1095 budget beaters
Feb 23, 2013 22:30:35 GMT
Post by xdskiller on Feb 23, 2013 22:30:35 GMT
Hung Shing True Sharp 1095 beater Katana
I bought this katana because it was in my price range. Other members wanted some information on this line up so I was like what the hec, it meets my requirements and it has the Ricky electron cutting edge on it. I've been following this line up since about Christmas when Ricky announced it on the forum. So almost 3 months later, here I am. I will not be including any test cutting video because mainly there are cutting videos already. I am a beginner to the katana world and have only owned 2, a musashi shirakawa, and a st-nihonto tungsten coated one. This is my third.
Historical Overview
weapons>katana>chinatana>who knows what
Full Disclosure
I am not being paid to do this review and I have paid the full price of $265 dollars. The only relationship I have with the owner is PMs through the site about this line .
Initial Impressions
This is actually a somewhat interesting story. So I was at home watching the news and a UPS guy came and knocked on my door. I opened it and he asked me to sign for a box. But the box was some kind of window tint box that could fit a katana but I was like, I don't remeber ordering this. So I looked at the tag and it was for me, so I signed it and took it inside. Thankfully, there was a katana inside fitted between two pieces of styrofoam. The sword bag is actually pretty nice The tsuka was in a plastic wrap. After opening a few katanas the excitement doesn't make your heart race as much anymore. Everything was fine nothing damaged. Unfortunately Ricky messed up a part of my order. I got the boring mokko tsuba instead of the bamboo themed one. Part of this is my fault actually. I asked Ricky to find a blade that had a hamon that looked like sanbon-sugi as much as possible. So I got the blade but with the wrong tsuba thats all. I immediately went to PM Ricky about the problem and he apoligized and said he would ship me the tsuba I wanted after the new shipment came. I am EXTREMELY pleased with the way the situation was handeled. So all is well. The blade was in a bath of oil, so no rust would come during shipping.
Stats
(copied from the site)
Sword specs
Overall length - 39.5"
Blade length - (to mune machi) 28"
Blade length - (to tsuba)28.75"
Tsuka length - 10.5"
Width at habaki - 3.2cm
width at yokote - 2.4cm
Thickness at habaki - 7mm
Thickness at yokote - 5.5mm
Length of kissaki - 4.5cm
Sori - 1-3/8"
POB (from tsuba) - 6"
Weight (w/o saya) - 2lbs7oz
Weight (w/saya) - 2lbs14oz
One quick note the blade is made from 1095 american spring steel. I don't know much about steels only the basics and steel types have been argued so many times already, I need to take some asprins to finish reading all the arguments.
Aesthetics Overview
The beater isn't the prettiest sword out there. Nothing special, but above average at least to me. It's not something you would hang on your wall and look at it until you starve to death (wasn't there some greek myth about a guy and his reflection, oh wait I'm off topic). But it certainly isn't hard to look at.
The Blade/nagasa
The blade is a standard shinogi zukuri with no bohi. It has a tameshigiri polish nothing to write home about here. Something to write about is the hamon. I am personally a huge fan of sanbon sugi (three cedar trees).
Wild, but always repeating. The hamon isn't the easiest to see but can be seen in the right light. The kissaki is cross polised but you can still see the hamon.
The blade is very much indeed paper slicing sharp. I haven't dissasembled it yet but as far as I can tell, everything is fine except the habaki. The habaki could have been aligned better because part of the blade sticks out.
(not sure if this is normal) Edit: Ricky PMed me and told me it was normal due to the koshi sori. Most modern production katana have tori sori, so it doesn't bend near the habaki as much so it fits better. It would cost quite a bit to make on that curved with the blade.The mune right next to the habaki has a few specks of rust? on it.
There are some gaps in it. I don't mind but I should point it out.
Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is rikko shaped and is tapered.
The extremely tight ito alternates and hisigami (small paper triangles) are used. The rayskin is above average (in my book). No loose fittings. But the kashira is somewhat interesting. When you wear the katana normally it looks upside down. But when you are holding it, it looks normal. Just something I noticed. The tsuba is a mokko , textured, steel one.
The other fittings are brass? I believe and the seppa are copper. The menuki are thick polished brass in botan theme,flower Mekugi are smoked bamboo, which makes it very easy to take it (unlike cheap ones where are few taps and they are destroyed)
Saya
Plain black gloss painted saya with synthetic silk black and white sageo.
No problems, no bullhorn or any fancy stuff. One thing that does interest me is the large mouth.
I mean its huge(at least to me it is). No saya rattle either
Handling Characteristics
The beater isn't like the other swords. This bad blade ain't gonna break from a few smacks. It isn't unweildy or like a chopping machine. The koshi sori(sori that is closer to the tsuka) helps bring back the POB. A quick url on sorimeiboku.info/guide/form/sori/index.htm I have only done dry handling with it and despite being as beefy as those old macs it handles pretty dam well.
Test Cutting
Like what I do on every sword that I get into my grubby hands, I try to go bankai with it. Unfortunately it went like this instead of something epic. Then I tried to use Getstuga Tensho to do something like . Its gonna happen someday (hopefully). Ok back to reality. It slices bottles cleanly and check out this video of Ricky cutting with it because I don't want to make a video My cuts gave about the same result.
Conclusions
Pros: Very durable blade
Extremely Sharp
Rikko shaped tsuka with HISIGAMI
One of the best customer service out there
Beautiful blade
No saya rattle at all
Cons: No wooden box or certificates (some people like this so I have to list it here)
Doesn't do anything when I try to go bankai or Getstuga Tensho with it
Minor specks near the habaki
Kissaki could have a better polish
The beater is definately going to deserve a spot on my sword rack. I would give it a 4.75/5. This line is definately going to draw eyes in the sub $300 dollar market. I highly recommend this katana and for all that's thrown in including Ricky's awesome customer serivce, I'm extremely satisfied.
Until Next time-
Xdskiller
I bought this katana because it was in my price range. Other members wanted some information on this line up so I was like what the hec, it meets my requirements and it has the Ricky electron cutting edge on it. I've been following this line up since about Christmas when Ricky announced it on the forum. So almost 3 months later, here I am. I will not be including any test cutting video because mainly there are cutting videos already. I am a beginner to the katana world and have only owned 2, a musashi shirakawa, and a st-nihonto tungsten coated one. This is my third.
Historical Overview
weapons>katana>chinatana>who knows what
Full Disclosure
I am not being paid to do this review and I have paid the full price of $265 dollars. The only relationship I have with the owner is PMs through the site about this line .
Initial Impressions
This is actually a somewhat interesting story. So I was at home watching the news and a UPS guy came and knocked on my door. I opened it and he asked me to sign for a box. But the box was some kind of window tint box that could fit a katana but I was like, I don't remeber ordering this. So I looked at the tag and it was for me, so I signed it and took it inside. Thankfully, there was a katana inside fitted between two pieces of styrofoam. The sword bag is actually pretty nice The tsuka was in a plastic wrap. After opening a few katanas the excitement doesn't make your heart race as much anymore. Everything was fine nothing damaged. Unfortunately Ricky messed up a part of my order. I got the boring mokko tsuba instead of the bamboo themed one. Part of this is my fault actually. I asked Ricky to find a blade that had a hamon that looked like sanbon-sugi as much as possible. So I got the blade but with the wrong tsuba thats all. I immediately went to PM Ricky about the problem and he apoligized and said he would ship me the tsuba I wanted after the new shipment came. I am EXTREMELY pleased with the way the situation was handeled. So all is well. The blade was in a bath of oil, so no rust would come during shipping.
Stats
(copied from the site)
Sword specs
Overall length - 39.5"
Blade length - (to mune machi) 28"
Blade length - (to tsuba)28.75"
Tsuka length - 10.5"
Width at habaki - 3.2cm
width at yokote - 2.4cm
Thickness at habaki - 7mm
Thickness at yokote - 5.5mm
Length of kissaki - 4.5cm
Sori - 1-3/8"
POB (from tsuba) - 6"
Weight (w/o saya) - 2lbs7oz
Weight (w/saya) - 2lbs14oz
One quick note the blade is made from 1095 american spring steel. I don't know much about steels only the basics and steel types have been argued so many times already, I need to take some asprins to finish reading all the arguments.
Aesthetics Overview
The beater isn't the prettiest sword out there. Nothing special, but above average at least to me. It's not something you would hang on your wall and look at it until you starve to death (wasn't there some greek myth about a guy and his reflection, oh wait I'm off topic). But it certainly isn't hard to look at.
The Blade/nagasa
The blade is a standard shinogi zukuri with no bohi. It has a tameshigiri polish nothing to write home about here. Something to write about is the hamon. I am personally a huge fan of sanbon sugi (three cedar trees).
Wild, but always repeating. The hamon isn't the easiest to see but can be seen in the right light. The kissaki is cross polised but you can still see the hamon.
The blade is very much indeed paper slicing sharp. I haven't dissasembled it yet but as far as I can tell, everything is fine except the habaki. The habaki could have been aligned better because part of the blade sticks out.
(not sure if this is normal) Edit: Ricky PMed me and told me it was normal due to the koshi sori. Most modern production katana have tori sori, so it doesn't bend near the habaki as much so it fits better. It would cost quite a bit to make on that curved with the blade.The mune right next to the habaki has a few specks of rust? on it.
There are some gaps in it. I don't mind but I should point it out.
Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is rikko shaped and is tapered.
The extremely tight ito alternates and hisigami (small paper triangles) are used. The rayskin is above average (in my book). No loose fittings. But the kashira is somewhat interesting. When you wear the katana normally it looks upside down. But when you are holding it, it looks normal. Just something I noticed. The tsuba is a mokko , textured, steel one.
The other fittings are brass? I believe and the seppa are copper. The menuki are thick polished brass in botan theme,flower Mekugi are smoked bamboo, which makes it very easy to take it (unlike cheap ones where are few taps and they are destroyed)
Saya
Plain black gloss painted saya with synthetic silk black and white sageo.
No problems, no bullhorn or any fancy stuff. One thing that does interest me is the large mouth.
I mean its huge(at least to me it is). No saya rattle either
Handling Characteristics
The beater isn't like the other swords. This bad blade ain't gonna break from a few smacks. It isn't unweildy or like a chopping machine. The koshi sori(sori that is closer to the tsuka) helps bring back the POB. A quick url on sorimeiboku.info/guide/form/sori/index.htm I have only done dry handling with it and despite being as beefy as those old macs it handles pretty dam well.
Test Cutting
Like what I do on every sword that I get into my grubby hands, I try to go bankai with it. Unfortunately it went like this instead of something epic. Then I tried to use Getstuga Tensho to do something like . Its gonna happen someday (hopefully). Ok back to reality. It slices bottles cleanly and check out this video of Ricky cutting with it because I don't want to make a video My cuts gave about the same result.
Conclusions
Pros: Very durable blade
Extremely Sharp
Rikko shaped tsuka with HISIGAMI
One of the best customer service out there
Beautiful blade
No saya rattle at all
Cons: No wooden box or certificates (some people like this so I have to list it here)
Doesn't do anything when I try to go bankai or Getstuga Tensho with it
Minor specks near the habaki
Kissaki could have a better polish
The beater is definately going to deserve a spot on my sword rack. I would give it a 4.75/5. This line is definately going to draw eyes in the sub $300 dollar market. I highly recommend this katana and for all that's thrown in including Ricky's awesome customer serivce, I'm extremely satisfied.
Until Next time-
Xdskiller