UPDATED: Cottontail Customs Iwa Shobu Katana - double cuts
Nov 8, 2014 22:12:33 GMT
Post by Aikidoka on Nov 8, 2014 22:12:33 GMT
UPDATED: (new videos at the bottom)
This past Thursday I received an Iwa Shobu Katana from Josh (frankthebunny) at Cottontail Customs. He sent it to me so that I could do some cutting with it and provide feedback on what I like and don't like. After performing a bunch of double cuts on single tatami mat targets and a double cut on a double tatami mat target, I have to say, there's not much I don't like
![](http://cottontailcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSCF50154.jpg)
As the name indicates, this katana has a shobu (iris leaf) blade. It is advertised as a heavy cutter and it certainly performed well against the double mat target. But it is also an excellent choice for light cutting. It proved to be very quick when performing multiple cuts on single mats.
![](http://cottontailcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSCF50204.jpg)
In this first video, I performed several double cuts from the left and one from the right.
In the next video, I performed a double cut on a double tatami mat target. The blade sustained no damage at all from this cut. In fact, the last single mat double cut in the video above, where I clipped one of the cut pieces with the third cut attempt, was performed immediately after performing this double mat double cut.
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UPDATE:
This morning, I did some more cutting with the Iwa Shobu. Here is another double mat double cut, this time from the right side:
Emboldened by my success with double mat double cuts, I decided to attempt my first ever cuts on a triple mat target.
Long story short, I met my match (for now
). The first attempt passed through the target, but didn't completely sever it. The second cut was successful, if not exactly pretty :lol:
This sword is truly impressive. Even in the hands of a backyard cutter with no formal sword training, it can handle some very heavy targets!
The Iwa Shobu Katana can be purchased from Cottontail Customs here in the US, or from
Feilong Swords in Europe.
Notes: The Munetoshi tatami omote mats were soaked overnight and drained for 30 minutes.
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My thoughts regarding the Iwa Shobu Katana:
Initial impressions:
Here is what I wrote to Josh imediately after receiving the sword:
Conclusions:
The sword feels well balanced. The website says the POB is 6 5/8", but it doesn't feel blade heavy at all. Also, the sori is listed as 3/4", but when I place it next to several other katanas that all have a 3/4" sori, the Shobu's sori looks like it is a little deeper (more curvature). All in all, in my opinion, it is a very attractive sword that cuts VERY well. And that is the thing that left the deepest impression on me. Here are the comment that I provided to Josh, both pro and con, after the weekend of cutting with the Iwa:
This sword changed some of my preconceived notions about how a blade needed to be constructed to perform well against tatami. It is not wide and thin like, for instance, a Practical XL or Elite blade. And yet the Iwa cuts as well or better than those blades. AND it has a robust profile, capable of cutting hard targets like bamboo without being damaged.
As I mentioned above, I am very impressed with this sword and I'm glad I had a chance to try it out and share my experiences with it.
This past Thursday I received an Iwa Shobu Katana from Josh (frankthebunny) at Cottontail Customs. He sent it to me so that I could do some cutting with it and provide feedback on what I like and don't like. After performing a bunch of double cuts on single tatami mat targets and a double cut on a double tatami mat target, I have to say, there's not much I don't like
![:)](http://storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
![](http://cottontailcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSCF50154.jpg)
As the name indicates, this katana has a shobu (iris leaf) blade. It is advertised as a heavy cutter and it certainly performed well against the double mat target. But it is also an excellent choice for light cutting. It proved to be very quick when performing multiple cuts on single mats.
![](http://cottontailcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSCF50204.jpg)
In this first video, I performed several double cuts from the left and one from the right.
In the next video, I performed a double cut on a double tatami mat target. The blade sustained no damage at all from this cut. In fact, the last single mat double cut in the video above, where I clipped one of the cut pieces with the third cut attempt, was performed immediately after performing this double mat double cut.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE:
This morning, I did some more cutting with the Iwa Shobu. Here is another double mat double cut, this time from the right side:
Emboldened by my success with double mat double cuts, I decided to attempt my first ever cuts on a triple mat target.
Long story short, I met my match (for now
![;)](http://storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
This sword is truly impressive. Even in the hands of a backyard cutter with no formal sword training, it can handle some very heavy targets!
The Iwa Shobu Katana can be purchased from Cottontail Customs here in the US, or from
Feilong Swords in Europe.
Notes: The Munetoshi tatami omote mats were soaked overnight and drained for 30 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thoughts regarding the Iwa Shobu Katana:
Initial impressions:
Here is what I wrote to Josh imediately after receiving the sword:
My initial impressions are that the polish on the blade looks extremely nice. Beautiful hamon! The edge appears to be moderately sharp.
The tsuka looks very nice as well. I like the blackened brass patina on the tsuba, fuchi and kashira. Your website says they're iron, but I checked with a magnet and they're not (he has since fixed the description on the website). But as I said, the blackened brass is well done and looks very nice. The copper habaki looks great and is tightly fitted to the blade. The shape of the tsuka is very comfortable.
The tsuka looks very nice as well. I like the blackened brass patina on the tsuba, fuchi and kashira. Your website says they're iron, but I checked with a magnet and they're not (he has since fixed the description on the website). But as I said, the blackened brass is well done and looks very nice. The copper habaki looks great and is tightly fitted to the blade. The shape of the tsuka is very comfortable.
Conclusions:
The sword feels well balanced. The website says the POB is 6 5/8", but it doesn't feel blade heavy at all. Also, the sori is listed as 3/4", but when I place it next to several other katanas that all have a 3/4" sori, the Shobu's sori looks like it is a little deeper (more curvature). All in all, in my opinion, it is a very attractive sword that cuts VERY well. And that is the thing that left the deepest impression on me. Here are the comment that I provided to Josh, both pro and con, after the weekend of cutting with the Iwa:
The Iwa cuts as well or better than any sword that I have handled. When I got the message from you that the Iwa was coming rather than the Higo, I'll admit I was a little disappointed because I figured a purpose built performance cutter (wide blade) would do better than a blade with a more traditional profile. But I can't imagine a better cutting blade than this one.
As for issues with the blade, the ito is a little loose, as you mention on your website. The ito slides a little on the back and front of the tsuka. But as you also mentioned, it doesn't affect the sword's cutting performance. Also, I think there make be something trapped in the end of the saya. After leaving the blade in the saya overnight, it look like something was resting on the tip of the blade on both sides and left a strange looking pattern on the blade. It wiped of easily enough, but that might also explain light scratches that are on the blade.
As for issues with the blade, the ito is a little loose, as you mention on your website. The ito slides a little on the back and front of the tsuka. But as you also mentioned, it doesn't affect the sword's cutting performance. Also, I think there make be something trapped in the end of the saya. After leaving the blade in the saya overnight, it look like something was resting on the tip of the blade on both sides and left a strange looking pattern on the blade. It wiped of easily enough, but that might also explain light scratches that are on the blade.
This sword changed some of my preconceived notions about how a blade needed to be constructed to perform well against tatami. It is not wide and thin like, for instance, a Practical XL or Elite blade. And yet the Iwa cuts as well or better than those blades. AND it has a robust profile, capable of cutting hard targets like bamboo without being damaged.
As I mentioned above, I am very impressed with this sword and I'm glad I had a chance to try it out and share my experiences with it.