Jubei Water Dragon Review
Dec 22, 2014 2:08:18 GMT
Post by Maat22 on Dec 22, 2014 2:08:18 GMT
Hi everyone and happy holidays to those celebrating at this time!
original link
Jubei water dragon
So i bought a Jubei Water Dragon from SwordnArmory just after turkey day... it cost less that $94 with a coupon..... my first impressions leave me very pleased.... what a beautiful tool of death for less than $100! lol
I bought this baby as a present for my father in law because he saw me with one of those red folded steel production katanas and asked for one of his own.
I actually was planning on getting the Water Dragon as a beater for myself after the first katana broke. He asked and so now i bought myself the slightly higher (still under 200) priced Lion Dog. review for that one shortly....
highly anticipated the arrival of them from the MOMENT i purchased and the seven days it took to get here were agonizingly hopeful... they arrived the day i left to fly home (of course) but i am back again and the wonderful long cardboard box was waiting for me...
I don't know what kind of style the sword is(if it is historically based or just made with cost cutting in mind) anybody?
I think it is just Munetoshi producing a katana with an authentic hamon for under 100.
Unboxing: I was very pleased with the sword right out of the box. The sword bag is a much more utilitarian than the first one I got from Quanwater on ebay. I actually like it more than the showy silk and golden tasseled bag. Both are nice but I prefer basic.
The packaging from Quanwater was much more thorough. The SnA blades were naked in their saya; tied up in their sword bags and resting in Styrofoam braces in their cardboard boxes. Quanwater’s katanas were in a Styrofoam ‘box’ in a cardboard box. the blade and saya were shrink wrapped in plastic. Blah blah..
My measurements
-Overall length with saya: 40 5/8”
-Overalll length w/out saya: 39 5/8”
-Nagasa Length: 27 1/4”
-Tsuka Length: 10 3/4”
-Tsuba Width: 3 3/8”
-POB: 5 1/4”
Jubei Certificate
Overall Length:41"
Handle Lenght: 10.6"
Blade Length: 28"
Blade Thickness: .27"
Heres the specs given on SnA
-Overall Length: 39.125 "
-Nagasa Length: 27 "
-Tsuka Length: 10.75 "
-Balance Point: 5.25"
-Weight W/O Saya: 2.1 lbs
-Lamination: Mono Steel
-Blade: Very Sharp
-Blade Material: Differentially Hardened 1060
-Tsuba & Fittings: Iron
-Tsuka Material: Cotton
-HRC: 55 Degrees
-Accessories: Sword Bag
-Condition: Brand New
-Sword Name: Water Dragon
-Brand: Jubei
Components
Blade: The nagasa looks very nice upon initial inspection. A closer look reveals a few scratches and such but nothing serious. The blade is straight, no noticeable bends. The edge is sharp enough to cut paper by slicing with the blade but almost seems like it is tearing the paper slightly, so definitely not razor but enough to cut flesh. The kissaki is not as sharp as the rest of the blade, and has a counter polish. The polish is nice. And a real hamon!
Handle: The tsuka is nice. The ito (chemical fiber) is wrapped nicely, pretty tight and diamonds are fairly even (not even but no glaring mess ups). The same is plastic but looks good. I tried to take the tsuka off but didn’t get any farther than removing the mekugi because after pounding my wrist and forearm for a couple minutes I gave up.
Guard: The tsuba is nice. It is blackened steel, which I actually like more than the other flashy stuff. It is solid, only two little holes in it, again I prefer solid tsuba to one with lots of pretty designs punched out. It was solid as a rock out of the box, and after removing the mekugi and attempting to remove the tsuka, she moves a tiny bit.
Fuchi/Kashira: Again both are blackened steel, very attractive to me. The kashira is a rounded one and I like this a lot. Just gives the bottom of the sword a nice complementary shape. Both are solid and don’t move. I am a little weary of kashira on production swords since my first 100 dollar katana from ebay lost its kashira only after about a week of use (heavy use). After the kashira went, everything followed. The jubie’s fittings are simple black steel, not flashy, solid and my kinda thing. I like. The habaki does not sit flush to the sides of the blade but is as solid as the rest.
Scabbard: The saya is nice. Black gloss, tight fit (tigher than the $150 lion dog), and no rattling! The sageo is very loose, but that seems to be a regular thing with the jubei’s.
Handling: It feels good! As it is a present for someone I'm not going to cut with it ( I wanted to cut some bottles or paper but wife said NO!) The sword moves nicely around the body and is not cumbersome. It accelerates well without putting too much strength into it.
I have no experience (proper training) with katana and how their handling should feel. So if anyone wants to throw in their two cents on the water dragon feel free!
Conclusion: For a sub $100 katana, this thing rocks! Love the fittings, the saya fits wonderfully. I don’t think I would recommend any changes. GREAT DEAL! I would definitely recommend this sword for a first time buyer or as a beater… although the habaki worries me just a bit for heavy long term cutting.
although i read from Frank the Bunny that copper shims can solve the prob.
Pros:
-tight fittings and saya
- real hamon (im going on everyone elses word here)
-beautiful with the fittings (my taste)
Cons:
-Loose sageo
-a few scratches on the blade (hardly noticeable)
-gap between habaki and blade sides
Bottom line: A great deal for your money… :)
oh yeah and its nice...
original link
Jubei water dragon
So i bought a Jubei Water Dragon from SwordnArmory just after turkey day... it cost less that $94 with a coupon..... my first impressions leave me very pleased.... what a beautiful tool of death for less than $100! lol
I bought this baby as a present for my father in law because he saw me with one of those red folded steel production katanas and asked for one of his own.
I actually was planning on getting the Water Dragon as a beater for myself after the first katana broke. He asked and so now i bought myself the slightly higher (still under 200) priced Lion Dog. review for that one shortly....
highly anticipated the arrival of them from the MOMENT i purchased and the seven days it took to get here were agonizingly hopeful... they arrived the day i left to fly home (of course) but i am back again and the wonderful long cardboard box was waiting for me...
I don't know what kind of style the sword is(if it is historically based or just made with cost cutting in mind) anybody?
I think it is just Munetoshi producing a katana with an authentic hamon for under 100.
Unboxing: I was very pleased with the sword right out of the box. The sword bag is a much more utilitarian than the first one I got from Quanwater on ebay. I actually like it more than the showy silk and golden tasseled bag. Both are nice but I prefer basic.
The packaging from Quanwater was much more thorough. The SnA blades were naked in their saya; tied up in their sword bags and resting in Styrofoam braces in their cardboard boxes. Quanwater’s katanas were in a Styrofoam ‘box’ in a cardboard box. the blade and saya were shrink wrapped in plastic. Blah blah..
My measurements
-Overall length with saya: 40 5/8”
-Overalll length w/out saya: 39 5/8”
-Nagasa Length: 27 1/4”
-Tsuka Length: 10 3/4”
-Tsuba Width: 3 3/8”
-POB: 5 1/4”
Jubei Certificate
Overall Length:41"
Handle Lenght: 10.6"
Blade Length: 28"
Blade Thickness: .27"
Heres the specs given on SnA
-Overall Length: 39.125 "
-Nagasa Length: 27 "
-Tsuka Length: 10.75 "
-Balance Point: 5.25"
-Weight W/O Saya: 2.1 lbs
-Lamination: Mono Steel
-Blade: Very Sharp
-Blade Material: Differentially Hardened 1060
-Tsuba & Fittings: Iron
-Tsuka Material: Cotton
-HRC: 55 Degrees
-Accessories: Sword Bag
-Condition: Brand New
-Sword Name: Water Dragon
-Brand: Jubei
Components
Blade: The nagasa looks very nice upon initial inspection. A closer look reveals a few scratches and such but nothing serious. The blade is straight, no noticeable bends. The edge is sharp enough to cut paper by slicing with the blade but almost seems like it is tearing the paper slightly, so definitely not razor but enough to cut flesh. The kissaki is not as sharp as the rest of the blade, and has a counter polish. The polish is nice. And a real hamon!
Handle: The tsuka is nice. The ito (chemical fiber) is wrapped nicely, pretty tight and diamonds are fairly even (not even but no glaring mess ups). The same is plastic but looks good. I tried to take the tsuka off but didn’t get any farther than removing the mekugi because after pounding my wrist and forearm for a couple minutes I gave up.
Guard: The tsuba is nice. It is blackened steel, which I actually like more than the other flashy stuff. It is solid, only two little holes in it, again I prefer solid tsuba to one with lots of pretty designs punched out. It was solid as a rock out of the box, and after removing the mekugi and attempting to remove the tsuka, she moves a tiny bit.
Fuchi/Kashira: Again both are blackened steel, very attractive to me. The kashira is a rounded one and I like this a lot. Just gives the bottom of the sword a nice complementary shape. Both are solid and don’t move. I am a little weary of kashira on production swords since my first 100 dollar katana from ebay lost its kashira only after about a week of use (heavy use). After the kashira went, everything followed. The jubie’s fittings are simple black steel, not flashy, solid and my kinda thing. I like. The habaki does not sit flush to the sides of the blade but is as solid as the rest.
Scabbard: The saya is nice. Black gloss, tight fit (tigher than the $150 lion dog), and no rattling! The sageo is very loose, but that seems to be a regular thing with the jubei’s.
Handling: It feels good! As it is a present for someone I'm not going to cut with it ( I wanted to cut some bottles or paper but wife said NO!) The sword moves nicely around the body and is not cumbersome. It accelerates well without putting too much strength into it.
I have no experience (proper training) with katana and how their handling should feel. So if anyone wants to throw in their two cents on the water dragon feel free!
Conclusion: For a sub $100 katana, this thing rocks! Love the fittings, the saya fits wonderfully. I don’t think I would recommend any changes. GREAT DEAL! I would definitely recommend this sword for a first time buyer or as a beater… although the habaki worries me just a bit for heavy long term cutting.
although i read from Frank the Bunny that copper shims can solve the prob.
Pros:
-tight fittings and saya
- real hamon (im going on everyone elses word here)
-beautiful with the fittings (my taste)
Cons:
-Loose sageo
-a few scratches on the blade (hardly noticeable)
-gap between habaki and blade sides
Bottom line: A great deal for your money… :)
oh yeah and its nice...