Pavel Bolf: Monosteel Katana with O-kissaki
Oct 6, 2013 19:38:55 GMT
Post by Matthew.Jensen on Oct 6, 2013 19:38:55 GMT
Introduction
This sword was something of an impulse buy. It was being sold on an eBay auction and prior to buying it I had only heard a few things about Pavel Bolf. I admired a few pieces I had seen photos of but never seen his work in person. I knew he was a custom smith so I took a leap and bought the blade because it looked pretty. I later confirmed with Pavel Bolf that this was his work but it was a little bit of a gamble when I first bought it.
For those of you that don’t know, Pavel Bolf is a sword smith working out of the Czech Republic. I don’t know a much about where he trained but he a large body of work. His website is Jswords.com and he has some really beautiful pieces. For a custom smith he seems very reasonably priced.
Full Disclosure
This review reflects my personal opinions and bias. I am not a knowledgeable historian or advanced practitioner. Please keep that in mind while reading.
This sword was something of an impulse buy. It was being sold on an eBay auction and prior to buying it I had only heard a few things about Pavel Bolf. I admired a few pieces I had seen photos of but never seen his work in person. I knew he was a custom smith so I took a leap and bought the blade because it looked pretty. I later confirmed with Pavel Bolf that this was his work but it was a little bit of a gamble when I first bought it.
For those of you that don’t know, Pavel Bolf is a sword smith working out of the Czech Republic. I don’t know a much about where he trained but he a large body of work. His website is Jswords.com and he has some really beautiful pieces. For a custom smith he seems very reasonably priced.
Full Disclosure
This review reflects my personal opinions and bias. I am not a knowledgeable historian or advanced practitioner. Please keep that in mind while reading.
- I am not employed or affiliated with any sword manufacturer.
I am writing this review in an effort to contribute to the community and not for any type of compensation.
I am a novice collector and trader of both antique and modern edged weapons.
I have owned over 150 modern katana in the last two years ranging from basic Musashi to Howard Clark L6 and many blades in-between. I acknowledge that owning something (even a lot) does not make a person an expert. I will be the first to admit my level of knowledge is that of a novice. Perhaps one day I will qualify to have an opinion but for now read my review and understand it is the perspective of a newbie enthusiast. That said, I have learned quite a bit about swords in the last few years and I can attribute a lot of that to this forum. I hope this helps give back.[/list:u]
Initial Impressions
When I first got the blade something threw me off a bit. The seller had posted the wrong measurements. Still it was clearly a custom blade and a sexy one at that. The fittings and mount had the personal touch that comes from a custom piece and the feel is very solid.
Statistics
- Blade/Nagasa Length: 28.5” (without habaki)
Motokasane: 5/16"
Sakikasane: 4/16"
Moto-haba: 1 1/4"
Saki-haba: 14/16"
Sori: 5/16"
Handle/Tsuka Length: 10 5/8”
Overall Length: 40.25”
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3.25”
POB (Point of Balance): 6” (from tsuba)
Weight: 2lb 11oz (without saya)
Steel: Carbon Steel 19 312 (Czech Standards)
Forged: 2006-2008
MSRP $1500-$2000 (Not sure because it was used)[/list:u]
The Blade/Nagasa: The blade looks like it is made in the Bizen-den style. It has a nice cutting profile and seems like it would handle mat cutting well. The hamon is beautiful and the lines on the blade are clean and strait.
The 2.5” O-kissaki is well shaped. The polish on the blade is somewhat basic but everything is clean and smooth as it should be.
The habaki fits the blade very well but it is a little thinner than I would personally like. Still it fits the blade very well and comes off like it should. Also, the nakago has some lines that done flow as well as they should.
The Handle/Tsuka: The tsuka shows some signs of handling. That’s how I got it. It does not have a full samagawa wrap but it is well made. The ito is tight and the diamonds are even.
The tsuka came off the nakago with a firm smack on the writst and set back with a nice pop on the bottom. There are no cracks in the tsuka or issues to note. The tsuka is very basic overall. It is a functional mount but not at the same level as the blade.
The Guard/Tsuba and Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira: The fittings are all made by Pavel Bolf as well. They are very simple pieces. I don’t think the tsuba is completely finished but this was intended as a simple mount. The fittings have a utilitarian feel to them and the patina is nice.
I honestly prefer simple fittings so it works out for me. The most enjoyable part of them is that they are custom. They don’t match what you see every day and they are well made.
The Scabbard/Saya: The saya is a simple black saya. The construction is well done.
The habaki holds well and is easy to work with. It has a very nice shape to it as well, not so think and heavy. It feels good in the hands and draws well.
Handling Characteristics:
The blade is not light but it handles with some ease. It is a bit tip heavy but that is my preferred balance. I am more accustomed to that than a more balanced blade. The blade is easy enough to control and moves without difficulty. I have to admit I really enjoy the fell of the blade. If only it were a bit longer. Still I have to give props to Pavel Bolf, the blade is hefty and yet very controllable. He must put a lot of attention into the balance of the blade.
Test Cutting:
No test cutting on this one. I am planning on selling it because it does not quite fit me right. Sorry to disappoint.
Conclusions
The sword is a beauty. The downside of buying online in eBay auctions is the risk associated. This one does not fit me well enough to keep but it was an experience in seeing Pavel Bolf’s work. I think it is a beauty and it makes me want to order a custom blade from him directly. For what this blade costs retail I think it is well worth the price given the quality. There are things that I don’t care for but honestly they are very minor.
If I am basing Pavel Bolf’s work on this blade alone, I would say I prefer my Howard Clark, Rick Barrett, and Walter Sorrells blades. Each of those pieces (after mounting/polishing/ect) costs at least twice the price or substantially more. This is a great sword but I do admit Pavel Bolf’s new work seems more refined. The man has evolved in his craft and his new work clearly shows that.
I have seen custom blades now from Howard Clark, Rick Barrett, Walter Sorrells, Mark Morrow, Daniel Watson, Przemek P, Chris Zhou, and Pavel Bolf. I know there are many others out there but I don’t have firsthand experience with their works. Most smiths out there are not able to give you a fully mounted custom blade in a martial arts polish for under $2000, at least not one at this level of quality. The perceived value (for me) is very high on this blade and I think it is easy to see why.
Pros
Clean sharp lines
Well made kissaki
Custom Fittings
Custom Mount
Everything works like it should
Great feel
Not expensive for a fully mounted custom blade
Cons
Tsuba is a little rough around the edges
Little less attention to detail in the nakago
The Bottom Line
Simply put, this sword is great! If it fit me, I would keep it forever. Even though it does not fit me and I am selling the blade I am still glad I bought it. It taught me something and forced me to look into Pavel Bolf more than I would have. Now that I have seen his work in person, I would gladly purchase from him in the future and I will be hunting for more of his works on the second hand market.
Thanks for reading.