Sino sword ko katana
Jan 27, 2014 1:58:13 GMT
Post by justin520 on Jan 27, 2014 1:58:13 GMT
Hello forumites, today I'll be reviewing my new sino sword custom ko katana!
Full disclosure
I am in no way an affiliate of sino sword and have not received compensation to conduct this review. This is entirely for the benefit of those wishing to buy a sino sword custom product at any time in the future.
Historic overview
The ko katana/chisa katana/shinobigatana is said to be truest form of the shinobi sword. A short discreet weapon meant for indoor combat and assassination it was often housed in a saya longer than it's actual nagasa for day time use and a much shorter saya for covert ops. With a tsuka longer then your average wakizashi it could be used two handed or one handed interchangeably. Of course the subject of the actual historical merit of these swords is a topic of great debate, so please take this "historic overview" with a grain of salt.
First impressions
"I got a box, I got a box!" would most accurately describe how I felt upon arrival. This of course in no way details first impressions of the sword itself, so I grabbed my box cutter, put on Ibuki by the Yoshida Brothers to set the tone and got to opening.
The sword itself was housed in a styrofoam package designed to keep it safe during transport. After peeling through this I noticed a lovely yellow bag made of a fine fabric and adorned with some lovely Chinese artwork. The moment of truth! I peel the sleeve from my sword and am pleasantly surprised with what I see. The sword appears in great condition and everything feels tight. I did however noticed a few flaws which will be detailed in a moment.
Fit and finish
As stated above everything is superb in terms the way the pieces all fit together with just a few minor aesthetic flaws.
Specs
Nagasa: 20 inches with chu kissaki
Tsuka: 11 inches, black silk ito, black full wrap samegawa
Koshirae: rooster themed fuchi, kashira, and menuki rounded off with a lovely musashi tsuba
Point of balance: 1 and 1/2 inches from the tsuba
Koshirae material: iron tsuba, copper fuchi and kashira, brass seppa, habaki, and menuki
Hamon: midare
Saya: black full rattan wrap, brown buffalo horn kurikata, koiguchi, and kojiri
The tsuka
Well I must say I'm impressed. This tsuka is rather small, thin would be the best way to describe it. It has a lovely taper getting thinner towards the bottom side. Contrasting it to my two ronin katana it makes the ronin tsuka look like axe handles with ito. One problem I did however notice that wont turn up in my photos is that towards the end knots the blackness of the samegawa fades. The pictures I have don't show this well but it was a bit disappointing. This however was compensated for by not being cracked in the core and having a full hishigami job with alternating ito, not to mention all the fittings are secured tightly. However the mekugi are a bit rough around the edges, but there's no blowouts in the same around the mekugi ana, so that's a plus.
The nagasa
This is where the blade truly shines, with a midare hamon and extra niku for hard target cutting it has a very tough appearance. The midare hamon begins from the habaki area starting in a notare patern, progressing in the middle to a much more random pattern, and at the chu kissaki coming to a lovely sugaha finish. The mirror polish is immaculate, good enough for any shinobi to peek around a corner in a pinch but in no way obscuring the positively beautiful hamon. The fumbari is apparent when you come towards the habaki but isn't extreme. I commend sino sword for the quality work put forth in this blade.
The saya
This rattan wrapped saya is a masterpiece! With a matte black finish on the rattan and lovely brown buffalo horn pieces it really compliments the over all aesthetic value of this sword. It also houses it well. I held it upside down and shook it, tapped the kojiri end very hard whilst upside down, and even resorted to calling its mother foul names, but the sword just refused to leave its saya. It goes without saying that there is no rattle in my saya either.
Handling characteristics
With a day of dry handling and test cutting I can say this sword is very fast! Moving from a 28 inch blade to a 20 inch blade is a lot like switching from a baseball bat to a riding crop. The low point of balance makes it shine both single handed and dual handed. It is however notable that when used two handed this sword feels like it has no blade attached.
Test cutting
Allow me to apologize in advance, I have camera so you can't see the carange sorry pals.
Now to the brass tax of it, I was very specific to ask sino sword for hard target cutter with extra niku, and they delivered. I started my session slow, 10 water bottles I had saved up for this occassion. This blade sailed through them effortlessly and with grace. Ten bottles down and now onto my bamboo cored beach mats. For the first mat I resorted to my old fallback, the giyaku kawasemi. It took the mat as effortlessly as the bottles and performed just as well on the other two. So with most of my cutting material now in pieces and strewn across the yard I decided to give my truest test, my dinner. I was having pork ribs this particular night and decided "if it can't cut these it ain't a sword". I was hesitant, worried about chipping my new pretty, but one kesagiri later and I knew this was the blade I'd dreamt of since paying for it. With no edge damage on it and only minimal superficial scratches to the finish I determined her to be the sword of choice for cutting for a long time now.
Pros:
Great niku
Pretty hamon
Tight fitting saya
Proper itomaki
Amazing handling
And it's just freakin' pretty lookin'!
Cons:
Fading in the blackness of the samegawa
Rough looking mekugi
Final overview
For the roundabout $340 I spent this is worth every penny even with minor flaws. I don't think I've ever owned such a good bladed weapon. Sino sword did right by me and payed close attention to my specific requests, kudos to them. The only two discernible flaws I found I think are acceptable at this price point and harbor no anger towards them for this. I highly recommend their product as in my eyes quality control seemed amazing.
I'll give em' a nice 4 and a half of five stars!
Full disclosure
I am in no way an affiliate of sino sword and have not received compensation to conduct this review. This is entirely for the benefit of those wishing to buy a sino sword custom product at any time in the future.
Historic overview
The ko katana/chisa katana/shinobigatana is said to be truest form of the shinobi sword. A short discreet weapon meant for indoor combat and assassination it was often housed in a saya longer than it's actual nagasa for day time use and a much shorter saya for covert ops. With a tsuka longer then your average wakizashi it could be used two handed or one handed interchangeably. Of course the subject of the actual historical merit of these swords is a topic of great debate, so please take this "historic overview" with a grain of salt.
First impressions
"I got a box, I got a box!" would most accurately describe how I felt upon arrival. This of course in no way details first impressions of the sword itself, so I grabbed my box cutter, put on Ibuki by the Yoshida Brothers to set the tone and got to opening.
The sword itself was housed in a styrofoam package designed to keep it safe during transport. After peeling through this I noticed a lovely yellow bag made of a fine fabric and adorned with some lovely Chinese artwork. The moment of truth! I peel the sleeve from my sword and am pleasantly surprised with what I see. The sword appears in great condition and everything feels tight. I did however noticed a few flaws which will be detailed in a moment.
Fit and finish
As stated above everything is superb in terms the way the pieces all fit together with just a few minor aesthetic flaws.
Specs
Nagasa: 20 inches with chu kissaki
Tsuka: 11 inches, black silk ito, black full wrap samegawa
Koshirae: rooster themed fuchi, kashira, and menuki rounded off with a lovely musashi tsuba
Point of balance: 1 and 1/2 inches from the tsuba
Koshirae material: iron tsuba, copper fuchi and kashira, brass seppa, habaki, and menuki
Hamon: midare
Saya: black full rattan wrap, brown buffalo horn kurikata, koiguchi, and kojiri
The tsuka
Well I must say I'm impressed. This tsuka is rather small, thin would be the best way to describe it. It has a lovely taper getting thinner towards the bottom side. Contrasting it to my two ronin katana it makes the ronin tsuka look like axe handles with ito. One problem I did however notice that wont turn up in my photos is that towards the end knots the blackness of the samegawa fades. The pictures I have don't show this well but it was a bit disappointing. This however was compensated for by not being cracked in the core and having a full hishigami job with alternating ito, not to mention all the fittings are secured tightly. However the mekugi are a bit rough around the edges, but there's no blowouts in the same around the mekugi ana, so that's a plus.
The nagasa
This is where the blade truly shines, with a midare hamon and extra niku for hard target cutting it has a very tough appearance. The midare hamon begins from the habaki area starting in a notare patern, progressing in the middle to a much more random pattern, and at the chu kissaki coming to a lovely sugaha finish. The mirror polish is immaculate, good enough for any shinobi to peek around a corner in a pinch but in no way obscuring the positively beautiful hamon. The fumbari is apparent when you come towards the habaki but isn't extreme. I commend sino sword for the quality work put forth in this blade.
The saya
This rattan wrapped saya is a masterpiece! With a matte black finish on the rattan and lovely brown buffalo horn pieces it really compliments the over all aesthetic value of this sword. It also houses it well. I held it upside down and shook it, tapped the kojiri end very hard whilst upside down, and even resorted to calling its mother foul names, but the sword just refused to leave its saya. It goes without saying that there is no rattle in my saya either.
Handling characteristics
With a day of dry handling and test cutting I can say this sword is very fast! Moving from a 28 inch blade to a 20 inch blade is a lot like switching from a baseball bat to a riding crop. The low point of balance makes it shine both single handed and dual handed. It is however notable that when used two handed this sword feels like it has no blade attached.
Test cutting
Allow me to apologize in advance, I have camera so you can't see the carange sorry pals.
Now to the brass tax of it, I was very specific to ask sino sword for hard target cutter with extra niku, and they delivered. I started my session slow, 10 water bottles I had saved up for this occassion. This blade sailed through them effortlessly and with grace. Ten bottles down and now onto my bamboo cored beach mats. For the first mat I resorted to my old fallback, the giyaku kawasemi. It took the mat as effortlessly as the bottles and performed just as well on the other two. So with most of my cutting material now in pieces and strewn across the yard I decided to give my truest test, my dinner. I was having pork ribs this particular night and decided "if it can't cut these it ain't a sword". I was hesitant, worried about chipping my new pretty, but one kesagiri later and I knew this was the blade I'd dreamt of since paying for it. With no edge damage on it and only minimal superficial scratches to the finish I determined her to be the sword of choice for cutting for a long time now.
Pros:
Great niku
Pretty hamon
Tight fitting saya
Proper itomaki
Amazing handling
And it's just freakin' pretty lookin'!
Cons:
Fading in the blackness of the samegawa
Rough looking mekugi
Final overview
For the roundabout $340 I spent this is worth every penny even with minor flaws. I don't think I've ever owned such a good bladed weapon. Sino sword did right by me and payed close attention to my specific requests, kudos to them. The only two discernible flaws I found I think are acceptable at this price point and harbor no anger towards them for this. I highly recommend their product as in my eyes quality control seemed amazing.
I'll give em' a nice 4 and a half of five stars!