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Post by LG Martial Arts on Dec 31, 2013 20:54:38 GMT
So, I decided to do some light tameshigiri using my Mumei ShinShinto katana... I decided to end the old year by using my only true nihonto. After a couple of rainy/cold days, it finally let up enough for me to go outside and do some cutting - current temp is 45 degrees with very light drizzle. Cutting was nothing fancy since it was the first time I've used this sword for tameshigiri, just some gyaku kesagiri, kesagiri, and ichimonji. I didn't have my vid camera set up since it was drizzling a little, so no pics or vids of the cutting session, but I promise, it did occur! I cut 2 tatami omote single mats, then came back inside to clean/oil the blade. It's now resting inside it's saya, and won't be used for tameshigiri for a long time since I'm planning on sending it to the shinsa in Florida this coming Feb, and will try to do a complete restoration after that. I've already put it on a waiting list with a highly respected togishi, and once its completely restored, will post pics/vids here and other forums I'm a member of.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 2, 2014 3:00:21 GMT
That is a good looking sword. How did it cut? Who is the polisher, if I may ask?
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Jan 2, 2014 14:12:38 GMT
It was actually a pleasure cutting with it - very stout blade, felt very authoritative in hand. I've used both lighter and heavier swords (all Chinese except for my Japanese made Iaito), but this one exceeded all the others in terms of handling. The leather covered tsuka felt very comfortable, and there was absolutely no looseness in any of the fittings before or after the session. With my Chinese made katanas, the handling is "off" compared to this one. I can't really explain it except by saying they feel less refined in comparison... this one feels oh so good in hand. I've been using a Japanese made Iaito (blade weighs around 900 grams [2 lbs]) for the last 7 yrs, which makes lighter katanas sometimes feel too light to me. This katana just doesn't feel that way, really nice balance and has a really nice heft to it, but not a monster to hold or swing around. The katana has a very nice tachikaze even though it is no-hi, and cut effortlessly through the tatami - even nukiuchi, where I performed a gyaku kesagiri cut, then transitioning into regular kesagiri. I was very happy with the session... even though the blade is NOT as sharp as it should be (it does have a good amount of niku, but can see several dull spots on the ha due to its age - one of the reasons I'm sending it to a togishi), it cut through the tatami effortlessly. It will cut paper, but feels like it kind of snags the paper on several spots on the ha (no noticeable nicks on most of the ha except the kissaki, but those are minor and had no part in this cutting session though, its just not as "sharp" as I think it should be). I would take pictures of the ha except that getting that kind of shot is out of my picture taking skill set. The togishi I've contacted is David Hofhine, here's his Facebook page . Alternately, here's his company's webpage.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jan 3, 2014 0:20:21 GMT
Sweet. Sounds like a great time had. I know of David Hofhine. I check out his stuff all the time and his work is awesome.
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