction
-Clay Tempered wave Hamon Hardened to approx. 60HRC
-Cotton wrapped handle with genuine rayskin
-Powder coated quality wood scabbard
-Twin Pegs through the Handle and Tang for extra strength
Specifications
Overall Length: 40”
Blade Length: 29”
Handle Length: 11”
Weight: 1.4kg
NOW FULL REVIEW
First glimpse the sword as a whole looks really good and good quality, but as you look closely you tend to find little things that isn't just quite right in a sword that RRP AU$590.00, I'll review in sections each part in detail, 1 at a time.
Saya: The saya is egg textured matt black, just the way I like it. The piano black get's on my nerves as I have to constantly clean finger prints off and if rubbed too hard it'll scratch the surface (eg. my other two swords saya's). When sheathed the sword is nice and tight. The finish is good quality and has a display knot, the sageo is tied tight.
Fittings: The main theme is flowers
Fuchi and kashira has flower motif on both. The motifs are 3D flowers/vines and has an appealing look to them but they lack the finer details, and attention these parts deserve. Menuki is also acceptable quality but honestly I have no idea what it is, if you know please tell me.
Seppa/Habaki: Standard design you get from almost all swords from China, seppa is the cog wheel design (which looks cheap) while the habaki is the standard type you get on 90% of swords, nothing special of note.
Tsuba: My G-1000 has a new tsuba design, practically the same as the one Paul reviewed but the flowers are different and none of them are painted gold. There was flash left over from the casting process, they annoyed me enough to sit there for 5min hacking it away with a file. But the design of the tsuba is quite nice for what it is, same as fuchi/kashira it's lacking in finer detail.
Tsuka as a whole: has light brown colour ito tightly wrapped around white rayskin, double pegged. Everything fits nice and snug no gaps between any of the tsuka parts the way it should be. When gripping the tsuka I was taught to wring it and twist my hands in ways so my index knuckles are on top of the tsuka and inline with the mune, after doing that the tsuka feels comfortable and strong in my hands. All in all a Nihonto fit and finish is 10/10, Thaitsuki is 8-9/10, this tsuka I give 4.5-5/10.
The BLADE:
From the certificate it states that it's a 1075 carbon steel (Paul's review says 1060), it's a blood red colour which kinda looks harlequin depending on the light angle there's a few different shades of red on the blade, due to the differential hardening. Best way to describe it is imagine a sword with a real hamon the colours are white cloud hamon on grey/silver background, this sword is black/dark red cloud hamon on light red/blood red backround.
There's a bohi which lightens the blade, the bohi is nicely cut and follows the blade curvature perfectly from habaki through to tip. This blade is 100% DH and has a beautiful hamon (thank goodness, it wasn't drawn on, like what others have said), the hamon is very prominent and visually strong all the way along the blade on both sides.
Below images look orange, I took the pics in direct sunlight to show the hamon. The real life colour is blood red & dry blood red NOT orange.
The edge is very sharp straight out of the box (thank goodness for that, was worried it was blunt) same sharpness along entire edge. From trying to analyze the blade using a piece of paper with lines on it looking, seeing the reflection of the lines on the blade if the relection is a straight line intercepting as a perfect V then there's no niku but if the reflection is a U than there's some niku but from what I can see. On this blade there's practically zero niku, therefore we can't polish or re-hone the edge as it will make the geometry smaller.
Now titanium infused my butt, from what I can tell (guesstimate) it's laminated and forge welded on (which than makes the red colour from rust). This ti layer is extremely thin, found this out when I dismantled the sword just to see if it was only blade coated but alas it's the whole piece blade/tang and all. Now the reason I Know the ti coating is really thin is that when they (manufacturer) hammered the tsuka metal parts onto the nakago it has scrapped the coating of ti off.
Usage: Suburi-Tanren Gata/Battoho/Tameshigiri
At first as a sword it's a tiny bit blade heavier than what I'm used to. The G-1000 POB is 6" my shinken I normally use is 5" that 1" difference does make a difference (for me) after doing suburi 40 swings (kesagiri than kiriage than yoko back to kesa ect...) trust me I can feel it. Using it for kata is no probs though, as you don't do as many swings and you always noto after a kata. Cutting, well for cutting it cuts extremely well. I have killed countless water bottles (light targets) trying to rob my house entering my property via the back yard, I have even killed countless 4mm thick paper tubes (light-medium targets) 2meters long as well, they all died instantly when the blade cut through them easily and effortlessly. I didn't feel any resistance in any of the cuts after each strike and fatality, I hastily checked to see if there was any damage to my ti coating but nothing so I guess it's holding up pretty good so far. Now that I'm getting used to it In my hands it feels balanced.
CONCLUSION:
PRICE: Well RRP AU$590.00 (not worth it) but as of 07/2012 they sell brand new from GG for AU$390.00, plus if you receive email newsletter from them you receive a further 10% off (hint hint sign up - buy something, get the 10% discount- then cancel newsletter), so AU$351.00 but when you get if for under AU$300.00 from auction on the GG Ebay site it's so worth while.
Design/intended User: Now what was GG thinking when they made this sword there's heaps of DH/high carbon steel/full tang/twin peg swords from China for sale these days, alot of people are right in that there are better cutting swords out there. But the main thing is this sword is all of the above specs plus it has been made to be unique and how did they do that they added ti and made the blade red (even though it's all just a gimmick). Just the novelty of owning a sword like this is really something. Honestly I would give up the wood box and all the free extras just to have better design seppas and a unique habaki.
I have given you the most details I can give you regarding this particular sword, I am very happy and thrilled with my purchase, I got a special/different/unique sword that I can use for light cutting every now & then and it's going to be one of my favorite swords in my growing collection for a long time.
I hope this review and pics helps anyone in future making up their minds regarding this sword.
WELL IT"S A LOVE IT OR HATE IT SWORD
Photoshoot
Below Swords: G-1000 from GG Ebay, Aranami from Warsword QLD & Musashi from GG Ebay