Buyiaito.com Custom Deluxe Katana
Apr 16, 2014 21:59:17 GMT
Post by Loki452 on Apr 16, 2014 21:59:17 GMT
Hey guys. I just bought my first iaito and wanted to give a short review of my experience with buyiaito.com or what other people seem to know as zhiforge. Here's what I went with.
Custom Katana
28in Blade (longest they were offering and about right for my 5'6" frame)
1060 carbon steel (I wanted a heavy weight to build muscle)
Stone finish on the saya (I was hoping it would have better grip)
Purple silk sageo
Purple synthetic silk on the tsuka
Copper tsuba, fuchi, kashira
I did a mock hamon
Full same handle wrap
3/4 Bohi
9 sun Tsuka
Ok. So my thoughts. It took 5 weeks to get, so it was fairly quick for them to make. The sword feels very sturdy, I haven't disassembled it yet. Fittings all seem like their sturdy and high quality. The synthetic silk wrap feels fine in my hands, I know a lot of people have different tastes. I'm not sure if I like the hamon. The blade has good shape and I ended up really loving the 3/4 bohi. The habaki fits really tight into the saya. The balance feels really good, the point of balance is about 4 inches above the tsuba.
The menuki looked like copper but came in silver so they don't really match the other fittings. The Kashira was loose when it came in. The diamonds look a little uneven but I don't think they look bad. The sageo looks rough. The ends were severely frayed and on some parts the weave is loose. It was supposed to get their 12 stage process but the blade looks a little hazy, I was expecting a better polish. Habaki has marks from the saya. The sword tip can rattle in the saya if I shake it at all.
Pros:
Quick
Solid fittings
3/4 bohi looks awesome
Colors look good
Good same
Good balance
Cons:
Menuki weren't the expected color
Kashira was loose
Hamon looks rough
Diamonds on the tsuka look a little uneven
Sageo weave is loose and ends are frayed
Overall I think it looks and feels great. It didn't take very long. I only think the sageo and menuki are the real problems I have.
Custom Katana
28in Blade (longest they were offering and about right for my 5'6" frame)
1060 carbon steel (I wanted a heavy weight to build muscle)
Stone finish on the saya (I was hoping it would have better grip)
Purple silk sageo
Purple synthetic silk on the tsuka
Copper tsuba, fuchi, kashira
I did a mock hamon
Full same handle wrap
3/4 Bohi
9 sun Tsuka
Ok. So my thoughts. It took 5 weeks to get, so it was fairly quick for them to make. The sword feels very sturdy, I haven't disassembled it yet. Fittings all seem like their sturdy and high quality. The synthetic silk wrap feels fine in my hands, I know a lot of people have different tastes. I'm not sure if I like the hamon. The blade has good shape and I ended up really loving the 3/4 bohi. The habaki fits really tight into the saya. The balance feels really good, the point of balance is about 4 inches above the tsuba.
The menuki looked like copper but came in silver so they don't really match the other fittings. The Kashira was loose when it came in. The diamonds look a little uneven but I don't think they look bad. The sageo looks rough. The ends were severely frayed and on some parts the weave is loose. It was supposed to get their 12 stage process but the blade looks a little hazy, I was expecting a better polish. Habaki has marks from the saya. The sword tip can rattle in the saya if I shake it at all.
Pros:
Quick
Solid fittings
3/4 bohi looks awesome
Colors look good
Good same
Good balance
Cons:
Menuki weren't the expected color
Kashira was loose
Hamon looks rough
Diamonds on the tsuka look a little uneven
Sageo weave is loose and ends are frayed
Overall I think it looks and feels great. It didn't take very long. I only think the sageo and menuki are the real problems I have.