Dynasty Forge 1060 Musha (Shinogi-Zukuri)
Dec 21, 2012 2:48:15 GMT
Post by Kentōshi on Dec 21, 2012 2:48:15 GMT
Introduction
I've wanted a katana ever since I was a kid and my cheap wall-hanger was stolen, but there always seemed to be bills that took priority. I was recently trying to find a martial arts studio to help with my degrading physical and mental health, and since I can no longer handle the rigors of Taekwondo/Hapkido when I discovered that the local dojo offered Iaido instruction I knew I'd found the path I was searching for. While I didn't make this purchase for that reason (I'm still really new at this) the hunt did renew my interest in backyard cutting. When my brother told me his Christmas wish was for a medieval sword I knew I couldn't resist the call any longer, and we decided to gift each other with something really nice this year. After several months of research I settled on this very sword, finding it to be the most desirable combination of form and function that I could justify within my meagre budget. So without further ado, the star of the show...
(Note: My camera is broken, so until my brother comes up for a visit I'm afraid this will be lacking in the eye candy. I do apologize for that, but I couldn't honestly do better than Ric Speak's "sword porn" anyway. However, since this is the very same sword photographed for the advertising you can find a few shots of it here at the SBG store. I'll update this review when I have some more detailed pics of it in it's new home.)
Historical Overview
A modern interpretation of the classic Japanese katana. Non-traditional construction, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else.
Full Disclosure
I purchased this sword through SBG. After a few hitches in communication that resulted in a two week delay Dynasty Forge finally found a couple in stock and expedited shipping at no extra charge, and Paul applied the discount code which was missing from the original order (it had been cancelled in expectation of having to find an alternate.) I am grateful for their assistance in resolving the problems, but I am remaining as objective as I possibly can. I am not affiliated with either business, nor am I being paid for this unsolicited review. It's just a way to give something back to the community that helped me in my own search.
Initial Impressions
Within 48 hours of finalizing the order the mailman arrived with a package for me - a long cardboard box. Inside the first box was another bubble-wrapped cardboard box. Inside that box was a bubble-wrapped blue cotton sword bag. Nothing fancy here, but it was well protected. Within the bag, however, was the sword I was waiting for. And oh, baby, what a sword. The blade itself was covered in a thin layer of cosmoline or something for shipping. Easily wiped down and not so thick as to coat the inside of the saya.
Steel: 1060 Spring Steel
Listed as such by Dynasty Forge, I'm not here to debate the interpretations of "spring steel". Through-hardened monosteel construction. Huanuo has a good reputation for heat treatment and this one sings beautifully.
Bo-Hi: No
I prefer this style. I don't mind the weight and I was looking for durability. With my lack of skill I was a little concerned about torquing the blade. Besides, they didn't have any w/bo-hi available.
Hamon: None
One of the deciding factors for me. I consider a fake hamon to be an insult to the sword, as if it says that the true spirit just isn't good enough.
Kissaki: Chu
Well defined, clean lines and consistent curvature. Very nice. Slightly less polished than the ha, but not surprising at this price point.
Yokote: Cosmetic
There is a bulge in blade thickness at the end of the koshinogi, though it doesn't line up with the yokote (which is appropriately at the mitsukado.) I don't know enough to say if it's that where the flare is supposed to be. I can't feel any other change in geometry and the yokote appears to be defined by a simple cross-polish.
Blade/Nagasa Length: 29"
No surprise here. Machine polished, it's sharp but not scalpel sharp. Shinogi-zukuri geometry. Crisp, straight shinogi. Nice reflective polish on the shinogiji with a more satin finish on the ha. This is a working sword, and unashamed to show it.
Handle/Tsuka Length: 11.25"
I don't like long tsukas, and this was one factor that steered me away from the PPK. I haven't broken it down yet, but it's well shaped and feels good in the hand. Slightly longer than advertised, my guess is they used the core measurement without the kashira.
Sori: 18mm (0.7in)
Not too deep, but very graceful and consistent.
Fuchi-Kashira: Cast Iron, Musashi
Also sticking with the simple design. I find this appealing, as it naturally draws the eye toward the blade. There's slight lateral play (~0.5mm) in the fuchi, I'll have to add a shim or flatten it out to prevent it from rotating and damaging the lip of the tsuka. The kashira is firmly in place.
Tsuba: Cast Iron, Musashi (double-ring)
Simple is as simple does. I love the efficiency and practicality of this style. Could be a little larger and heavier to draw the POB back a little, but it does it's job without getting in the way.
Habaki/Seppa: Brass
The habaki is very well made, unadorned but conforming to the blade with no gaps or cracks. Apart from the slight wiggle in the fuchi everything is very tightly put together.
Menuki: Metal, Yajiri (arrowheads - karimata ("rope-cutter") & watakusi ("flesh-terror"))
They appear to be plated, possibly aluminum. Tapping them sounds too light to be brass. A few small specks flaked off the side of one, but this is not very noticeable and doesn't detract from the overall appearance. That's also something I'd expect from aluminum electroplating. Though they aren't the Buddhist swords I anticipated they retain the simplicity of the overall design and I'm quite pleased with them.
Mekugi: Bamboo (single peg)
I don't know why there's only one, but at least it's more traditional. The tsuka feels tight and is well-wrapped so I assume that's all that was needed. I'll know more when I get a look under the hood, so to speak.
Ito: Cotton (black)
Wrapped very tightly, alternating, with consistent diamonds. I can't budge them, there's no play at all and there was no loosening during practice. Awesome.
Same: Real
Off-white, but I don't like the bright bleached appearance some swords exhibit anyway. Paneled, no edges showing. Consistent grain with no large nodes.
Shitodome: Metal
These lend an elegant touch to an otherwise simple theme, though they're obviously not top quality. Non-ferrous, possibly plated aluminum again. The pair on the kashira are either glued or held firmly in place by the ito. A small burr and sharp edges that aren't quite flush resulted in a couple minor scratches to my palm. Bloodthirsty little sword, innit? Easily remedied with a fine file. The pair on the saya are loose, a little gorilla glue will take care of that.
POB (Point of Balance): 6"
This was a bit of a surprise considering the weight and distal taper. When I get it disassembled I'll see if there's an answer at the nakago. I understand DF is changing the tsuka cores with the next batch, perhaps this one just isn't dense enough.
Weight: 924g (2.03lb)
Wow.. this thing is light, especially for a no-hi.
Saya: Glossy Black
Looks great, no scuffs or scratches. Cotton sageo, nicely tied. A simple Musashi style kojira matches the furniture. Non-ferrous, it appears to be darkened aluminum. The kurigata is lacquered, but I think it's just wood. The koiguchi does not have horn (or any, for that matter) lining. There is some play of the blade at the tip but the habaki fits very snugly and holds the sword firmly in place. Better to go cheap here than on the blade, but it still looks very nice.
Cutting and Handling:
I took it out for a test drive and the performance was amazing. A milk jug now lies in six pieces with clean, straight edges. I wasn't able to cut an empty water bottle, but that's probably more due to my bad form than the sharpness. On a flubbed cut I did slice right through the rim of one (without the cap) and the blade was undamaged. A few very minor scratches from the plastics, but barely perceptible and not unexpected. Since that all went so well, and I because I often tilt when I should withdraw... three clean cuts through a one-inch (8yo) hickory sapling. Condensation from my breath revealed a few "scuffs" from that experiment, but that looks like the wood may have actually improved the rough polish! Otherwise there was absolutely no damage; no nicks, bends or blunting of the edge. I couldn't be happier with the results of this testing, and it's really motivated me to improve my technique. It's a little tip-heavy, so I don't have the precision I'd like, but it's got good power, turns well and stops on a dime.
Conclusions:
This model completely lived up to my expectations. It's a very solid, well-constructed and good-looking sword that performed admirably in the hands of one with little experience. While I can't compare it to other swords I would absolutely recommend the Dynasty Forge 1060 Musha to anyone looking for a relatively inexpensive and reliable katana. My only regret is that the sun goes down so early this time of year and I can't swing it again until tomorrow!
Pros:
* Beautiful aesthetics
* Great steel
* Lightweight
* Responsive handling
* Quality tsukamaki
* Solid construction
Cons:
* Loose fuchi
* Low grade shitodome and menuki
* Saya rattle
* Forward POB makes me work harder on my accuracy (lol)
* Rather plain (I actually like this attribute, but I list it as a con because I think most folks want "the look")
Regards,
Eric
I've wanted a katana ever since I was a kid and my cheap wall-hanger was stolen, but there always seemed to be bills that took priority. I was recently trying to find a martial arts studio to help with my degrading physical and mental health, and since I can no longer handle the rigors of Taekwondo/Hapkido when I discovered that the local dojo offered Iaido instruction I knew I'd found the path I was searching for. While I didn't make this purchase for that reason (I'm still really new at this) the hunt did renew my interest in backyard cutting. When my brother told me his Christmas wish was for a medieval sword I knew I couldn't resist the call any longer, and we decided to gift each other with something really nice this year. After several months of research I settled on this very sword, finding it to be the most desirable combination of form and function that I could justify within my meagre budget. So without further ado, the star of the show...
(Note: My camera is broken, so until my brother comes up for a visit I'm afraid this will be lacking in the eye candy. I do apologize for that, but I couldn't honestly do better than Ric Speak's "sword porn" anyway. However, since this is the very same sword photographed for the advertising you can find a few shots of it here at the SBG store. I'll update this review when I have some more detailed pics of it in it's new home.)
Historical Overview
A modern interpretation of the classic Japanese katana. Non-traditional construction, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else.
Full Disclosure
I purchased this sword through SBG. After a few hitches in communication that resulted in a two week delay Dynasty Forge finally found a couple in stock and expedited shipping at no extra charge, and Paul applied the discount code which was missing from the original order (it had been cancelled in expectation of having to find an alternate.) I am grateful for their assistance in resolving the problems, but I am remaining as objective as I possibly can. I am not affiliated with either business, nor am I being paid for this unsolicited review. It's just a way to give something back to the community that helped me in my own search.
Initial Impressions
Within 48 hours of finalizing the order the mailman arrived with a package for me - a long cardboard box. Inside the first box was another bubble-wrapped cardboard box. Inside that box was a bubble-wrapped blue cotton sword bag. Nothing fancy here, but it was well protected. Within the bag, however, was the sword I was waiting for. And oh, baby, what a sword. The blade itself was covered in a thin layer of cosmoline or something for shipping. Easily wiped down and not so thick as to coat the inside of the saya.
Steel: 1060 Spring Steel
Listed as such by Dynasty Forge, I'm not here to debate the interpretations of "spring steel". Through-hardened monosteel construction. Huanuo has a good reputation for heat treatment and this one sings beautifully.
Bo-Hi: No
I prefer this style. I don't mind the weight and I was looking for durability. With my lack of skill I was a little concerned about torquing the blade. Besides, they didn't have any w/bo-hi available.
Hamon: None
One of the deciding factors for me. I consider a fake hamon to be an insult to the sword, as if it says that the true spirit just isn't good enough.
Kissaki: Chu
Well defined, clean lines and consistent curvature. Very nice. Slightly less polished than the ha, but not surprising at this price point.
Yokote: Cosmetic
There is a bulge in blade thickness at the end of the koshinogi, though it doesn't line up with the yokote (which is appropriately at the mitsukado.) I don't know enough to say if it's that where the flare is supposed to be. I can't feel any other change in geometry and the yokote appears to be defined by a simple cross-polish.
Blade/Nagasa Length: 29"
No surprise here. Machine polished, it's sharp but not scalpel sharp. Shinogi-zukuri geometry. Crisp, straight shinogi. Nice reflective polish on the shinogiji with a more satin finish on the ha. This is a working sword, and unashamed to show it.
Handle/Tsuka Length: 11.25"
I don't like long tsukas, and this was one factor that steered me away from the PPK. I haven't broken it down yet, but it's well shaped and feels good in the hand. Slightly longer than advertised, my guess is they used the core measurement without the kashira.
Sori: 18mm (0.7in)
Not too deep, but very graceful and consistent.
Fuchi-Kashira: Cast Iron, Musashi
Also sticking with the simple design. I find this appealing, as it naturally draws the eye toward the blade. There's slight lateral play (~0.5mm) in the fuchi, I'll have to add a shim or flatten it out to prevent it from rotating and damaging the lip of the tsuka. The kashira is firmly in place.
Tsuba: Cast Iron, Musashi (double-ring)
Simple is as simple does. I love the efficiency and practicality of this style. Could be a little larger and heavier to draw the POB back a little, but it does it's job without getting in the way.
Habaki/Seppa: Brass
The habaki is very well made, unadorned but conforming to the blade with no gaps or cracks. Apart from the slight wiggle in the fuchi everything is very tightly put together.
Menuki: Metal, Yajiri (arrowheads - karimata ("rope-cutter") & watakusi ("flesh-terror"))
They appear to be plated, possibly aluminum. Tapping them sounds too light to be brass. A few small specks flaked off the side of one, but this is not very noticeable and doesn't detract from the overall appearance. That's also something I'd expect from aluminum electroplating. Though they aren't the Buddhist swords I anticipated they retain the simplicity of the overall design and I'm quite pleased with them.
Mekugi: Bamboo (single peg)
I don't know why there's only one, but at least it's more traditional. The tsuka feels tight and is well-wrapped so I assume that's all that was needed. I'll know more when I get a look under the hood, so to speak.
Ito: Cotton (black)
Wrapped very tightly, alternating, with consistent diamonds. I can't budge them, there's no play at all and there was no loosening during practice. Awesome.
Same: Real
Off-white, but I don't like the bright bleached appearance some swords exhibit anyway. Paneled, no edges showing. Consistent grain with no large nodes.
Shitodome: Metal
These lend an elegant touch to an otherwise simple theme, though they're obviously not top quality. Non-ferrous, possibly plated aluminum again. The pair on the kashira are either glued or held firmly in place by the ito. A small burr and sharp edges that aren't quite flush resulted in a couple minor scratches to my palm. Bloodthirsty little sword, innit? Easily remedied with a fine file. The pair on the saya are loose, a little gorilla glue will take care of that.
POB (Point of Balance): 6"
This was a bit of a surprise considering the weight and distal taper. When I get it disassembled I'll see if there's an answer at the nakago. I understand DF is changing the tsuka cores with the next batch, perhaps this one just isn't dense enough.
Weight: 924g (2.03lb)
Wow.. this thing is light, especially for a no-hi.
Saya: Glossy Black
Looks great, no scuffs or scratches. Cotton sageo, nicely tied. A simple Musashi style kojira matches the furniture. Non-ferrous, it appears to be darkened aluminum. The kurigata is lacquered, but I think it's just wood. The koiguchi does not have horn (or any, for that matter) lining. There is some play of the blade at the tip but the habaki fits very snugly and holds the sword firmly in place. Better to go cheap here than on the blade, but it still looks very nice.
Cutting and Handling:
I took it out for a test drive and the performance was amazing. A milk jug now lies in six pieces with clean, straight edges. I wasn't able to cut an empty water bottle, but that's probably more due to my bad form than the sharpness. On a flubbed cut I did slice right through the rim of one (without the cap) and the blade was undamaged. A few very minor scratches from the plastics, but barely perceptible and not unexpected. Since that all went so well, and I because I often tilt when I should withdraw... three clean cuts through a one-inch (8yo) hickory sapling. Condensation from my breath revealed a few "scuffs" from that experiment, but that looks like the wood may have actually improved the rough polish! Otherwise there was absolutely no damage; no nicks, bends or blunting of the edge. I couldn't be happier with the results of this testing, and it's really motivated me to improve my technique. It's a little tip-heavy, so I don't have the precision I'd like, but it's got good power, turns well and stops on a dime.
Conclusions:
This model completely lived up to my expectations. It's a very solid, well-constructed and good-looking sword that performed admirably in the hands of one with little experience. While I can't compare it to other swords I would absolutely recommend the Dynasty Forge 1060 Musha to anyone looking for a relatively inexpensive and reliable katana. My only regret is that the sun goes down so early this time of year and I can't swing it again until tomorrow!
Pros:
* Beautiful aesthetics
* Great steel
* Lightweight
* Responsive handling
* Quality tsukamaki
* Solid construction
Cons:
* Loose fuchi
* Low grade shitodome and menuki
* Saya rattle
* Forward POB makes me work harder on my accuracy (lol)
* Rather plain (I actually like this attribute, but I list it as a con because I think most folks want "the look")
Regards,
Eric