Cottontail Customized Feilong Swords Iwa Shobu Katana
May 12, 2015 0:29:08 GMT
Post by demonskull on May 12, 2015 0:29:08 GMT
Introduction: First let me be honest, I'm not a Kat guy, I prefer Euros. I won this sword in the recent Feilong Sword/Cottontail Customs Photo Contest. The only thing I paid for was shipping. Josh from Cottontail asked if I'd post my impressions and being that the Forum already has this great uniform review template, I decided to use it.
Historical Overview: The sword of the Samurai elite, the katana and it's brethern born in Feudal Japan it gains it's unique shape from how the steel blade is hardened. While the nuances of the blade configuration have changed over the years, it has retained it's basis design for hundreds of years.
Full Disclosure: As previously stated I won this sword in a random drawing. In the past I have won another sword in a Photo Contest (one of Christian Fletcher's Sword Photo Contest several years ago) and a axe in another random drawing run by our very own Avery Pierce several years ago. Yeah I enjoy entering contests ! Josh of Cottontail Customs did ask me to post my impressions. I have no vested interest in preforming a review other than to give back to the community.
Initial Impressions: The sword arrived well packed and quickly. It was boxed up well, bubble wrapped over a very nice sword bag.
Upon opening the bag and with drawing the sword I was struck by how everything flowed together so well. The Tsukamaki is stunning. I looked very closely to see if I could find any incongruity, but couldn't. It was perfect !
Statistics:
Steel- T10
Nagasa- 27 3/4"
Overall Length- 40 1/8"
Motohaba- 32mm
Sakihaba- 22mm
Motokasana- 6.5mm
Sakikasana- 4.5mm
POB- 6 5/8"
Tsuka length- 11"
Nakago length - 9"
Sori- 3/4"
Weight w/saya- 2.88 lbs
Weight w/o saya- 2.36lb
Hamon- notare midare
Muni- iori
(Thanks to Josh for supplying the stats with the sword)
Components:
I'm going to let the pics do most of the
talking:
When sheathing the sword the last 1/8" is snug so it will not fall out when turned upside down but is easily removed.
Handling Characteristics:
As I only have limited experience with Katanas (I only own one other and that a sub $200 sword), please take my views with a grain of salt. The sword has some blade presence with the POB out over 6" but doesn't feel heavy in hand. It feels as if it will be a good cutter. I havn't cut with this sword yet but look forward to it. I will practice with my sub $200 sword before risking this custom.
Test Cutting: To be completed at a later date
Conclusions :
This sword was well packaged. The clean fit and finish of all the components is impeccable.
Pros:
Superb tsukamacki
enjoyed the bunny menukii it matches the blade well
tight fittings
to my knowledge all weights and measurements are similar to original katanas
Cons:
None come to mind
I would definitely recommend both Feilong swords and Cottontail Customs to anyone looking to purchases a customized Katana.
I would also like to add that receiving this sword made me do some research into a typs of sword I knew little about and for that I will be grateful to the Forum, Cottontail Customs and Feilong Swords so I thank you all.