Part 1 - Hanbon Sword (Swordmaker688) UNOKUBI ZUKURI Katana
Oct 15, 2012 9:55:03 GMT
Post by Alfacentori on Oct 15, 2012 9:55:03 GMT
*Test Cutting Updated* 27/10/12
*Caveat - I am new to swords / Katana - so please check fire! Any advice to improve will be heeded*
The Why?
As someone who is new to collecting swords I wasn't sure what to buy. What some love, others scorn, this is especially true of some of the Ebay sellers. Now I know there has been a lot of debate over this, and this review is NOT intended to reopen that debate, so please don't restart any such discussion in this review.
All I want to do is share my own experience and people can make up their own minds.
After a lot of thought and research I decided to make my first Katana buy a constructive one, and purchased two Katana at the top end of that is forum is about, that is $300 swords. I chose the Hanbon Katana in this review, and a sword of known renown, a Dojo Pro by Ronin Katana (This will be reviewed in Part 2 when it arrives). Both cost within $30 of each other posted, so let the reviewing begin!
The What?
1x Hanbon JAPANESE KATANA ARROW SWORD CLAY TEMPERED UNOKUBI ZUKURI
Historical overview
A UNOKUBI ZUKURI Katana with red Ray Skin? That would be none...although I stand to be corrected. The blade type, UNOKUBI ZUKURI, is a traditional type, but only appears to have been associated with Tanto's.
Full Disclosure
I am an amateur sword collector, I have no links to Hanbon swords, and I paid full price on Ebay of $275 USD.
Initial Impressions
The sword came packed in a foam cut out, it was well wrapped in a silkish bag, undamaged, the blade oiled /covered in plastic, included a letter on sword care, some Chinese currency, and a card. The sword itself felt surprisingly heavy (having not held a Katana before), it felt like it was solid, a real sword. So far so good.
Once unwrapped everything appeared tight, it was fitted with the Tsuba I had selected, the Tsukamaki was tight with good diamonds, Overall, still good.
Specifications: From Manufacturer
Overall Length: 40.9 inch / 104 cm
Nagasa Length: 27.8 inch / 70.5 cm - The actual is 29.5 inches!
Handle Length: 10.6 inch / 27cm
Kissaki Shape: O-KISSAKI
Blade Shape: UNOKUBI-ZUKURI
Blade Material: 1095 steel with clay tempered
Tsuba Material: High quality brass Tsuba
Blade Width (near Habaki): 1.26 inch / 3.2cm
Blade Width (near Kissaki): 0.91inch / 2.3cm
Weight (with Saya ): 2.73 lbs / 1.24 kg (approximately)
Weight (without Saya): 2.25 lbs / 1.02 kg (approximately)
Saya Material: High Quality Hard Wood
Handle Material: Genuine Ray skin + Hard wood
The POB (Point of Balance) appears to be 4.5 inches forward of the Tsuba, I have no idea if this is good or bad :?
The Nagasa
The blade is nice, straight, feels and looks solid, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end... The Hamon appears real from what I could tell. Sharpness...well its not paper cutting sharp, but its damn close, its a long way from what I would call blunt, you could certainly have a good attempt at shaving with it. All in all no complaints so far. *Update* After my second review I noticed that the blade is longer than advertised, coming in at 29.5 inches, not the 27.8 advertised.
The Tsuka
The Tsuka appears ok, as previously mentioned the Tsukamaki is tight and well shaped. The only thing that starts to give away the price point is the fairly ugly wood plugs holding the blade in place which are less than pleasing if viewed close.
I chose the Tsuba as I did not like the standard one the sword came with, it is solid, with no obvious flaws. The same goes for the Fuchi-Kashira.
The Saya is glossy black with a small section of wrapped red Ray Skin. Interestingly the Ray Skin seems to be under the glossy coating on the Saya, not on top of it. The Saya unmarked and the horn appears to be genuine as advertised.
Handling Characteristics
I have no idea. It doesn't feel bad by any means, but it is far from a nimble sword at first glance.
Test Cutting
I've finally done a test cut, my first ever cut I might add, and the results are impressive (at least to me). Cut clean through each time, just like slicing a cake. The cut required little effort, and I think demonstrates just how sharp the blade is, perhaps sharper than I gave it credit for. Other than that no scratches on the blade from the plastic, all to easy.
Conclusions
All in all I'm happy with it. I have seen experienced members state that you would not spend over $300 on an Ebay blade, and this partly prompted me to buy this Katana to do this review. After now holding one, I'm inclined to agree, I don't think the quality would greatly improve if you paid more than the $300 mark, but you do get a nice sword for less than $300. Still though it is not perfect.
Take this, as an example of what I mean when I say that I think you will hit a price and quality point. The Habaki and top of the blade are not flush. It's not the end of the world, but it is visible.
Pros
-Customisation options
-Fast delivery
-It's all there
-Solid feel
Cons
-Slight fittings issues
-Not historical
-Perhaps not a brand of sword that carries a lot of bragging rights
-The sword price dropped by $20 odd two days after I purchased.
-Not necessarily the end of the world, but the Nagasa is longer than advertised, at 29.5 inches instead of 27.8
The Bottom Line
Its a good sword, I'm not disappointed, but I'm not over the moon either, its just nice. Would I buy it over a Ronin Dojo Pro? I'll let you know when it arrives. Stay tuned for Part 2.
*Caveat - I am new to swords / Katana - so please check fire! Any advice to improve will be heeded*
The Why?
As someone who is new to collecting swords I wasn't sure what to buy. What some love, others scorn, this is especially true of some of the Ebay sellers. Now I know there has been a lot of debate over this, and this review is NOT intended to reopen that debate, so please don't restart any such discussion in this review.
All I want to do is share my own experience and people can make up their own minds.
After a lot of thought and research I decided to make my first Katana buy a constructive one, and purchased two Katana at the top end of that is forum is about, that is $300 swords. I chose the Hanbon Katana in this review, and a sword of known renown, a Dojo Pro by Ronin Katana (This will be reviewed in Part 2 when it arrives). Both cost within $30 of each other posted, so let the reviewing begin!
The What?
1x Hanbon JAPANESE KATANA ARROW SWORD CLAY TEMPERED UNOKUBI ZUKURI
Historical overview
A UNOKUBI ZUKURI Katana with red Ray Skin? That would be none...although I stand to be corrected. The blade type, UNOKUBI ZUKURI, is a traditional type, but only appears to have been associated with Tanto's.
Full Disclosure
I am an amateur sword collector, I have no links to Hanbon swords, and I paid full price on Ebay of $275 USD.
Initial Impressions
The sword came packed in a foam cut out, it was well wrapped in a silkish bag, undamaged, the blade oiled /covered in plastic, included a letter on sword care, some Chinese currency, and a card. The sword itself felt surprisingly heavy (having not held a Katana before), it felt like it was solid, a real sword. So far so good.
Once unwrapped everything appeared tight, it was fitted with the Tsuba I had selected, the Tsukamaki was tight with good diamonds, Overall, still good.
Specifications: From Manufacturer
Overall Length: 40.9 inch / 104 cm
Nagasa Length: 27.8 inch / 70.5 cm - The actual is 29.5 inches!
Handle Length: 10.6 inch / 27cm
Kissaki Shape: O-KISSAKI
Blade Shape: UNOKUBI-ZUKURI
Blade Material: 1095 steel with clay tempered
Tsuba Material: High quality brass Tsuba
Blade Width (near Habaki): 1.26 inch / 3.2cm
Blade Width (near Kissaki): 0.91inch / 2.3cm
Weight (with Saya ): 2.73 lbs / 1.24 kg (approximately)
Weight (without Saya): 2.25 lbs / 1.02 kg (approximately)
Saya Material: High Quality Hard Wood
Handle Material: Genuine Ray skin + Hard wood
The POB (Point of Balance) appears to be 4.5 inches forward of the Tsuba, I have no idea if this is good or bad :?
The Nagasa
The blade is nice, straight, feels and looks solid, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end... The Hamon appears real from what I could tell. Sharpness...well its not paper cutting sharp, but its damn close, its a long way from what I would call blunt, you could certainly have a good attempt at shaving with it. All in all no complaints so far. *Update* After my second review I noticed that the blade is longer than advertised, coming in at 29.5 inches, not the 27.8 advertised.
The Tsuka
The Tsuka appears ok, as previously mentioned the Tsukamaki is tight and well shaped. The only thing that starts to give away the price point is the fairly ugly wood plugs holding the blade in place which are less than pleasing if viewed close.
I chose the Tsuba as I did not like the standard one the sword came with, it is solid, with no obvious flaws. The same goes for the Fuchi-Kashira.
The Saya is glossy black with a small section of wrapped red Ray Skin. Interestingly the Ray Skin seems to be under the glossy coating on the Saya, not on top of it. The Saya unmarked and the horn appears to be genuine as advertised.
Handling Characteristics
I have no idea. It doesn't feel bad by any means, but it is far from a nimble sword at first glance.
Test Cutting
I've finally done a test cut, my first ever cut I might add, and the results are impressive (at least to me). Cut clean through each time, just like slicing a cake. The cut required little effort, and I think demonstrates just how sharp the blade is, perhaps sharper than I gave it credit for. Other than that no scratches on the blade from the plastic, all to easy.
Conclusions
All in all I'm happy with it. I have seen experienced members state that you would not spend over $300 on an Ebay blade, and this partly prompted me to buy this Katana to do this review. After now holding one, I'm inclined to agree, I don't think the quality would greatly improve if you paid more than the $300 mark, but you do get a nice sword for less than $300. Still though it is not perfect.
Take this, as an example of what I mean when I say that I think you will hit a price and quality point. The Habaki and top of the blade are not flush. It's not the end of the world, but it is visible.
Pros
-Customisation options
-Fast delivery
-It's all there
-Solid feel
Cons
-Slight fittings issues
-Not historical
-Perhaps not a brand of sword that carries a lot of bragging rights
-The sword price dropped by $20 odd two days after I purchased.
-Not necessarily the end of the world, but the Nagasa is longer than advertised, at 29.5 inches instead of 27.8
The Bottom Line
Its a good sword, I'm not disappointed, but I'm not over the moon either, its just nice. Would I buy it over a Ronin Dojo Pro? I'll let you know when it arrives. Stay tuned for Part 2.